false 0001692819 --12-31 0001692819 2021-10-12 2021-10-12 0001692819 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2021-10-12 2021-10-12 0001692819 us-gaap:WarrantMember 2021-10-12 2021-10-12

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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): October 12, 2021

 

 

VISTRA CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-38086   36-4833255

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

6555 Sierra Drive

Irving, TX

  75039
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(214) 812-4600

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

 

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.l4a-12)

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240. 14d-2(b))

 

 

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

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

 

Title of Each Class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share   VST   New York Stock Exchange
Warrants   VST.WS.A   New York Stock Exchange

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

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.

On October 12, 2021, Vistra Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or the “Issuer”), entered into a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) by and between the Company and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as the initial purchaser (the “Initial Purchaser”). The Purchase Agreement provides for the offer and sale (the “Offering”) by the Company, and the purchase by the Initial Purchaser, of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s 8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”).

The Offering closed on October 15, 2021. The sale of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the shares of Series A Preferred Stock were sold on a private placement basis to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and agreements by the Company and the Initial Purchaser, including indemnification for certain liabilities under the Securities Act, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Purchase Agreement were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Purchase Agreement, and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the parties thereunder.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering, after deducting the Initial Purchaser’s discount and estimated Offering expenses, to repurchase outstanding shares of its common stock. Pending the execution of share repurchases, the Company intends to invest the proceeds from the Offering in cash or cash equivalents and/or invest in short- and long-term marketable securities.

The shares of Series A Preferred Stock were issued pursuant to a certificate of designation (the “Certificate of Designation”) filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 14, 2021. The Certificate of Designation classified a total of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s authorized shares of preferred stock as Series A Preferred Stock.

As set forth in the Certificate of Designation, the Series A Preferred Stock will rank, with respect to anticipated semi-annual dividends and distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Company: (i) senior to any equity security, including the Company’s common stock, other than any equity security referred to in (ii) or (iii); (ii) on a parity with any equity security issued by the Company with terms specifically providing that such equity security ranks on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and/or distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Company’s affairs, as applicable; and (iii) junior to any equity security issued by the Company with terms specifically providing that such equity security ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and/or distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Company’s affairs, as applicable. The annual dividend rate on each share of Series A Preferred Stock is 8.0% from October 15, 2021 to, but excluding, October 15, 2026 (the “First Reset Date”). On and after the First Reset Date, the dividend rate on each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall equal the five-year U.S. Treasury rate as of the most recent reset dividend determination date (subject to a floor of 1.07%), plus a spread of 6.93% per annum. The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, plus accumulated but unpaid dividends. Cumulative cash dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock are payable semi-annually, in arrears, on each April 15 and October 15, commencing on April 15, 2022, when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors.

At any time on or after the First Reset Date, the Company may redeem shares of the Series A Preferred Stock in whole or in part at a redemption price payable in cash of $1,000 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date, whether or not declared. Any such redemption would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purpose and will be subject to compliance with the applicable provisions of the Company’s outstanding indebtedness.

Upon the occurrence of a Rating Event (as defined in the Certificate of Designation), the Company may, at its option, redeem the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in whole, but not in part, within 120 days after the conclusion of any review or appeal


process instituted by the Company following the occurrence of a Rating Event at a redemption price payable in cash of $1,020 (102% of the liquidation preference) per share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date, whether or not declared.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Trigger Event (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) or a Rejected Transaction (as defined in the Certificate of Designation), the Company may, at its option, redeem shares of the Series A Preferred Stock in whole or in part within 120 days after the occurrence of such Change of Control Trigger Event or Rejected Transaction, in each case, at a redemption price payable in cash of $1,030 (103% of the liquidation preference) per share for a Change of Control Trigger Event or Rejected Transaction that occurs before October 15, 2022, $1,020 (102% of the liquidation preference) per share for Change of Control Trigger Event or Rejected Transaction that occurs on or after October 15, 2022 and before October 15, 2023 or $1,010 (101% of the liquidation preference) per share for a Change of Control Trigger Event or Rejected Transaction that occurs on or after October 15, 2023 and before October 15, 2026, plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but not including, the applicable redemption date, whether or not declared. If the Company does not exercise its right to redeem all shares of Series A Preferred Stock within 120 days after the first date on which a Change of Control Trigger Event occurs, the then-applicable dividend rate for the Series A Preferred Stock not so redeemed will be increased by 5.0%.

Holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock generally have no voting rights, except for limited voting rights with respect to (i) amendments to the charter of the Company that would have a material adverse effect on the powers or rights of the Series A Preferred Stock, (ii) the creation or issuance of any parity securities if the cumulative dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock are in arrears, (iii) the creation or issuance of any senior securities, (iv) the creation or issuance of any additional shares of Series A Preferred Stock or parity securities with an aggregate liquidation preference, together with any such then outstanding securities, of greater than $2.5 billion, (v) any Transaction that results in a Covered Disposition (each as defined in the Certificate of Designation), or (vi) if any dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in respect of three semi-annual dividend periods (whether or not consecutive) are accumulated and unpaid, the election of two preferred stock directors.

The Series A Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities of the Company.

The foregoing is only a brief description of the material terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Certificate of Designation and does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations thereunder. Such description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement and the Certificate of Designation, which are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Current Report”) as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 3.1, respectively, and each of which is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Item 3.02    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

Item 3.03    Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information about the Certificate of Designation set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

Item 5.03    Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

The information about the Certificate of Designation set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

Item 8.01.    Other Events.

On October 12, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of the Series A Preferred Stock to be issued and sold pursuant to the Offering and the adoption of a new $2 billion share repurchase program (the “Program”). A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The Program became effective as of October 12, 2021, upon which any previously approved outstanding share repurchase programs and authorized amounts thereunder were terminated. Shares of the Company’s common stock may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 plans, or by other means in accordance with federal securities laws. The actual timing, number and value of shares repurchased under the Program will be determined by the Company in its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including the market price of the Company’s common stock, general market and economic conditions, applicable legal requirements, and compliance with the terms of the Company’s credit and debt agreements and the Certificate of Designation.

This Current Report does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale or purchase of securities described herein in any state in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.


Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

3.1    Series A Certificate of Designation filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on October 14, 2021.
10.1    Purchase Agreement, dated October 12, 2021, by and between the Company and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.
99.1    Press Release, dated October 12, 2021.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded with the Inline XBRL document).


SIGNATURES

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

 

    Vistra Corp.
Dated: October 15, 2021    

/s/ Kristopher E. Moldovan

    Name:   Kristopher E. Moldovan
    Title:   Senior Vice President and Treasurer

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

OF

8.0% SERIES A FIXED-RATE RESET CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL

PREFERRED STOCK

OF

VISTRA CORP.

 

 

Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

 

 

Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), Vistra Corp., a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the DGCL (the “Corporation”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, does hereby submit the following:

WHEREAS, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) authorizes the issuance of 100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation, issuable from time to time in one or more series, and authorizes the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Corporation, subject to the limitations under applicable Delaware law, to fix the designations, powers, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, if any, of any class or series of Preferred Stock, including the distribution rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights (including sinking fund provisions), liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, and to issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case without any stockholder vote; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board to establish and fix the number of shares to be included in a new series of Preferred Stock and the designations, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions, and limitations of the shares of such new series.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby provide authority for the Corporation to issue and designate 1,000,000 shares of the Preferred Stock to be known as “8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Preferred Shares”) and does hereby in this Certificate of Designation (this “Certificate of Designation”) establish and fix and herein state and express the designations, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions, and limitations of such Series A Preferred Shares as follows:


Section 1. General Matters; Ranking. Each Series A Preferred Share shall be identical in all respects to every other Series A Preferred Share. The Series A Preferred Shares, with respect to dividend rights and distribution rights upon the liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, shall rank (a) senior to any Junior Securities; (b) on a parity basis with any Parity Securities; and (c) junior to any Senior Securities.

Section 2. Standard Definitions. As used herein with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares:

Board” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

By-laws” means the By-laws of the Corporation, as they may be amended or restated from time to time.

Calculation Agent” means, at any time, the Person, other than the Corporation or its affiliates, appointed by the Corporation and serving as such agent with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares at such time.

Certificate of Designation” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Certificate of Incorporation” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Change of Control” means the occurrence, after the Initial Issue Date, of either of the following:

(a) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), but excluding any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of such plan; or

(b) the Corporation becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than (i) any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of such plan and (ii) any one or more parents of the Corporation in which no person, directly or indirectly, is the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of capital stock of the Corporation that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the directors of such parent(s) representing more than 50.1% of the aggregate voting power represented by such issued and outstanding voting stock of such parent, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting stock of the Corporation, measured by voting power rather than number of shares.

 

A-1


Change of Control Trigger Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Rating Decline.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg.

The term “close of business means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

Corporation” means Vistra Corp., a Delaware corporation.

Covered Disposition” means a Transaction that, together with all Transactions occurring in the full 24 calendar month period preceding such Transaction (or any Transaction preceding such period if it is part of a series of two or more related Transactions at least one of which occurs within such period), results in the disposition of 25% or more of the consolidated total assets of the Corporation as reflected in the Corporation’s balance sheet included in its most recent periodic report filed with the SEC prior to such 24 calendar month period and giving pro forma effect to any material acquisition of assets during such 24 calendar month period based on any financial information regarding such acquisition reasonably available to the Corporation at such time of determination.

Dividend Payment Date” means the fifteenth day of April and October of each year, commencing on April 15, 2022.

Dividend Period” means the period from, and including, a Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date, except that the initial Dividend Period shall commence on, and include, the Initial Issue Date.

Dividend Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

DTC” means The Depository Trust Corporation or any successor thereto.

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

First Reset Date” means October 15, 2026.

Five-Year U.S. Treasury Rate” means, as of any Reset Dividend Determination Date, the arithmetic mean of the yields on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity, for five-year maturities, for the most recent five Business Days appearing under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities” in the most recent H.15. If the Five-Year U.S. Treasury Rate cannot be determined pursuant to the method described above, the Calculation Agent, after consulting such sources as it deems comparable to the foregoing calculation, or any such source

 

A-2


as it deems reasonable from which to estimate the Five-Year U.S. Treasury Rate, will determine the Five-Year U.S. Treasury Rate in its sole discretion, provided that if the Calculation Agent determines there is an industry-accepted successor Five-Year U.S. Treasury Rate, then the Calculation Agent will use such successor rate. If the Calculation Agent has determined a substitute or successor base rate in accordance with the foregoing, the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion may determine the business day convention and the Reset Dividend Determination Date to be used and any other relevant methodology for calculating such substitute or successor base rate, including any adjustment factor needed to make such substitute or successor base rate comparable to the Five-Year U.S. Treasury Rate, in a manner that is consistent with industry-accepted practices for such substitute or successor base rate.

H.15” means the daily statistical release designated as such, or any successor publication as determined by the Calculation Agent in its sole discretion, published by the Federal Reserve Board.

Holder” means each Person in whose name any Series A Preferred Share is registered, who shall be treated by the Corporation and the Registrar as the absolute owner of such share of the Series A Preferred Shares for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.

Initial Issue Date” means October 15, 2021, the original issue date of the Series A Preferred Shares.

Junior Securities” means any classes or series of Common Stock and any other equity security of the Corporation other than any equity securities that are Parity Securities or Senior Securities.

Liquidation Dividend Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

Liquidation Preference” means, as to the Series A Preferred Shares, $1,000 per share thereof.

