AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS INC false 0000919012 0000919012 2022-06-02 2022-06-02

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report

(Date of earliest event reported)

June 3, 2022 (June 2, 2022)

 

 

AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-33338   13-2721761

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

77 Hot Metal Street,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    15203-2329
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (412) 432-3300

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value   AEO   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.

Exchange Agreements

On June 2, 2022, American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into separate privately negotiated exchange agreements (the “Exchange Agreements” and each, an “Exchange Agreement”) with certain holders (the “Noteholders”) of its 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”). The Exchange Agreements provide for the Company to deliver and pay, at the closing of the transactions thereunder and in the aggregate, (a) approximately 34.7 million shares of Company common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) and (b) approximately $136.1 million in cash, collectively, including accrued interest, in exchange for approximately $342 million principal amount of the 2025 Notes (the “Exchange Transactions”), in each case, pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Following the completion of the Exchange Transactions, approximately $70 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes will remain outstanding.

The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the Exchange Transactions. The Exchange Agreements provide for the Company to deliver and pay, as applicable, the shares of Company Common Stock and cash described above, and the Company will receive and cancel the exchanged 2025 Notes. The Company will fund the cash portion of the amounts payable under the Exchange Transactions with borrowings under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2019, among the Company, the lenders from time to time party thereto and PNC Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, and with existing cash and cash equivalents.

The Exchange Transactions are being conducted as a private placement and the shares of Common Stock to be issued in the Exchange Transactions will be issued pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Each counterparty in the Exchange Transactions has represented that it is (i) an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and (ii) a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

The foregoing description of the Exchange Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Exchange Agreements, a copy of which is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Accelerated Stock Repurchase Agreement

On June 3, 2022, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (the “ASR Agreement”), pursuant to its previously announced share repurchase program, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (“JPMorgan”) to repurchase approximately $200 million of the Company’s common stock.

Under the ASR Agreement, the Company will make an aggregate payment of $200 million to JPMorgan and will receive an aggregate initial delivery of approximately 13.4 million shares of Common Stock on June 3, 2022, representing approximately 80% of the total shares that are expected to be repurchased under the ASR. The exact number of shares the Company ultimately will repurchase under the ASR Agreement will be based generally on the average of the daily volume-weighted average price per share of the Common Stock during the repurchase period, less a discount and subject to adjustments pursuant to the terms and conditions of the ASR Agreement. At settlement, under certain circumstances, JPMorgan may be required to deliver additional shares of Common Stock to the Company, or under certain circumstances, the Company may be required either to deliver shares of Common Stock or to make a cash payment to JPMorgan. Final settlement of the transactions under the ASR Agreement is expected to occur by the end of the third quarter of 2022.


The foregoing description of the ASR Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the ASR Agreement, which is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.02

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01

Other Events.

ABL Facility Negotiations

The Company is currently in negotiations with respect to an upsize and extension of its existing ABL credit facility, including a five-year extension that would increase the loan value thereunder to up to $600 million. The Company has not yet entered into definitive documentation with respect to the extension and upsize of the ABL credit facility, and there is no guarantee that extension and upsize of the ABL credit facility will be completed, or of the terms on which it may be completed. The Company does not expect to comment further on the possibility of the ABL credit facility negotiations unless and until definitive documentation is entered into with respect to the extension and upsize.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

10.1    Form of Exchange Agreement, by and between American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. and the applicable Noteholder.
10.2    Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement, dated June 3, 2022 by and between American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association.
99.1    Press Release, dated June 3, 2022.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).


SIGNATURES

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

 

Date: June 3, 2022       AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS, INC.
     

/s/ Stacy Siegal

      Stacy Siegal
      Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Exhibit 10.1

Exchange Agreement

June [    ], 2022

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025

The undersigned investor (the “Investor”), for itself and on behalf of the beneficial owners listed on Exhibit A hereto (“Accounts”) for whom the Investor holds contractual and investment authority (each, including the Investor if it is a party exchanging Notes (as defined below), an “Exchanging Investor”), hereby agrees to exchange, with American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certain 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025, CUSIP ___________ (the “Notes”) for the Exchange Consideration (as defined below) pursuant to this exchange agreement (the “Agreement”). The Investor understands that the exchange (the “Exchange”) is being made without registration of the offer or sale of the Shares (as defined below) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any securities laws of any state of the United States or of any other jurisdiction pursuant to a private placement exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and that each Exchanging Investor participating in the Exchange is required to be an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act that is also a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement have the respective meanings set forth in the indenture with respect to the Notes, dated as of April 27, 2020, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (the “Indenture”).