The “most recent H.15” means the H.15 published closest in time but prior to the close of business on the applicable Reset Dividend Determination Date.

Nonpayment Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.

Offering Memorandum” means the preliminary offering memorandum dated October 9, 2021, as supplemented by the related pricing term sheet dated October 12, 2021, and the final offering memorandum dated October 12, 2021, relating to the initial offering and sale of the Series A Preferred Shares.

Parity Securities” means any equity security of the Corporation issued after the Initial Issue Date with terms specifically providing that such equity security ranks on a parity with the Series A Preferred Shares with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and/or distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Corporation’s affairs, as applicable.

 

A-3


Paying Agent” initially means American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, the Corporation’s duly appointed paying agent for the Series A Preferred Shares and any successor appointed under Section 9.

Person” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.

Preferred Stock” means the preferred stock of the Corporation.

Preferred Stock Directors” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

Rating Decline” means the occurrence of a decrease in the rating of the Series A Preferred Shares by two or more rating agencies by one or more gradations (including gradations within rating categories as well as between rating categories), or the withdrawal of a rating of the Series A Preferred Shares by two or more rating agencies, as a result of which the rating of the Series A Preferred Shares at any time on or within 60 days after the Rating Date (which period shall be extended so long as such rating is under publicly announced consideration by any of the rating agencies) is below the rating of the Series A Preferred Shares by such two rating agencies in effect immediately preceding the Rating Date; provided that such rating agencies have confirmed that such decrease in or withdrawal of rating is a result of the Change of Control; provided further that no Rating Decline shall occur if the ratings of the Series A Preferred Shares by at least two rating agencies are equal to or better than their respective ratings on the Initial Issue Date. For purposes of the foregoing, the “Rating Date” means the earlier of (a) the consummation of a Change of Control, and (b) public announcement of the occurrence of a Change of Control or of the intention of the Corporation to effect a Change of Control.

Rating Event” means a change by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) that publishes a rating for us (a “rating agency”) to its Equity Credit criteria for securities such as the Series A Preferred Shares, as such criteria are in effect as of the Initial Issue Date (the “current criteria”), which change results in (a) any shortening of the length of time for which the current criteria are scheduled to be in effect with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares or (b) a lower Equity Credit being given to the Series A Preferred Shares than the Equity Credit that would have been assigned to the Series A Preferred Shares by such rating agency pursuant to the current criteria. “Equity Credit” for the purposes of the Series A Preferred Shares means the dollar amount or percentage in relation to the stated liquidation preference amount of $1,000 per share assigned to the Series A Preferred Shares as equity, rather than debt, by a rating agency in evaluating the capital structure of an entity.

Record Date” means, with respect to any Dividend Payment Date, the close of business on the first day of the month of the applicable Dividend Payment Date, except that in the case of payments of dividends in arrears, the record date with respect to a Dividend Payment Date will be such date as may be designated by the Board in accordance with the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws.

 

A-4


Record Holder” means, (i) with respect to any Dividend Payment Date, a Holder of record of the Series A Preferred Shares as such Holder appears on the stock register of the Corporation at the close of business on the related Record Date and, (ii) with respect to any redemption of Series A Preferred Shares by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of Section 5, a Holder of record of the Series A Preferred Shares as such Holder appears on the stock register of the Corporation at the close of business on the related Redemption Date.

Redemption Date” means any date fixed for redemption of any Series A Preferred Shares pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.

Registrar” initially means American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, the Corporation’s duly appointed registrar for the Series A Preferred Shares, and any successor appointed under Section 9.

Rejected Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(d).

Reset Date” means the First Reset Date and each date falling on the fifth anniversary of the preceding Reset Date.

Reset Dividend Determination Date” means, in respect of any Reset Period, the day falling two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Reset Period.

Reset Period” means the period from and including the First Reset Date to, but excluding, the next following Reset Date and thereafter each period from and including each Reset Date to, but excluding, the next following Reset Date.

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Depositary” means The Depository Trust Corporation or any successor thereto.

Senior Securities” means any equity security of the Corporation issued after the Initial Issue Date with terms specifically providing that such equity security ranks senior to the Series A Preferred Shares with respect to rights to the payment of dividends and/or distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Corporation’s affairs, as applicable.

Series A Preferred Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Transaction” means any direct or indirect conveyance, sale, lease, assignment, transfer or similar disposition (including, without limitation, by means of any merger, consolidation, spin-off, distribution, dividend, joint venture, or similar transaction or sale or issuance by a subsidiary of greater than 50.1% of its equity securities) of any of the assets of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; provided that a Transaction will not include any actions within the meaning of paragraphs (a) through (aa) (inclusive) of Section 10.4 of the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2016 (as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time), by and among Vistra Operations Company LLC, as borrower, Vistra Intermediate Company LLC, the guarantors party thereto, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Island Branch (as successor to Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch), as administrative and collateral agent, various lenders and letter of credit issuers party thereto, and the other parties named therein, as in effect on the Initial Issue Date.

 

A-5


Transfer Agent” shall initially mean American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, the Corporation’s duly appointed transfer agent for the Series A Preferred Shares, and any successor appointed under Section 9.

Section 3. Dividends.

(a) Subject to the rights of holders of any equity security of the Corporation ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Shares with respect to dividends, Holders shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board, or an authorized committee thereof, out of legally available funds of the Corporation for such purpose, semi-annual cash dividends. Dividends on the Series A Preferred Shares will be cumulative from the Initial Issue Date and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date at the Dividend Rate. Declared dividends shall be payable no later than close of business on the relevant Dividend Payment Date to Record Holders on the applicable Record Date. If a Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the immediately succeeding Business Day, without the accumulation of additional dividends. The Dividend Rate on the Series A Preferred Shares from and including the Initial Issue Date to, but excluding, the First Reset Date shall be 8.0% per annum of the Liquidation Preference. On and after the First Reset Date, the Dividend Rate on the Series A Preferred Shares for each Reset Period will be a per annum rate of the Liquidation Preference equal to the Five-Year U.S. Treasury Rate as of the most recent Reset Dividend Determination Date plus a spread of 6.93% per annum; provided that the Five-Year U.S. Treasury Rate for each Reset Period will not be lower than 1.07%. “Dividend Rate” means the dividend rate on the Series A Preferred Shares from time to time, as determined pursuant to this paragraph.

(b) The Dividend Rate for each Reset Period shall be determined by the Calculation Agent as of the applicable Reset Dividend Determination Date in accordance with the terms set forth in this Section 3. Promptly upon such determination, the Calculation Agent shall notify the Corporation of the applicable Dividend Rate and amount of dividends for the Reset Period. The Calculation Agent’s determination of any Dividend Rate, and its calculation of the amount of dividends for any Dividend Period beginning on or after the First Reset Date shall be on file at the Corporation’s principal office, shall be made available to any Record Holder upon request and shall be final and binding in the absence of manifest error. The Corporation shall give notice of the relevant Five-Year U.S. Treasury Rate as soon as reasonably practicable following the determination thereof to the Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Series A Preferred Shares and the Record Holders.

(c) Any dividend payable on the Series A Preferred Shares for any Dividend Period, including for any partial Dividend Period, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends will accumulate in each such Dividend Period from and including the preceding Dividend Payment Date or the Initial Issue Date, as the case may be, to, but excluding, the applicable Dividend Payment Date for such Dividend Period. If any Dividend Payment Date otherwise would fall on a day that is not a Business Day, declared dividends will be paid on the immediately succeeding Business Day without the accumulation of additional dividends.

 

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(d) Dividends on the Series A Preferred Shares will accumulate (i) whether or not the Corporation has earnings, (ii) whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends, (iii) whether or not the payment of such dividends is then permitted under Delaware or other applicable law, (iv) whether or not such dividends are authorized or declared by the Board, and (v) whether or not any agreements to which the Corporation is a party (including any agreements relating to the Corporation’s indebtedness) prohibit the payment of dividends. Holders of Series A Preferred Shares will not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or securities, in excess of full cumulative dividends. No interest or sum of money in lieu of interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment which may be in arrears on the Series A Preferred Shares. Unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are being paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment on all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares and any Parity Securities with respect to dividends through the most recent dates on which dividends were to be paid in accordance with the terms of such securities (for the Series A Preferred Shares, the respective Dividend Payment Date), (i) no dividend may be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any Junior Security (other than a dividend payable solely in Junior Securities with respect to both dividends and the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Corporation’s affairs), including Common Stock, and (ii) the Corporation may not redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any Parity Security or Junior Security, including Common Stock, in each case, subject to the following exceptions: (A) any dividend or distribution payable in shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock, together with cash in lieu of any fractional share; (B) the acquisition of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in exchange for shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock, together with cash in lieu of any fractional share; (C) purchases, redemptions, or other acquisitions of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit or other incentive plan, including any employment contract, including, without limitation, the forfeiture of unvested shares of restricted stock or share withholdings or other surrender of shares to which the holder may otherwise be entitled up on exercise, delivery, or vesting of equity awards (whether in payment of applicable taxes, the exercise price, or otherwise); (D) purchases of fractional interests in shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such shares of other Junior Stock or any securities exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock; (E) purchases of Common Stock or other Junior Stock pursuant to a contractually binding requirement to buy Common Stock or other Junior Stock existing prior to the preceding Dividend Period, including under a contractually binding stock repurchase plan; (F) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock and the payment of cash in lieu of fractional shares; and (G) any dividends or distributions of rights in connection with a stockholders’ rights plan or any redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant to any stockholders’ rights plan. Accumulated dividends in arrears for any past Dividend Period may be declared by the Board, or an authorized committee thereof, and paid on any date fixed by the Board, whether or not a Dividend Payment Date, to Holders of the Series A Preferred Shares on the Record Date for such payment, which may not be less than 10 days before the payment date of such dividend. To the extent a Dividend Period applicable to a class of Junior Securities or Parity Securities is shorter than the Dividend Period applicable to the Series A Preferred Shares (e.g., quarterly rather than semi-annually), the Board may declare and pay regular dividends with respect to such Junior Securities or Parity Securities so long as, at the time of declaration of such dividend, the Board expects the Corporation will have sufficient funds to pay the full dividend in respect of the Series A Preferred Shares on the next Dividend Payment Date.

 

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(e) Subject to the next succeeding sentence, if all accumulated dividends in arrears on all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares and any Parity Securities have not been declared and paid, or sufficient funds for the payment thereof have not been set apart, payment of accumulated dividends in arrears will be made in order of the dates on which such dividends were to be made in accordance with the terms of such securities (for the Series A Preferred Shares, the relevant Dividend Payment Dates), commencing with the earliest such payment date. If less than all dividends payable with respect to all Series A Preferred Shares and any Parity Securities are paid, any partial payment will be made pro rata with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares and any Parity Securities entitled to a dividend payment at such time in proportion to the aggregate amounts remaining due in respect of such Series A Preferred Shares and Parity Securities at such time.

(f) Unless otherwise determined by the Board, dividends on Series A Preferred Shares will be deemed to have been paid out of the Corporation’s available cash with respect to the quarter ended immediately preceding the quarter in which the dividend payment is made.

Section 4. Calculation Agent.

Unless the Corporation has validly called all of the Series A Preferred Shares for redemption on the First Reset Date, the Corporation will appoint the Calculation Agent for the Series A Preferred Shares prior to the Reset Dividend Determination Date preceding the First Reset Date and will keep a record of such appointment at the Corporation’s principal office, which will be available to any Record Holder of Series A Preferred Shares upon request. The Corporation may appoint, at any time and from time to time, any person or entity, other than the Corporation or its affiliates, to serve as the Calculation Agent. The Corporation may terminate any such appointment and may appoint a successor Calculation Agent at any time and from time to time.

Section 5. Optional Redemption by the Corporation.

(a) Optional Redemption After the First Reset Date. At any time on or after the First Reset Date, the Corporation may, at its option, redeem, in whole or in part, on one or more occasions, the Series A Preferred Shares at a redemption price payable in cash of $1,000 (100% of the Liquidation Preference) per Series A Preferred Share plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, whether or not declared. The Corporation may undertake multiple partial redemptions.

(b) Optional Redemption Upon a Rating Event. At any time within 120 days after the conclusion of any review or appeal process instituted by the Corporation following the occurrence of a Rating Event, the Corporation may, at its option, redeem the Series A Preferred Shares in whole, but not in part, at a redemption price payable in cash of $1,020 per share (102% of the Liquidation Preference) per Series A Preferred Share plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, whether or not declared.

(c) Optional Redemption Upon Change of Control Trigger Event. At any time within 120 days after the first date on which a Change of Control Trigger Event occurs (the “Change of Control Redemption Period”), the Corporation may, at its option, redeem, in whole or in part, on one or more occasions, the Series A Preferred Shares at a redemption price payable

 

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in cash of $1,030 (103.00% of the Liquidation Preference) per share for a Change of Control Trigger Event that occurs before October 15, 2022, $1,020 (102.00% of the Liquidation Preference) per share for a Change of Control Trigger Event that occurs on or after October 15, 2022 and before October 15, 2023 or $1,010 (101.00% of the Liquidation Preference) per share for a Change of Control Trigger Event that occurs on or after October 15, 2023 and before October 15, 2026, plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, whether or not declared. The Corporation may undertake multiple partial redemptions. If the Corporation does not exercise its option to redeem all Series A Preferred Shares within 120 days after the first date on which a Change of Control Trigger Event occurs, then the then-applicable Dividend Rate for the Series A Preferred Shares not so redeemed will be increased by 5.0%.

(d) Optional Redemption Upon Failure to Receive Consent to a Transaction. At any time within 120 days of the Corporation’s failure to receive the affirmative vote or consent of the Holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, voting as a class together with the holders of any Parity Securities upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, to any Transaction that results in a Covered Disposition (a “Rejected Transaction”), the Corporation may, at its option, redeem, in whole or in part, on one or more occasions, the Series A Preferred Shares at a redemption price payable in cash equal to $1,030 (103.00% of the Liquidation Preference) per share for a Rejected Transaction that occurs before October 15, 2022, $1,020 (102.00% of the Liquidation Preference) per share for a Rejected Transaction that occurs on or after October 15, 2022 and before October 15, 2023 or $1,010 (101.00% of the Liquidation Preference) per share for a Rejected Transaction that occurs on or after October 15, 2023 and before October 15, 2026, plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, whether or not declared. The Corporation may undertake multiple partial redemptions.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, at any time on or after the First Reset Date, the Corporation may redeem the Series A Preferred Shares at a redemption price payable in cash equal to $1,000 (100% of the Liquidation Preference) per Series A Preferred Share notwithstanding the occurrence of any other event(s) that would give rise to the Corporation having an option to redeem the Series A Preferred Shares at the applicable redemption price(s) specified herein for such event(s).

(f) Any optional redemption would be effected only out of funds legally available for such purpose and subject to compliance with the provisions of the instruments governing the Corporation’s outstanding indebtedness.

Section 6. Procedures for Redemption by the Corporation.

If the Series A Preferred Shares are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed as such Record Holders’ names appear on the stock transfer books maintained by the Registrar and Transfer Agent at the address of such Record Holders shown therein, mailed not less than 10 days, nor more than 60 days, prior to the scheduled Redemption Date. Each notice of redemption shall include a statement setting forth:

 

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(a) the Redemption Date and basis under which such Series A Preferred Shares are being redeemed;

(b) the total number of Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed and, if less than all the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Shares are to be redeemed, the number (and in the case of Series A Preferred Shares in certificated form, the identification) of the Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed from such Record Holder;

(c) the redemption price;

(d) the place where any Series A Preferred Shares in certificated form are to be redeemed and shall be presented and surrendered for payment of the redemption price therefor;

(e) that dividends on the Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed will cease to accumulate from and after such Redemption Date; and

(f) if such redemption is being made in connection with a Change of Control, a brief description of the transaction or transactions constituting such Change of Control.

If fewer than all of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares are to be redeemed, the number of Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed will be determined by the Corporation, and such shares will be redeemed by such method of selection as the Securities Depositary shall determine, pro rata or by lot, with adjustments to avoid redemption of fractional units. So long as all Series A Preferred Shares are held of record by the nominee of the Securities Depositary, the Corporation will give notice, or cause notice to be given, to the Securities Depositary of the number of Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed, and the Securities Depositary will determine the number of Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed from the account of each of its participants holding Series A Preferred Shares in its participant account. Thereafter, each participant will select the number of Series A Preferred Shares to be redeemed from each beneficial owner for whom it acts (including the participant, to the extent it holds Series A Preferred Shares for its own account). A participant may determine to redeem Series A Preferred Shares from some beneficial owners (including the participant itself) without redeeming Series A Preferred Shares from the accounts of other beneficial owners.

So long as the Series A Preferred Shares are held of record by the nominee of the Securities Depositary, the redemption price will be paid by the Paying Agent to the Securities Depositary on the Redemption Date.

If the Corporation gives or causes to be given a notice of redemption, then the Corporation will deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to redeem the Series A Preferred Shares as to which notice has been given by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to the Record Holder or Record Holders thereof upon surrender or deemed surrender of the certificates therefor (which will occur automatically if the certificate representing such Series A Preferred Shares is issued in the name of the Securities Depositary or its nominee). If a notice of redemption shall have been given, then from and after the Redemption Date, unless the Corporation defaults in providing funds sufficient for such redemption at the time and place

 

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specified for payment pursuant to the notice, all dividends on such Series A Preferred Shares will cease to accumulate and all rights of Record Holders of such Series A Preferred Shares as stockholders will cease, except the right to receive the redemption price, including an amount equal to accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, whether or not declared. The Record Holders of Series A Preferred Shares will have no claim to the interest income, if any, earned on such funds deposited with the Paying Agent. Any funds deposited with the Paying Agent hereunder by the Corporation for any reason, including, but not limited to, redemption of Series A Preferred Shares, that remain unclaimed or unpaid after one year after the applicable Redemption Date or other payment date, shall be, to the extent permitted by law, repaid to the Corporation upon the Corporation’s written request, after which repayment the Record Holders of the Series A Preferred Shares entitled to such redemption or other payment shall have recourse only to the Corporation.

If only a portion of the Series A Preferred Shares represented by a certificate has been called for redemption, upon surrender of the certificate to the Paying Agent (which will occur automatically if the certificate representing such Series A Preferred Shares is registered in the name of the Securities Depositary or its nominee), the Corporation will issue and the Paying Agent will deliver to the Record Holder of such Series A Preferred Shares a new certificate representing the number of Series A Preferred Shares represented by the surrendered certificate that have not been called for redemption.

Notwithstanding any notice of redemption, there will be no redemption of any Series A Preferred Shares called for redemption until funds sufficient to pay the full redemption price of such shares, including all accumulated and unpaid dividends to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, whether or not declared, have been deposited by the Corporation with the Paying Agent.

The Corporation may from time to time purchase Series A Preferred Shares, subject to compliance with all applicable securities and other laws. Any Series A Preferred Shares that the Corporation redeems or otherwise acquires will be cancelled.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred Shares, any Parity Securities or any Senior Securities have not been paid or declared and set apart for payment, the Corporation may not repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, in whole or in part, any Series A Preferred Shares except pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same relative terms to all Holders of Series A Preferred Shares and such Parity Securities or Senior Securities that are then in arrears.

Section 7. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up.

(a) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, the Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets the Corporation has legally available for distribution to its stockholders the Liquidation Preference per Series A Preferred Share, plus an amount (the “Liquidation Dividend Amount”) equal to any accumulated and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) on such shares to, but not including, the date of payment, before any distribution of assets upon such liquidation, winding-up or dissolution is made to the holders of any Junior Securities with respect to such distribution.

 

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(b) In the event that, upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation, the available assets of the Corporation are insufficient to pay the amounts payable with respect to the Liquidation Preference plus the Liquidation Dividend Amount on the shares of Series A Preferred Shares and the corresponding amounts payable on all Parity Securities in the distribution of assets, then the Holders and all holders of any such other Parity Securities will share ratably in any distribution of the Corporation’s assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

(c) The Corporation shall provide the Holders written notice of any such payment upon the Corporation’s voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding-up or dissolution no fewer than 30 days and no more than 60 days prior to the payment date. After payment to any Holder of the full amount of the Liquidation Preference and the Liquidation Dividend Amount to which such Holder is entitled, such Holder will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Corporation.

(d) The consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other entity or of any other entity with or into the Corporation, or the sale, lease, transfer or conveyance of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property or business, will not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the Corporation (although such events may give rise to the special optional redemption rights described in Section 5).

Section 8. Voting Rights.

(a) General. Holders shall not have any voting rights except as set forth in this Section 8 and as otherwise from time to time specifically required by Delaware law. In addition, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Holders shall not have any voting rights, except as otherwise specifically required by Delaware law, following such time as all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption. On any matter on which Holders are entitled to vote, such Holders will be entitled to one vote per Series A Preferred Share; provided that for any matter on which Holders are entitled to vote with the holders of any Parity Securities upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter, voting together as a single class, the Holders and the holders of such other Parity Securities will be entitled to cast one vote for each $25.00 of liquidation preference (in the case of the Series A Preferred Shares, the Liquidation Preference) (excluding accrued and unpaid dividends). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Series A Preferred Shares held by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or controlled affiliates will not be entitled to vote.

(b) Right to Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment.

(i) Whenever any dividends on any Series A Preferred Shares are in arrears for three or more semi-annual Dividend Periods, whether or not consecutive (a “Nonpayment Event”), the Corporation shall promptly increase the number of directors of the Board by two, and the Holders and holders of any Parity Securities upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable (“Eligible Parity Stock”), voting together as a single class, shall be entitled to elect those two additional members of the Board (the “Preferred Stock Directors”). For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the total number of Preferred Stock Directors

 

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exceed two. The election of the initial Preferred Stock Directors following any Nonpayment Event will occur at a special meeting called by the Corporation at the request of the Record Holders and the holders of record of shares of Eligible Parity Stock collectively representing at least 25% of the aggregate liquidation preference (excluding accrued and unpaid dividends) of all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares and shares of Eligible Parity Stock; provided that, if such a request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders, then such vote will be held at the earlier of such next annual or special meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders to the extent permitted by the By-laws. If a special meeting is not called by the Corporation in accordance with the foregoing within 30 days after request from the Holders and holders of shares of Eligible Parity Stock in accordance with the foregoing, then the Record Holders and holders of record of shares of Eligible Parity Stock collectively representing at least 25% of the aggregate liquidation preference (excluding accrued and unpaid dividends) of all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares and shares of Eligible Parity Stock may designate a holder to call the meeting at the Corporation’s expense and, for such purpose and no other (unless provided otherwise by applicable law), such holder of Series A Preferred Shares or shares of Eligible Parity Stock shall have access to the Corporation’s stock ledger. Following the election of the initial Preferred Stock Directors, the Preferred Stock Directors will be subject to election or re-election at each subsequent annual meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders.