On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Investor hereby agrees to exchange, and to cause the other Exchanging Investors to exchange, an aggregate principal amount of the Notes set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the “Exchanged Notes”) for the consideration set forth on Exhibit A hereto for each such Exchanged Note.

The amount of cash to be delivered for each such Exchanged Note as set forth on Exhibit A hereto is referred to as the “Cash Consideration”, and the number of shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) to be delivered for each such Exchanged Note as set forth on to Exhibit A hereto is referred to as the “Shares” and, together with the Cash Consideration, is referred to as the “Exchange Consideration”. The Company and the Investor agree that no Exchanging Investor shall deliver a Notice of Conversion with respect to any Exchanged Notes and the Investor shall, and shall cause each Exchanging Investor to, hold the Exchanged Notes until the Closing (as defined below). In consideration for the performance of its obligations hereunder (including as described in the immediately preceding sentence), and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company hereby agrees to deliver the Exchange Consideration on the Closing Date to each Exchanging Investor in exchange for its Exchanged Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

The Exchange shall occur in accordance with the procedures set forth in Exhibit B hereto (the “Exchange Procedures”); provided that each of the Company and the Investor (on its own behalf, and on behalf of each other Exchanging Investor) acknowledges that the delivery of the Shares to any Exchanging Investor may be delayed due to procedures and mechanics within the systems of the Trustee, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) (including the procedures and mechanics regarding the listing of the Shares on the NYSE) or other events beyond the Company’s control and that such a delay will not be a breach of this Agreement so long as (i) the Company is using its reasonable best efforts to effect such delivery or (ii) such delay arises due to a failure by Investor to deliver settlement instructions; provided, further, that no delivery of Shares will be made until the Exchanged Notes have been received for exchange in accordance with the Exchange Procedures and no accrued interest will be payable by reason of any delay in making such delivery.

 

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The closing of the Exchange (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on June 8, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), or at such other time and place as the Company and the Investor may mutually agree. On the Closing Date, subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent specified herein and the prior receipt by the Trustee from the Investor of the Exchanged Notes, the Company shall deliver the Shares to the DTC account and the Cash Consideration by wire transfer to the account, in each case specified by the Investor for each relevant Exchanging Investor in Exhibit B. All questions as to the form of all documents and the validity and acceptance of the Exchanged Notes and the Exchange Consideration will be determined by the Company, in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding and the Company may request such additional instruments or other documents of conveyance or transfer from the Investor prior to the acceptance of any Exchanged Notes for the Exchange. The Investor hereby, for itself and on behalf of its Accounts, irrevocably (a) waives any and all other rights with respect to such Exchanged Notes and (b) releases and discharges the Company and its Affiliates and representatives from any and all claims, actions, causes or rights, whether known or unknown, contingent or matured, that the undersigned and its Accounts may now have, or may have in the future, arising out of, or related to, such Exchanged Notes.

1. Representations and Warranties and Covenants of the Company. As of the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Company represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Exchanging Investors that:

(a) The Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is formed, and has the requisite power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company or its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Company Material Adverse Effect”). The Company is duly qualified to do business (where such concept exists) and is in good standing in every jurisdiction (where such concept exists) in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has the power, authority and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder, and to consummate the Exchange contemplated hereby. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with any governmental entity is required on the part of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the Exchange, except as may be required under any state or federal securities laws or that may be obtained after the Closing without penalty to the Investor or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (b) general principles of equity, whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity (the “Enforceability Exceptions”). This Agreement and consummation of the Exchange will not violate, conflict with or result in a breach of or default under, assuming the truth and accuracy of the representations and warranties and compliance with the covenants of the Investor herein, (i) the charter, bylaws or other

 

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organizational documents of the Company, (ii) any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its assets or subsidiaries are bound, or (iii) any laws, regulations or governmental or judicial decrees, injunctions or orders applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries, except in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii), where such violations, conflicts, breaches or defaults would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, and would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(c) When delivered to the applicable Exchanging Investor pursuant to the Exchange in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Shares, assuming the truth and accuracy of the representations and warranties and compliance with the covenants of the Investor herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free and clear of any Liens (as defined in Section 2(c) below). Assuming the accuracy of the Investor’s and each Exchanging Investor’s representations and warranties and compliance with the covenants of the Investor herein, the Shares (a) will be issued in the Exchange exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and (b) will be issued in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and, at the Closing, be free of any restrictive legend and any restrictions on resale by such Exchanging Investor subject to the conditions set forth in and pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

(d) At the Closing, the Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(e) At or prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first business day after the date hereof, the Company shall file with the Commission a current report on Form 8-K announcing the Exchange, which current report the Company acknowledges and agrees will disclose all confidential information (as described in the Wall Cross Email) to the extent the Company believes such confidential information constitutes material non-public information, if any, with respect to the Exchange or was otherwise communicated by the Company to the Investor in connection with the Exchange.