(ii) At each meeting at which the Holders and holders of Eligible Parity Stock are entitled to vote for the election of Preferred Stock Directors, the Record Holders and holders of record of shares of Eligible Parity Stock collectively representing at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in respect of such matter, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(iii) Each Preferred Stock Director will be (A) in the case of an uncontested election of a director, elected by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting with respect to the election of directors or (B) in the case of a contested election of a director, elected by a plurality of the votes cast at such meeting with respect to the election of directors; provided that in no event may any Preferred Stock Director be nominated or elected if the election of such director would cause the Corporation to violate any applicable corporate governance requirements of the NYSE (or any other exchange or automated quotation system on which the Corporation’s securities may then be listed or quoted) relating to the independence of directors.

(iv) Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Record Holders and holders of record of shares of Eligible Parity Stock collectively representing at least a majority of the votes that would be entitled to vote in the election of a Preferred Stock Director.

 

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(v) In the event that a Nonpayment Event shall have occurred and shall not have been remedied, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Stock Director following the initial election of Preferred Stock Directors may be filled by the written consent of the Preferred Stock Director remaining in office or, if none remains in office, by the written consent of the Record Holders and holders of record of shares of Eligible Parity Stock collectively representing at least a majority of the votes that would be entitled to vote in the election of a Preferred Stock Director; provided that in no event may any such Preferred Stock Director be appointed if the appointment of such director would cause the Corporation to violate any applicable corporate governance requirements of the NYSE (or any other exchange or automated quotation system on which the Corporation’s securities may then be listed or quoted) relating to the independence of directors. Any such appointed Preferred Stock Director will serve until the earlier of his or her resignation, removal or death or the election of his or her successor at the next applicable annual or special meeting of stockholders.

(vi) Following a Nonpayment Event, if and when all accrued dividends on the Series A Preferred Shares for all past Dividend Periods and the then-current Dividend Period shall have been fully paid, the right of Holders to participate in the election of Preferred Stock Directors will cease (subject to the revesting of such right upon any subsequent Nonpayment Event) and, unless there are outstanding shares of Eligible Parity Stock, the term of office of any Preferred Stock Directors will immediately terminate, the Preferred Stock Directors shall automatically cease to be on the Board without any further action by the Corporation or the Preferred Stock Directors, and the number of directors constituting the Board shall be reduced accordingly.

(c) Other Voting Rights.

(i) So long as any of the Series A Preferred Shares are outstanding, unless the Corporation has received the affirmative vote or consent, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at an annual or special meeting of such stockholders, of the Holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, the Corporation may not adopt any amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation (including this Certificate of Designation) that would have a material adverse effect on the powers, preferences, duties, or special rights of the Series A Preferred Shares; provided that no amendment (i) relating to the issuance of any class or series of capital stock or (ii) in connection with a merger or other transaction in which the Corporation is the surviving entity and the Series A Preferred Shares remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged in any respect adverse to the Holders, will be deemed to materially adversely affect the terms of the Series A Preferred Shares.

(ii) In addition, so long as any of the Series A Preferred Shares are outstanding, unless the Corporation has received the affirmative vote or consent, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at an annual or special meeting of such stockholders, of the Holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, voting together as a class with the holders of any Parity Securities upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the Corporation may not:

 

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(A) create or issue any Parity Securities (including any additional Series A Preferred Shares) if the cumulative dividends payable on the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares (or Parity Securities, if applicable) are in arrears;

(B) create or issue any additional Series A Preferred Shares or any Parity Securities with an aggregate liquidation preference, together with the Series A Preferred Shares issued at the Initial Issue Date and any Parity Securities then outstanding, of greater than $2.5 billion;

(C) undertake any Transaction that results in a Covered Disposition; or

(D) create or issue any Senior Securities.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may amend, alter, supplement, or repeal any terms of the Series A Preferred Shares, including by way of amendment to this Certificate of Designation, without the consent of the Holders (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and so long as such action does not adversely affect the special rights, preferences, privileges, or voting powers of the Series A Preferred Shares, and limitations and restrictions thereof), for the following purposes:

(i) to cure any ambiguity or mistake, or to correct or supplement any provision contained in this Certificate of Designation establishing the terms of the Series A Preferred Shares that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained in such Certificate of Designation;

(ii) to make any provision with respect to matters or questions relating to the Series A Preferred Shares that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation; or

(iii) to waive any of the Corporation’s rights with respect thereto.

In addition, without the consent of the Holders, the Corporation may amend, alter, supplement, or repeal any terms of the Series A Preferred Shares, including by way of amendment to this Certificate of Designation, in order to conform the terms thereof to the description of the terms of the Series A Preferred Shares set forth under “Description of Series A Preferred Shares” in the Offering Memorandum.

(e) Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the Holders (including, without limitation, the fixing of a Record Date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other procedural aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Certificate of

 

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Incorporation, the By-laws, applicable law and the rules of the NYSE or any other national securities exchange or other trading facility on which the Series A Preferred Shares is listed or traded at the time. Series A Preferred Shares held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and its nominee provides otherwise.

Section 9. Transfer Agent, Registrar, and Paying Agent. The Corporation shall maintain in the United States an office or agency where Series A Preferred Shares may be surrendered for payment (including upon redemption), registration of transfer, or exchange. The initial duly appointed Transfer Agent, Registrar and Paying Agent for the Series A Preferred Shares shall be American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, remove the Transfer Agent, Registrar or Paying Agent in accordance with the agreement between the Corporation and the Transfer Agent, Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be; provided, however, that if the Corporation removes American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, the Corporation shall appoint a successor transfer agent, registrar or paying agent, as the case may be, who shall accept such appointment prior to the effectiveness of such removal. Upon any such removal or appointment, the Corporation shall send notice thereof to the Holders.

Section 10. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation and the Transfer Agent may deem and treat the Holder of any Series A Preferred Shares as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes.

Section 11. Notices. The Corporation shall send all notices or communications to Holders of the Series A Preferred Shares pursuant to this Certificate of Designation in writing by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the Holders’ respective addresses shown on the register for the Series A Preferred Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of Series A Preferred Shares held in book-entry form, the Corporation shall be permitted to send notices or communications to Holders pursuant to the procedures of the Securities Depositary, and notices and communications that the Corporation sends in this manner will be deemed to have been properly sent to such Holders in writing.

Section 12. No Preemptive or Conversion Rights. The Series A Preferred Shares will not be convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property, and the Holders will not be entitled to any preemptive or similar rights.

Section 13. Other Rights. The Series A Preferred Shares shall not have any rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation or as provided by applicable law. Series A Preferred Shares will not have the benefit of any sinking fund, and the Corporation is not required to set apart for payment any funds to redeem Series A Preferred Shares.

 

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Section 14. Book-Entry Form.

(a) All Series A Preferred Shares offered hereby will be represented by one or more global certificates substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A issued to the Securities Depositary, and registered in the name of its nominee (initially, Cede & Co.), for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant in the Securities Depositary (including, if applicable, Euroclear and Clearstream), duly executed by the Corporation and authenticated by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Series A Preferred Shares will continue to be represented by one or more certificates substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A registered in the name of the Securities Depositary or its nominee, and no Holder offered hereby will be entitled to receive a certificate evidencing such shares unless otherwise required by law or the Securities Depositary gives notice of its intention to resign or is no longer eligible to act as such and the Corporation has not selected a substitute Securities Depositary within 60 calendar days thereafter. Payments and communications made by the Corporation to Holders will be duly made by making payments to, and communicating with, the Securities Depositary. Accordingly, unless certificates are available to Holders, each purchaser of Series A Preferred Shares must rely on (i) the procedures of the Securities Depositary and its participants (including, if applicable, Euroclear and Clearstream) to receive dividends, any redemption price, Liquidation Preference and notices, and to direct the exercise of any voting rights, with respect to such Series A Preferred Shares and (ii) the records of the Securities Depositary and its participants (including, if applicable, Euroclear and Clearstream) to evidence its ownership of such Series A Preferred Shares.

(b) So long as the Securities Depositary (or its nominee) is the sole holder of Series A Preferred Shares, no beneficial holder of Series A Preferred Shares will be deemed to be a holder of Series A Preferred Shares, and the Securities Depositary may be treated by the Corporation, the Transfer Agent, and any agent of the Corporation or the Transfer Agent as the absolute owner of such Series A Preferred Shares for all purposes whatsoever.

Section 15. Withholding Taxes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if the Corporation or other applicable withholding agent pays withholding taxes or backup withholding on behalf of the Holder or beneficial owner, the Corporation or other applicable withholding agent may, at its option, set off such payments against payments of cash dividends, shares of Series A Preferred Shares or sale proceeds paid, subsequently paid or credited with respect to such Holder or beneficial owner.

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this certificate this October 14, 2021.

 

/s/ Kristopher Moldovan

Name:   Kristopher Moldovan
Title:   Senior Vice President and Treasurer

[Signature Page to Certificate of Designation]


Exhibit A

[FORM OF FACE OF

8.0% SERIES A FIXED-RATE RESET CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL

PREFERRED STOCK CERTIFICATE]

THE SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THE SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SUCH SHARES, NOT TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SHARES PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS IN THE CASE OF A RULE 144A CERTIFICATE: SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LATER OF THE DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF SUCH SHARES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE CORPORATION OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE CORPORATION WAS THE OWNER OF SUCH SHARES OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN IN THE CASE OF A REGULATION S CERTIFICATE: SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LATER OF (X) THE CLOSING DATE OF THE OFFERING PURSUANT TO WHICH SUCH SHARES WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED AND (Y) THE DATE ON WHICH SUCH SHARES OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SHARES WERE FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) (SUCH DATE, THE “RELEASE DATE”), EXCEPT (A) (1) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (FOR SO LONG AS THE SHARES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE UNDER RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) TO A PERSON WHO THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE) OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (4) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (5) TO THE CORPORATION, PROVIDED THAT ANY OFFER, SALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (1) OR (2) SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION AND/OR THE TRANSFER AGENT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM; AND (B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF THE STATES OF THE U.S. AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND SUBJECT TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF THE SELLER’S PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF AN INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITH THE SELLER OR ACCOUNT’S CONTROL.

 

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IN ADDITION, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY UNDERSTANDS THAT THE CORPORATION MAY RECEIVE A LIST OF PARTICIPANTS HOLDING POSITIONS IN THIS SECURITY FROM ONE OR MORE BOOK-ENTRY DEPOSITARIES. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS HEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO REPRESENT THAT IT AGREES TO COMPLY WITH THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH HEREIN AND IN THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, AND WILL NOT TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS HEREIN EXCEPT TO AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER WHO CAN MAKE THE SAME ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS PURCHASING.

IN THE CASE OF A REGULATION S CERTIFICATE: NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THIS CERTIFICATE, NONE OF THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED TO ANY U.S. PERSON OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF ANY U.S. PERSON (OTHER THAN A DISTRIBUTOR) PRIOR TO THE RELEASE DATE. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS PRIOR TO THE RELEASE DATE INVOLVING ANY OF THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE CORPORATION OR THE TRANSFER AGENT NAMED ON THE FACE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL IN AS MUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO. HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC OR NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE.

THE CORPORATION SHALL FURNISH A FULL STATEMENT ABOUT CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFERABILITY TO A STOCKHOLDER UPON REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.

THE SHARES OF 8.0% SERIES A FIXED-RATE RESET CUMULATIVE REDEEMABLE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE CORPORATION (AS DEFINED BELOW) AT THE TIMES AND REDEMPTION PRICES, AND ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS, SET FORTH IN THE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION (AS DEFINED BELOW).

 

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   [Initial] Number of Shares of 8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset
Certificate Number [__]    Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock: [__]
   [CUSIP: [ 🌑 ]]
   [ISIN: [ 🌑 ]]

VISTRA CORP.

8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock

(Liquidation Preference as specified below)

Vistra Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies that [Cede & Co.] (the “Holder”), is the registered owner of [__] [the number shown on Schedule I hereto of] fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Corporation’s designated 8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, with a Liquidation Preference of $1,000.00 per share (the “Series A Preferred Shares”). The Series A Preferred Shares are transferable on the books and records of the Registrar, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Series A Preferred Shares represented hereby are and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Designation of 8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, of Vistra Corp. dated October 15, 2021, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Designation”). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings given them in the Certificate of Designation. The Corporation will provide a copy of the Certificate of Designation to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Corporation at its principal place of business.

Reference is hereby made to the provisions of the Series A Preferred Shares set forth on the reverse hereof and in the Certificate of Designation, which provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place. If the terms of this certificate conflict with the terms of the Certificate of Designation, then the terms of the Certificate of Designation will control to the extent of such conflict.

Upon receipt of this executed certificate, the Holder is bound by the Certificate of Designation and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

Unless the Transfer Agent and Registrar have properly countersigned this certificate, these Series A Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Certificate of Designation or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

* * *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this certificate has been executed on behalf of the Corporation by two officers of the Corporation this [__] of [__], 20[__].

 

VISTRA CORP.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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COUNTERSIGNATURE

These are the Series A Preferred Shares referred to in the within-mentioned Certificate of Designation.

Dated: [__], [__]

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC,

as Registrar and Transfer Agent

 

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF

CERTIFICATE FOR SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK]

Cumulative cash distributions on each Series A Preferred Share shall be payable at the rate provided in the Certificate of Designation.

The Corporation shall furnish without charge to each Holder who so requests a statement of the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed upon each class or series of stock of the Corporation authorized to be issued, including the Series A Preferred Shares, and upon the holders thereof. Such statement may be obtained from the Corporation at the Corporation’s principal executive office, which, on October 15, 2021, were located at 6555 Sierra Drive, Irving, Texas 75039.

 

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ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers the Series A Preferred Shares evidenced hereby to:

 

                                                                                                                                                                                            

(Insert assignee’s social security or taxpayer identification number, if any)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

                                                                                                                                                                                            

 

                                                                                                                                                                                            

(Insert address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoints:                                                                                                               

as agent to transfer the Series A Preferred Shares evidenced hereby on the books of the Transfer Agent and Registrar. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

 

Date:      
Signature:                                                                                                                                        

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Certificate)

  
Signature Guarantee:                                                                                                                  

(Signature must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Transfer Agent, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Transfer Agent in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

  

 

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Schedule I1

Vistra Corp.

Global Preferred Share

8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock

Certificate Number:

The number of Series A Preferred Shares initially represented by this Global Preferred Share shall be [__]. Thereafter the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall note changes in the number of Series A Preferred Shares evidenced by this Global Preferred Share in the table set forth below:

 

Amount of Decrease

in Number of Shares

Represented by this

Global Preferred Share

   Amount of Increase
in Number of Shares
Represented by this
Global Preferred Share
   Number of Shares
Represented by this
Global Preferred
Share following
Decrease or Increase
   Signature of
Authorized Officer of
Transfer Agent and
Registrar

 

1 

Attach Schedule I only to Global Preferred Shares.

 

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Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

VISTRA CORP.

1,000,000 shares of

8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock

Purchase Agreement

October 12, 2021

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Vistra Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to you (the “Initial Purchaser”) 1,000,000 shares of its 8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (the “Securities”). The terms of the Securities will be set forth in a certificate of designation (the “Certificate of Designation”). The use of the neuter in this purchase agreement (this “Agreement”) shall include the feminine and masculine wherever appropriate.

The sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchaser will be made without registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act”), in reliance upon exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

In connection with the sale of the Securities, the Company has prepared a preliminary offering memorandum, dated October 9, 2021 (as amended or supplemented at the date thereof, including any and all exhibits thereto and any information incorporated by reference therein, the “Preliminary Memorandum”), and a final offering memorandum, dated October 12, 2021 (as amended or supplemented at the Execution Time (as defined below), including any and all exhibits thereto and any information incorporated by reference therein, the “Final Memorandum”). Each of the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum sets forth certain information concerning the Company and the Securities. The Company hereby confirms that it has authorized the use of the Disclosure Package (as defined below), the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum, and any amendment or supplement thereto, in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchaser. Unless stated to the contrary, any references herein to the terms “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum shall be deemed to refer to and include any information filed under the Exchange Act (as defined below) subsequent to the Execution Time that is incorporated by reference therein.


As used in this Agreement, the “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Memorandum, as amended or supplemented at the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the “Execution Time”), (ii) the final term sheet prepared pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto and in the form attached as Schedule II hereto and (iii) any writings in addition to the Preliminary Memorandum that the parties expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package (“Issuer Written Information”).

The net proceeds from the offering of the Securities will be used to repurchase outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”). Pending the execution of share repurchases, the Company intends to invest the proceeds from the offering in cash and/or invest in short- and long-term marketable securities.

1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Initial Purchaser as set forth below in this Section 1.

(a) The Preliminary Memorandum, at the date thereof, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. At the Execution Time and on the Closing Date, the Final Memorandum did not and will not (and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the date thereof and at the Closing Date will not) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty as to the information contained in or omitted from the Preliminary Memorandum or the Final Memorandum, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(b) As of the Execution Time, neither (i) (1) the Disclosure Package and (2) each electronic road show, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, nor (ii) any other General Solicitation (as defined below) by the Company, its Affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchaser specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof. The term “Affiliates,” means affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act (“Regulation D”), except that in reference to the Company, it excludes any person or entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 501(b)) primarily or exclusively as a result of his, her or its ownership of capital stock of the Company.

(c) None of the Company, its Affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made offers or sales of any security, or solicited offers to buy, any security under circumstances that would require the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act.

 

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(d) None of the Company, its Affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf has: (i) engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) (each, a “General Solicitation”) in connection with any offer or sale of the Securities, other than any General Solicitation in respect of which the Initial Purchaser has given its prior written consent; provided that the prior written consent of the Initial Purchaser shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the General Solicitation included in Schedule III hereto or (ii) engaged in any directed selling efforts (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”)) with respect to the Securities; and each of the Company, its Affiliates and each person acting on its or their behalf has complied with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S.

(e) The Securities satisfy the eligibility requirements of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act.

(f) The Company is subject to and in full compliance with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”).

(g) No registration under the Securities Act of the Securities is required for the offer and sale of the Securities to or by the Initial Purchaser in the manner contemplated herein, in the Disclosure Package and in the Final Memorandum.

(h) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(i) Neither the Company nor any other person acting on its behalf has paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any securities of the Company (except as contemplated in this Agreement); and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D) has, directly or through any agent, sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any security (as defined in the Securities Act), that is or will be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner that would require registration of the Securities under the Securities Act.

(j) Neither the Company nor any other person acting on its behalf has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(k) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware, with full corporate power and authority necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction that requires such qualification.

 

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(l) The Company has the authorized capitalization set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum. The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (except for the issuance of Securities contemplated by this Agreement), were issued in compliance in all material respects with federal and state securities laws and not in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right and conform to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights (including, without limitation, preemptive rights) to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations into or exchange any securities or interests for shares of capital stock or ownership interests of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(m) All the outstanding shares of capital stock or ownership interests of the Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, all outstanding shares of capital stock or ownership interests of the “significant subsidiaries” of the Company listed on Annex A attached hereto are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any security interest, claim, lien or encumbrance.

(n) The statements in the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum under the headings “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations”, “Certain ERISA Considerations” and “Description of Series A Preferred Shares” fairly summarize the matters therein described.

(o) The Company has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Certificate of Designation and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. This Agreement and the Certificate of Designation have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and this Agreement, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Initial Purchaser, constitutes a legal, valid, binding instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity).

(p) The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (i) will be duly and validly issued, (ii) will be fully paid and non-assessable, (iii) will be free and clear of any pledge, security interest, claim, lien or other encumbrance (other than those arising under the federal securities laws and applicable state “blue sky” laws) and (iv) will conform to the descriptions thereof in each of the Disclosure Package, the Final Memorandum and the Certificate of Designation. The issuance of the Securities is not subject to any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right. The form of certificate for the Securities conforms to the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and to any requirements of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company.

 

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(q) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement (including the issuance and sale of the Securities or the consummation of the other transaction contemplated herein) or the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, except such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in which the Securities are offered and sold.

(r) None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Securities, the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated, or the fulfillment of the terms hereof, will conflict with or will result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws or comparable constituting documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject; or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, which conflict, breach, violation or imposition would, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, either individually or in the aggregate with all other conflicts, breaches, violations and impositions referred to in this paragraph (r) (if any), have (x) a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) or (y) a material adverse effect upon the transactions contemplated herein.

(s) The consolidated historical financial statements and schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X (as defined below) and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein); the selected financial data set forth under the caption “Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Information” in the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum fairly present, on the basis stated in the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum, the information included or incorporated by reference therein and no other financial statements would be required to be set forth in a registration statement or prospectus under the Securities Act.

(t) No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the issuance and sale of the Securities) or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (clauses (i) and (ii), a “Material Adverse Effect”), except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

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(u) (i) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties (real and personal) described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum as being owned by any of them, in each case, free and clear of any liens, equities, claims and other defects (except as may exist under applicable law and as may be imposed by the Company’s credit facilities described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum or as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries); and (ii) all the property described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum as being held under lease by the Company or its subsidiaries is held thereby under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, except, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or bylaws or comparable constituting documents; (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject; or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) Deloitte & Touche LLP, which has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and which has delivered its report with respect to the applicable audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company in accordance with local accounting rules and within the meaning of the Securities Act.

(x) There are no stamp or other issuance or transfer taxes or duties or other similar fees or charges required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the Securities.

(y) The Company and each of its subsidiaries has filed all applicable tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect and except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto)) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect and except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

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(z) No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect and except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(aa) Except pursuant to applicable law or that certain Credit Agreement, dated October 3, 2016, among Vistra Operations Company LLC, Vistra Intermediate Company LLC, the guarantors party thereto, various lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as successor administrative agent and successor collateral agent, as amended, no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package or the Final Memorandum (in each case, exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(bb) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; all policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the terms of such policies and instruments; there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(cc) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by all applicable authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

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(dd) The Company has established and maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (to the extent required by and as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to the Company and has been designed by the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States; the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective; and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting.

(ee) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

(ff) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) have not received written notice of any actual or potential liability under any Environmental Law, except with respect to (i) through (iii) above where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive or comply with required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

(gg) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically reviews the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any environmental permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential environmental liabilities to third parties); on the basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

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(hh) The minimum funding standard under Section 302 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”), has been satisfied by each “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) that has been established or maintained by the Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, and the trust forming part of each such plan which is intended to be qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder is so qualified; each of the Company and its subsidiaries has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under Section 515 of ERISA; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries maintains or is required to contribute to a “welfare plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) that provides retiree or other post-employment welfare benefits or insurance coverage (other than “continuation coverage” (as defined in Section 602 of ERISA)); each pension plan and welfare plan established or maintained by the Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with the currently applicable provisions of ERISA; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred or could reasonably be expected to incur any withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA, any liability under Section 4062, 4063, or 4064 of ERISA, or any other liability under Title IV of ERISA.

(ii) The subsidiaries listed on Annex A attached hereto are the only “significant subsidiaries” of the Company (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (“Regulation S-X”)).

(jj) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action or omit to take any action (such as issuing any press release relating to the Securities without an appropriate legend) that would result in the loss by the Initial Purchaser of the ability to rely on the stabilization safe harbor provided by (i) article 5 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052; or (ii) article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 as they form part of the domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the “EUWA”); or (iii) the United Kingdom the UK Financial Conduct Authority under section 137Q of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

(kk) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and applicable money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(ll) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) is, or is controlled or 50% or more owned in the aggregate by or is acting on behalf of, one or more individuals or entities that are currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States (including any administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State or the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, a member state of the European Union, the United Kingdom (including sanctions administered or enforced by Her Majesty’s Treasury) or

 

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other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions” and such persons, “Sanctioned Persons” and each such person, a “Sanctioned Person”), (ii) is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (collectively, “Sanctioned Countries” and each, a “Sanctioned Country”) or (iii) will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of this offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by, or could result in the imposition of Sanctions against, any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

(mm) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country, in the three years preceding the date hereof, nor does the Company or any of its subsidiaries have any plans to engage in dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country.

(nn) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of its directors or officers, in their respective capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 relating to loans and Sections 302 and 906 relating to certifications.

(oo) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that could result in a violation or a sanction for violation by any such person or entity of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, each as may be amended, or similar applicable law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the applicable rules or regulations thereunder; and the Company and its subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures to ensure compliance therewith. No part of the proceeds of the offering will be used, directly or indirectly, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, each as may be amended, or similar applicable law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the applicable rules or regulations thereunder.

(pp) Except as disclosed in the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with the Initial Purchaser or Affiliate of the Initial Purchaser and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any Affiliate of the Initial Purchaser.

(qq) Except for the quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share of the Company’s Common Stock declared and announced by the Company on July 28, 2021 and paid on September 30, 2021, since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there has been no material dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock of the Company, nor has

 

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the Company or any of its subsidiaries entered into any transaction or agreement that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Initial Purchaser or counsel for the Initial Purchaser as required by this Agreement in connection with the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to the Initial Purchaser.

2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the Initial Purchaser, and the Initial Purchaser agrees to purchase, at a purchase price equal to $992.50 per Security, the number of Securities set forth opposite the Initial Purchaser’s name in Schedule I hereto.

3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made at 9:30 A.M., New York City time, on October 15, 2021, or at such time on such later date not more than ten Business Days after the foregoing date as the Initial Purchaser shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Initial Purchaser and the Company (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). As used herein, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in The City of New York. Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Initial Purchaser for the account of the Initial Purchaser against payment by the Initial Purchaser of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Initial Purchaser shall otherwise instruct.

4. Offering by Initial Purchaser. (a) The Initial Purchaser acknowledges that the Securities have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

(b) Solely in connection with the offering of the Securities, the Initial Purchaser represents and warrants to and agrees with the Company that:

(i) it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, any Securities within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (x) as part of their distribution at any time or (y) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and the date of the closing of the offering except:

 

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(A) in the case of sales to those it reasonably believes to be “qualified institutional buyers” as permitted by Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or

(B) in accordance with Rule 903 of Regulation S;

(ii) neither it nor any person acting on its behalf has made or will make offers or sales of the Securities in the United States by means of General Solicitation, other than any General Solicitation included in Schedule III hereto;

(iii) in connection with each sale pursuant to Section 4(b)(i)(A), it has taken or will take reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser of such Securities is aware that such sale may be made in reliance on Rule 144A;

(iv) neither it, nor any of its Affiliates nor any person acting on its or their behalf has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts (within the meaning of Regulation S) with respect to the Securities;

(v) it is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D);

(vi) it has complied and will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S;

(vii) at or prior to the confirmation of sale of Securities (other than a sale of Securities pursuant to Section 4(b)(i)(A) of this Agreement), it shall have sent to each distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases Securities from it during the distribution compliance period (within the meaning of Regulation S) a confirmation or notice to substantially the following effect:

“The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act”) and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement of the offering and the date of closing of the offering, except in either case in accordance with Regulation S or Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Additional restrictions on the offer and sale of the Securities are described in the offering memorandum for the Securities. Terms used in this paragraph have the meanings given to them by Regulation S.”;

(viii) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”)) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any Securities, in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company;

 

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(ix) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom;

(x) it acknowledges that additional restrictions on the offer and sale of the Securities are described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum; and

(xi) in relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area, it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available, any Securities to any retail investor in the European Economic Area. For the purposes of this provision the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

  (A)

a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/5/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); or

 

  (B)

a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or

 

  (C)

not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129; and

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Securities.

(xii) in relation to the United Kingdom, it has not offered, sold or otherwise made available and will not offer, sell or otherwise make available, any Securities to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

  (A)

a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or

 

  (B)

a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or

 

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  (C)

not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; and

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Securities.

5. Agreements. The Company agrees with the Initial Purchaser that:

(a) The Company will furnish to the Initial Purchaser and to counsel for the Initial Purchaser, without charge, during the period referred to in Section 5(c) below, as many copies of the materials contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum and any amendments and supplements thereto as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably request.

(b) The Company will prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form approved by you and attached as Schedule II hereto.

(c) The Company will not amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Final Memorandum other than by filing documents under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference therein without the prior written consent of the Initial Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, however, that prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities by the Initial Purchaser (as defined by the opinion of counsel (including internal counsel) to the Initial Purchaser), the Company shall ensure that no document be filed under the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Final Memorandum unless, prior to such proposed filing, the Company has provided the Initial Purchaser with a copy of such document for their review and the Initial Purchaser has not reasonably objected to the filing of such document. The Company will promptly advise the Initial Purchaser when any document filed under the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package of the Final Memorandum shall have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).

(d) If at any time prior to the completion of the sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchaser, any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package or the Final Memorandum, as then amended or supplemented, would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, or if it should be necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Final Memorandum to comply with applicable law, the Company will promptly (i) notify the Initial Purchaser of any such event; (ii) subject to the requirements of Section 5(c), prepare an amendment or supplement that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any supplemented or amended Disclosure Package or Final Memorandum to the Initial Purchaser and counsel for the Initial Purchaser without charge in such quantities as they may reasonably request.

 

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(e) Without the prior written consent of the Initial Purchaser, the Company has not given and will not give to any prospective purchaser of the Securities any written information concerning the offering of the Securities other than materials contained in the Disclosure Package, the Final Memorandum or any other offering materials prepared by or with the prior written consent of the Initial Purchaser.

(f) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale by the Initial Purchaser under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Initial Purchaser may designate (including certain provinces of Canada) and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the sale of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified, (ii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not presently so subject or (iii) take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject. The Company will promptly advise the Initial Purchaser of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

(g) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Affiliates to, resell any Securities that have been acquired by any of them and that constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

(h) None of the Company, its Affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf will, directly or indirectly, make offers or sales of any security, or solicit offers to buy any security, under circumstances that, as a result of the doctrine of “integration” referred to in Rule 502 under the Securities Act, would require the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act.

(i) None of the Company, its Affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf will engage in any directed selling efforts (within the meaning of Regulation S) with respect to the Securities; and each of them will comply with the offering restrictions requirement of Regulation S.

(j) None of the Company, its Affiliates, or any person acting on its or their behalf will engage in any General Solicitation with respect to the offer or sale of the Securities, other than any General Solicitation in respect of which the Initial Purchaser has given its prior written consent; provided that the prior written consent of the Initial Purchaser shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the General Solicitation included in Schedule III hereto.

(k) For so long as any of the Securities are outstanding and are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the Company, during any period in which it is not subject to and in compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, will provide to each holder of such restricted securities and to each prospective purchaser (as designated by such holder) of such restricted securities, upon the request of such holder or prospective purchaser, any information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. This covenant is intended to be for the benefit of the holders, and the prospective purchasers designated by such holders, from time to time of such restricted securities.

 

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(l) The Company will cooperate with the Initial Purchaser and use its best efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

(m) The Company will use the net proceeds received from the sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum.

(n) Each of the Securities will bear, to the extent applicable, the legend contained in “Notice to Investors” in the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum for the time period and upon the other terms stated therein.

(o) The Company will not for a period of 90 days following the Execution Time, without the prior written consent of the Initial Purchaser, offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any Series A Preferred Shares or any substantially similar securities (or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the Series A Preferred Shares or such other securities), other than pursuant to the offering.

(p) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to, cause or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(q) So long as any of the Securities are outstanding, the Company will, furnish at its expense to the Initial Purchaser and, upon request, to the holders of the Securities and prospective purchasers of the Securities, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act (if any).

(r) The Company shall comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and shall cause its directors and officers, in their respective capacities as such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(s) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities to be sold by it in the offering hereunder substantially in accordance with the description set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”

The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation and filing of the Certificate of Designation and the issuance of the Securities; (ii) the preparation, printing or reproduction of the materials contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum and each amendment or supplement to either of them; (iii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the materials contained in the Disclosure Package and

 

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the Final Memorandum, and all amendments or supplements to either of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iv) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of the Securities; (v) any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (vi) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (vii) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states, the provinces of Canada and any other jurisdictions specified pursuant to Section 5(f) (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Initial Purchaser relating to such registration and qualification); (viii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; (x) the rating of the Securities; (xi) the obligations of the transfer agent, any agent of the transfer agent and the counsel for the transfer agent in connection with the Securities; and (xii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Initial Purchaser. The obligations of the Initial Purchaser to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein at the Execution Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) The Company shall have requested and caused (i) Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Initial Purchaser its opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Initial Purchaser, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto and (ii) Vinson & Elkins LLP, tax counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Initial Purchaser its opinion, dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to the Initial Purchaser, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto.

(b) The Company shall have requested and caused the general counsel of the Company to furnish the Initial Purchaser an opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Initial Purchaser, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

(c) The Initial Purchaser shall have received from Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchaser, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Initial Purchaser, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Disclosure Package, the Final Memorandum (as amended or supplemented at the Closing Date) and other related matters as the Initial Purchaser may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(d) The Company shall have furnished to the Initial Purchaser a certificate of the Company, signed by (x) the chief executive officer of the Company and (y) the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum and any supplements or amendments thereto and this Agreement and that:

 

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

(ii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(e) At the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, (i) the Company shall have requested and caused Deloitte & Touche LLP to furnish to the Initial Purchaser customary comfort letters, dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser and confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and (ii) the Company shall have furnished to the Initial Purchaser a certificate of its chief financial officer, dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchaser and providing “management comfort” with respect to certain financial information contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum.

(f) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (f) of this Section 6; or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Initial Purchaser, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(g) The Securities shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

 

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(h) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

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

(j) The Company shall have filed with the Secretary of State for the State of Delaware the Certificate of Designation, and the same shall have been declared effective.

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

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 will be delivered at the office of counsel for the Initial Purchaser, at 1888 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067, on the Closing Date.

7. Reimbursement of Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchaser set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by the Initial Purchaser, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchaser on demand for all reasonable and documented expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchaser, the directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and agents of the Initial Purchaser and each person who controls the Initial Purchaser within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other U.S. federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities or actions in respect thereof arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Memorandum, the Final Memorandum, any Issuer Written Information, any General Solicitation, any document listed on Schedule IV hereto or any other written information used by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or

 

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necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Preliminary Memorandum, the Final Memorandum, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser through the Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have.

(b) The Initial Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and officers, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity to the Initial Purchaser, but only with reference to written information relating to the Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion in the Preliminary Memorandum or the Final Memorandum (or in any amendment or supplement thereto). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Initial Purchaser may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that (i) the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Securities and (ii) under the heading “Plan of Distribution”, the eighth and ninth paragraphs related to covering and stabilizing transactions in the Preliminary Memorandum and the Final Memorandum constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser for inclusion in the Preliminary Memorandum or the Final Memorandum or in any amendment or supplement thereto.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel (including local counsel) of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel, other than local counsel if not appointed by the indemnifying party, retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel (including local counsel) to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or

 

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potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded upon the advice of counsel that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent: (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Initial Purchaser agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and the Initial Purchaser may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and by the Initial Purchaser, on the other, from the offering of the Securities. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Initial Purchaser shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and benefits received by the Initial Purchaser shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions set forth in this Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company, on the one hand, or the Initial Purchaser, on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Initial Purchaser agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), in no event shall the Initial Purchaser be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total purchase discounts and commissions received by the Initial Purchaser with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that the Initial Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from

 

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any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls the Initial Purchaser within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee, Affiliate and agent of the Initial Purchaser shall have the same rights to contribution as the Initial Purchaser, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each officer and director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

9. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Initial Purchaser, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such time (i) trading of the Common Stock shall have been suspended on the New York Stock Exchange or any other United States national securities exchange; (ii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange; (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by U.S. federal or New York State authorities; (iv) there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services; or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or other calamity or crisis, in each case, the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Initial Purchaser impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities as contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company and its officers and of the Initial Purchaser set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchaser or the Company or any of the indemnified persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt. Notices to the Initial Purchaser shall be given to Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Registration Department. Notices to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to 972-556-6119 and confirmed to it at 6555 Sierra Drive, Irving, Texas 75039, attention of the Legal Department.

12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the indemnified persons referred to in Section 8 hereof and their respective successors, and, except as expressly set forth in Section 5(k) hereof, no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

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

 

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14. Applicable Law. This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

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

16. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchaser and any Affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Initial Purchaser is acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Initial Purchaser in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether the Initial Purchaser has advised or is currently advising the Company or any of its subsidiaries on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Initial Purchaser has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

17. Waiver of Tax Confidentiality. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, purchasers of the Securities (and each employee, representative or other agent of a purchaser) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S. tax treatment and U.S. tax structure of any transaction contemplated herein and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the purchasers of the Securities relating to such U.S. tax treatment and U.S. tax structure, other than any information for which nondisclosure is reasonably necessary in order to comply with applicable securities laws.

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

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

20. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

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

 

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

(c) For the purpose of this Section 21,

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement between the Company and the Initial Purchaser.

 

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Very truly yours,
Vistra Corp., as Issuer
By:  

/s/ Kristopher E. Moldovan

  Name: Kristopher E. Moldovan
  Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer

 

(Signature Page to Purchase Agreement)


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC
By:  

/s/ Sam Chaffin

  Name: Sam Chaffin
  Title: Vice President
As the Initial Purchaser.

 

(Signature Page to Purchase Agreement)


SCHEDULE I

 

Initial Purchaser

   Number of
Securities
 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     1,000,000  


SCHEDULE II

Vistra Corp.

1,000,000 shares of

8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock

(Liquidation Preference $1,000 per Series A Preferred Share)

The information in this term sheet supplements Vistra Corp.’s (the “Company”) preliminary offering memorandum dated October 9, 2021 (the “Preliminary Memorandum”) and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Memorandum to the extent inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Memorandum. This term sheet is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Memorandum.

 

Issuer    Vistra Corp.
Securities Offered    8.0% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (the “Securities”)
Number of Shares Offered    1,000,000
Offering Price    $1,000 per share ($1,000,000,000 in the aggregate)
Term    Perpetual (unless redeemed by the Company as described below under “Optional Redemption”)
Reset Date    October 15, 2026 (the “First Reset Date”) and each date falling on the fifth anniversary of the preceding Reset Date
Liquidation Preference    $1,000, plus accumulated and unpaid distributions
Dividend Rate    The dividend rate on the Securities from and including the date of original issue to, but excluding, the First Reset Date will be 8.0% per annum of the $1,000 liquidation preference per share.
   On and after the First Reset Date, the dividend rate on the Securities for each period until the next Reset Date will be a per annum rate of the $1,000 liquidation preference equal to the five-year U.S. treasury rate as of the most recent reset dividend determination date, plus a spread of 6.93% per annum; provided that the five-year U.S. treasury rate for each period will not be lower than 1.07% (the five-year U.S. treasury rate as of the time of determination of the initial fixed rate on the Trade Date). For more information regarding the determination of the applicable reset rate, see “Description of Series A Preferred Shares—Dividends—Dividend Rate” in the Preliminary Memorandum.


Dividend Record Dates    The close of business on the first day of the month in which the applicable dividend payment date occurs.
Dividend Payment Dates    Semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year (or, if such date is not a business day, the immediately succeeding business day), commencing on April 15, 2022.
Redemption at the Option of the Company    The Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities:
  

•  in whole or in part, on one or more occasions, at any time on or after the First Reset Date at a redemption price payable in cash equal to $1,000 (100% of the liquidation preference) per share;

  

•  in whole (but not in part) within 120 days after the conclusion of any review or appeal process instituted by the Company following the occurrence of a Rating Event (as described in the Preliminary Memorandum) at a redemption price payable in cash equal to $1,020 (102% of the liquidation preference of $1,000) per share;

  

•  in whole or in part, on one or more occasions, within 120 days after the occurrence of a Change of Control Trigger Event (as described in the Preliminary Memorandum) at a redemption price payable in cash equal to $1,030 (103.00% of the liquidation preference) per share for a change of control trigger event that occurs before October 15, 2022, $1,020 (102.00% of the liquidation preference) per share for a change of control trigger event that occurs on or after October 15, 2022 and before October 15, 2023 or $1,010 (101.00% of the liquidation preference) per share for a change of control trigger event that occurs on or after October 15, 2023 and before October 15, 2026; provided that the if the Company does not exercise its right to redeem following a Change of Control Trigger Event, the dividend rate will be increased by 5.0%; and

  

•  in whole or in part, on one or more occasions, within 120 days of a rejected transaction (as described in the Preliminary Memorandum) at a redemption price payable in cash equal to $1,030 (103.00% of the liquidation preference) per share for a rejected transaction that occurs before October 15, 2022, $1,020 (102.00% of the liquidation preference) per share for a rejected transaction that occurs on or after October 15, 2022 and before October 15, 2023 or $1,010 (101.00% of the liquidation preference) per share for a rejected transaction that occurs on or after October 15, 2023 and before October 15, 2026;

 

Schedule II-2


   plus, in each case, any accumulated and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) to, but excluding, the redemption date. For the avoidance of doubt, at any time on or after the First Reset Date, the Company may redeem the Securities at a redemption price payable in cash equal to $1,000 (100% of the liquidation preference) per share notwithstanding the occurrence of any other event(s) that would give rise to the Company having an option to redeem the Securities at the applicable redemption price(s) specified herein for such event(s).
Distribution    144A/Reg S for life
No Listing    The Securities are not expected to be listed on any securities exchange.
Sole Bookrunner    Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Trade Date    October 12, 2021
Settlement Date    October 15, 2021 (T+3)
CUSIP   

92840M AB8 (Rule 144A)

U92266 AA0 (Regulation S)

ISIN   

US92840MAB81 (Rule 144A)

USU92266AA07 (Regulation S)

This communication is confidential and is intended for the sole use of the person to whom it is provided by the sender. This information does not purport to be a complete description of the Securities or the offering. Please refer to the Preliminary Memorandum for a complete description.

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any Securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

These Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and may only be sold to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to persons outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

Schedule II-3


No EEA PRIIPs KID – No EEA PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as the Securities are not available to retail in the European Economic Area.

No UK PRIIPs KID – No UK PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as the Securities are not available to retail in the United Kingdom.

This communication may only be communicated or caused to be communicated to persons in the UK in circumstances where Section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 does not apply and may be distributed in the UK only to (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2) (a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “Relevant Persons”). Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents.

* A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.

 

Schedule II-4


SCHEDULE III

Schedule of Written General Solicitation Materials

None.


SCHEDULE IV

1. Investor Presentation of Vistra Corp., dated October 3, 2021


ANNEX A

Significant Subsidiaries

 

1

   Ambit Energy Holdings, LLC

2

   Ambit Holdings, LLC

3

   Ambit Northeast, LLC

4

   Ambit Texas, LLC

5

   Coleto Creek Power, LLC

6

   Comanche Peak Power Company LLC

7

   Crius Energy Corporation

8

   Crius Energy, LLC

9

   Dynegy Coal Holdco, LLC

10

   Dynegy Energy Services (East), LLC

11

   Dynegy Energy Services, LLC

12

   Dynegy Marketing and Trade, LLC

13

   Dynegy Midwest Generation, LLC

14

   Dynegy Resources Generating Holdco, LLC

15

   EquiPower Resources Corp.

16

   Fayette Power Company LLC

17

   Hanging Rock Power Company LLC

18

   Illinois Power Marketing Company

19

   Illinois Power Resources, LLC

20

   IPH, LLC

21

   Kendall Power Company LLC

22

   Kincaid Generation, L.L.C.

23

   La Frontera Holdings, LLC

24

   Luminant Coal Generation LLC

25

   Luminant Commercial Asset Management LLC

26

   Luminant Energy Company LLC

27

   Luminant Generation Company LLC

28

   Luminant Mining Company LLC

29

   Luminant Power LLC

30

   Miami Fort Power Company LLC

31

   Midlothian Energy, LLC

32

   Oak Grove Management Company LLC


33

   Ontelaunee Power Operating Company, LLC

34

   Public Power, LLC

35

   Regional Energy Holdings, Inc.

36

   Sithe Energies, Inc.

37

   Sithe Independence Power Partners, L.P.

38

   TriEagle 2, LLC

39

   TriEagle Energy LP

40

   TXU Energy Retail Company LLC

41

   Viridian Energy, LLC

42

   Vistra Asset Company LLC

43

   Vistra Intermediate Company LLC

44

   Vistra Operations Company LLC

45

   Vistra Preferred Inc.

46

   Volt Asset Company, Inc.

47

   Washington Power Generation LLC

48

   Zimmer Power Company LLC

 

Annex A-2


EXHIBIT A-1

OPINION AND DISCLOSURE LETTER OF

SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP


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

(i) The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package (as defined below) and the Offering Memorandum and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.

The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

The Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the issuance of such Shares is not subject to preemptive rights of any security holder of the Company arising by operation of the DGCL as currently in effect or by operation of the restated certificate or bylaws of the Company as currently in effect.

No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any federal regulatory body, federal administrative agency or other federal governmental body of the United States of America under Applicable Laws for the execution and delivery by the Company of the Purchase Agreement, as applicable, and the offer and sale of the Shares to the Initial Purchaser as contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.

The execution and delivery by the Company of the Purchase Agreement, and the offer and sale of the Shares to the Initial Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, do not (a) violate the restated certificate or bylaws of the Company, (b) result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, any of the agreements or instruments listed on Schedule I hereto or (c) result in a violation by the Company of any of the terms and provisions of any Applicable Laws.

The statements in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Description of Series A Preferred Shares,” to the extent that such statements purport to describe certain provisions of the Company’s restated certificate or the Certificate of Designations, accurately describe such provisions in all material respects.

Assuming (A) the accuracy and performance of, and compliance with, the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Initial Purchaser set forth in the Purchase Agreement and (B) the accuracy and performance of, and compliance with, the representations, warranties and agreements of each of the persons to whom the Initial Purchaser initially offers, resells or otherwise transfers the Shares as set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the caption “Notice to Investors,” it is not necessary, in connection with the sale of the Shares to the Initial Purchaser under the Purchase Agreement or in connection with the initial resale of the Shares by the Initial Purchaser, in each case in the manner contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Offering Memorandum, to register the Shares under the 1933 Act, it being understood that we express no opinion as to any subsequent resale or other transfer of any Shares.


The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Memorandum, will not be required to be registered as an “investment company” as defined in the 1940 Act.


EXHIBIT A-2

OPINION OF

VINSON & ELKINS LLP


Based on such facts and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth herein and in the Preliminary Memorandum and Final Memorandum, we hereby confirm that the statements in the Preliminary Memorandum and Final Memorandum under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of United States federal income tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, have been reviewed by us and are accurate in all material respects.


EXHIBIT B

OPINION OF VISTRA CORP.

GENERAL COUNSEL


Based on and subject to the foregoing and the other limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, I am of the opinion that the Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum under the heading “Capitalization” and all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each of the Company’s subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and issued and, in the case of capital stock, are fully paid and non-assessable. I am also of the opinion that there is no pending or, to my knowledge, threatened action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property that is not adequately disclosed in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and Offering Memorandum, except in each case for such proceedings that, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would not singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement.

Exhibit 99.1

 

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Vistra Announces $2 Billion Share Repurchase Program

Company Prices Private Offering of $1 Billion of Series A Preferred Stock with Net Proceeds to be Used to Repurchase Common Stock

IRVING, Texas, Oct. 12, 2021 — Vistra Corp. (NYSE: VST) (the “Company” or “Vistra”) today announced a new $2 billion share repurchase program and the pricing of a private offering (the “Offering”) of 1,000,000 shares of its 8% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”) to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to certain non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act, at an offering price of $1,000 per share. The Company will receive gross proceeds of $1 billion from the sale of the Preferred Stock before deducting the initial purchaser discount and other estimated offering expenses. The Offering is expected to close on Oct. 15, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

As an initial step in its broader capital allocation plan, the Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to repurchase its common stock beginning as early as early November 2021. Vistra’s Board of Directors (“Board”) has adopted a new $2 billion share repurchase program, effective immediately (superseding its prior $1.5 billion repurchase program, which had approximately $1.325 billion of remaining authorization). The Company intends to execute the share repurchases under this new program from November 2021 to the end of December 2022. The timing and amount of share repurchases will be announced publicly each quarter in arrears, consistent with Vistra’s historical practice.

The share repurchase program announced today is aligned with the Company’s previously announced strategic and capital allocation review seeking to enhance shareholder returns. Vistra’s strategic review has identified and prioritized four key strategic imperatives, including:

 

   

Driving long-term, sustainable value through Vistra’s integrated business model. Vistra management believes the pairing of its low-cost, efficient, and diversified generation fleet, including its burgeoning zero-carbon business, with its customer-centric retail platform and best-in-class commercial capabilities is the optimal way to create value for its shareholders in the dynamic, competitive markets where the Company operates.

 

   

Returning significant capital to shareholders. Vistra expects it will use a significant portion of its free cash flow to repurchase its shares and expects it will continue to pay a meaningful dividend on its common stock. Today’s announcement advances one of Vistra’s core capital allocation priorities by using lower-cost capital to accelerate the Company’s ability to repurchase its severely discounted shares. The repurchases will reduce the total number of shares outstanding, which over time should accrue value to Vistra’s remaining shareholders.

 

   

Repurchasing Vistra’s undervalued shares of common stock. At Vistra’s current undervalued stock price, and assuming on average at least $3+ billion of Adjusted EBITDA from Ongoing Operations and 60%+ free cash flow conversion on an annual basis, the Company estimates it could repurchase at least $5 billion of common stock by year-end 2025, approximating 60% of its current market

 


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  capitalization and by the end of the decade return its entire current market capitalization to shareholders without negatively impacting the earnings power of the business. The Company is committed to allocating a significant amount of its capital to share repurchases until the public equity markets reflect a valuation for Vistra that is consistent with management and the Board’s view of fair value.

 

   

Prioritizing a meaningful dividend on its common stock. We anticipate the capital allocated to common dividends will grow on a per-share basis (subject to Board authorization), though with fewer shares outstanding, we expect the gross amount to decrease, freeing up capital for other uses.

 

   

Maintaining a strong balance sheet. Vistra expects it will continue to pay down debt over time in order to maintain a strong balance sheet, allowing the Company to manage commodity and climate change risk, and positioning it to prudently pursue opportunistic growth. By year-end 2022, the Company expects to reduce a meaningful portion of the $2 billion in increased debt resulting from the impacts of Winter Storm Uri.

 

   

Accelerating our zero-carbon growth pipeline with cost-efficient capital. Vistra intends to participate in the electric industry transition utilizing its strong capabilities, attractive and significant pipeline of zero-carbon projects, and access to low-cost capital.

 

   

Vistra has nearly 4,000 megawatts of zero-carbon assets online or under development with more than 3,000 MW of zero-carbon assets in its development pipeline, including approximately 450 MW of solar and storage in downstate Illinois, supported by the recently enacted Coal to Solar and Energy Storage initiative. The Company intends to accelerate the development of its battery energy storage and renewable projects by accessing the significant availability of third-party, cost-effective capital seeking green investments – both debt and equity. The event at the 300-MW / 1200-MWh Phase I building of Vistra’s Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility slightly delayed the Company’s execution of this financing strategy, though the Company expects it will have achieved meaningful progress on the capital raise by mid-December.

 

   

This zero-carbon pipeline complements Vistra’s recently accelerated target reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Vistra has a goal to achieve a 60% reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions by 2030, as compared to a 2010 baseline, and a long-term objective to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.1 Vistra is already 75% of the way toward achieving its 2030 goal and recently joined SBTi’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C, committing to align emissions reduction targets with the Paris Agreement to keep warming to 1.5°C and reaching science-based net-zero emissions by 2050.

Vistra’s announcement today of this share repurchase program is the first step in launching the details of the Company’s strategic review. Additional details outlining Vistra’s strategic imperatives are forthcoming.

(1) Assuming necessary advancements in technology and supportive market constructs and public policy.

“Today, Vistra took an important first step in executing on the output of its strategic review by taking advantage of the unprecedented and unsustainable differences in the cost of capital implied in its equity value as compared to other forms of capital, such as debt and preferred stock,” said Curt Morgan, Vistra’s chief executive officer. “This announcement underscores our confidence in the business and commitment to enhancing shareholder value while maintaining our strong balance sheet. The strategic imperatives announced today are a result of a months-long strategic review by the Company, including our Board – positioning Vistra to deliver strong, consistent long-term earnings into the future, while investing in our attractive retail and zero-carbon businesses and returning a significant amount of our free cash flow to shareholders on an annual basis. We believe in the value of this company and will continue to take actions to rectify the significant undervaluation of our stock.”


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Details on the Preferred Stock

The annual dividend rate on each share of Preferred Stock is 8.0% from the original issuance date to, but excluding, Oct. 15, 2026 (the “First Reset Date”). On and after the First Reset Date, the dividend rate on each share of Preferred Stock shall equal the five-year U.S. Treasury rate as of the most recent reset dividend determination date (subject to a floor of 1.07%), plus a spread of 6.93% per annum. The Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, plus accumulated but unpaid dividends. Cumulative cash dividends on the Preferred Stock are payable semiannually, in arrears, on each April 15 and Oct. 15, commencing on April 15, 2022, when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board.

The Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities of the Company and will have limited voting rights. The Preferred Stock may be redeemed at the option of the Company in certain circumstances.

The Preferred Stock will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the U.S. absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Preferred Stock, nor shall there be any sale of the Preferred Stock in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

Media

Meranda Cohn

214-875-8004

Media.Relations@vistracorp.com

Analysts

Molly Sorg

214-812-0046

Investor@vistracorp.com

About Vistra

Vistra (NYSE: VST) is a leading, Fortune 275 integrated retail electricity and power generation company based in Irving, Texas, providing essential resources for customers, commerce, and communities. Vistra combines an innovative, customer-centric approach to retail with safe, reliable, diverse, and efficient power generation. The company brings its products and services to market in 20 states and the District of Columbia, including six of the seven competitive wholesale markets in the U.S. and markets in Canada and Japan, as well. Serving nearly 4.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial retail customers with electricity and natural gas, Vistra is one of the largest competitive residential electricity providers in the country and offers over 50 renewable energy plans. The company is also the largest competitive power generator in the U.S., with a capacity of approximately 39,000 megawatts powered by a diverse portfolio, including natural gas, nuclear, solar, and battery energy storage facilities. In addition, Vistra is a large purchaser of wind power. The company owns and operates a 400-MW/1,600-MWh battery energy storage system in Moss Landing, California, the largest of its kind in the world. Vistra is guided by four core principles: we do business the right way, we work as a team, we compete to win, and we care about our stakeholders, including our customers, our communities where we work and live, our employees, and our investors.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information presented herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which Vistra Corp. (“Vistra”) operates and beliefs of and assumptions made by Vistra’s management, involve risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance, that could significantly affect the financial results of Vistra. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that are presented herein, or in response to questions or otherwise, that address activities, events or developments that may occur in the future, including such matters as activities related to our financial or operational projections, the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, projected synergy, value lever and net debt targets, capital allocation, capital expenditures, liquidity, projected Adjusted EBITDA to free cash flow conversion rate, dividend policy, business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, future acquisitions or dispositions,


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development or operation of power generation assets, market and industry developments and the growth of our businesses and operations (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases, or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature, including, but not limited to: “intends,” “plans,” “will likely,” “unlikely,” “believe,” “confident”, “expect,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” “will,” “shall,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “predict,” “project,” “forecast,” “target,” “potential,” “goal,” “objective,” “guidance” and “outlook”),are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although Vistra believes that in making any such forward-looking statement, Vistra’s expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any such forward-looking statement involves uncertainties and risks that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in or implied by any such forward-looking statement, including, but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions (including changes in interest rates) or changes in political conditions or federal or state laws and regulations; (ii) the ability of Vistra to execute upon its contemplated strategic, capital allocation, performance, and cost-saving initiatives and to successfully integrate acquired businesses; (iii) actions by credit ratings agencies; (iv) the severity, magnitude and duration of pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting effects on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows; (v) the severity, magnitude and duration of extreme weather events (including winter storm Uri), contingencies and uncertainties relating thereto, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, and the resulting effects on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows; and (vi) those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Vistra from time to time, including the uncertainties and risks discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” in Vistra’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and any subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only at the date on which it is made, and except as may be required by law, Vistra will not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all of them; nor can Vistra assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.