(f) There is no action, lawsuit, arbitration, claim or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company that would reasonably be expected to materially impede the consummation of the Exchange.

2. Representations and Warranties and Covenants of the Investor. As of the date hereof and the Closing Date (except as otherwise set forth below), the Investor hereby, for itself and on behalf of the Exchanging Investors, represents and warrants to the Company that:

(a) The Investor and each Exchanging Investor is a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company or other entity, as the case may be, duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation.

(b) The Investor has all requisite corporate (or other applicable entity) power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement for itself and on behalf of the Exchanging Investors and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investor and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Investor and each Exchanging Investor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. If the Investor is executing this Agreement on behalf of an Account,

 

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(i) the Investor has all requisite discretionary and contractual authority to enter into this Agreement on behalf of, and bind, each Account, and (ii) Exhibit A attached to this Agreement contains a true, correct and complete list of (A) the name of each Account and (B) the principal amount of each Account’s Exchanged Notes, as applicable.

(c) As of the date hereof and as of immediately prior to the Closing, each of the Exchanging Investors is and will be the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Exchanged Notes set forth on Exhibit A attached to this Agreement and each Exchanging Holder did not, to the best of its knowledge, acquire the Exchanged Notes from an Affiliate (as defined below) of the Company. The Exchange Investors has good, valid and marketable title to its Exchanged Notes, free and clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges, security interests, restrictions, charges, encumbrances or adverse claims, rights or proxies of any kind (“Liens”), including (i) arising by operation of applicable law, (ii) arising by operation of any organizational documents of the Company, the Investor, each Exchanging Investor or the Notes, (iii) that is not terminated on or prior to the Closing, or (iv) created by or imposed by or on the Company. When the Exchanged Notes are exchanged, the Company will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all Liens. None of the Exchanging Investors has, nor prior to the Closing, will have, in whole or in part, other than pledges or security interests that an Exchanging Investor may have created in favor of a prime broker under and in accordance with its prime brokerage agreement with such broker, (x) assigned, transferred, hypothecated, pledged, exchanged, submitted for conversion pursuant to the Indenture or otherwise disposed of any of its Exchanged Notes (other than to the Company pursuant hereto), or (y) given any person or entity any transfer order, power of attorney or other authority of any nature whatsoever with respect to its Exchanged Notes.

(d) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Investor and compliance by each Exchanging Investor with all provisions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will not (i) require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or qualification with, any court or governmental body or agency (except as may be required under the securities or “blue sky” laws of the various states), (ii) constitute a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or result in a default under, (x) the organizational documents of any of the Investor or any Exchanging Investor or (y) any material indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Investor or any of the Exchanging Investors is a party or by which such Investor or Exchanging Investor is bound, or (iii) violate or conflict with any applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment, decision, order or decree of any court or any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Investor or any of the Exchanging Investors.

(e) The Investor and each Exchanging Investor will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in effect necessary for each Exchanging Investor to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Exchange, and obtain any consent, approval or permission required for the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Exchange, and the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction to which the Investor and each such Exchanging Investor is subject, and the Company shall have no responsibility therefor.

(f) The Investor acknowledges that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation or warranty concerning the Company or any of its Affiliates or the Exchange other than the information set forth herein in connection with the Investor’s and each Exchanging Investor’s examination of the Company and the terms of the Exchange and the Shares, and the Company does not take, and J. Wood Capital Advisors LLC (“Placement Agent”) does not take, any responsibility for, and neither the Company, its Affiliates nor the Placement Agent can provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may provide to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor.

 

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(g) The Investor and each Exchanging Investor has such knowledge, skill and experience in business, financial and investment matters so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks with respect to the Exchange and an investment in the Shares. With the assistance of each Exchanging Investor’s own professional advisors, to the extent that the Exchanging Investor has deemed appropriate, such Exchanging Investor has made its own legal, tax, accounting and financial evaluation of the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares and the consequences of the Exchange and this Agreement and the Exchanging Investor has made its own independent decision that the investment in the Shares is suitable and appropriate for the Exchanging Investor. Each Exchanging Investor has considered the suitability of the Shares as an investment in light of such Exchanging Investor’s circumstances and financial condition and is able to bear the risks associated with an investment in the Shares.

(h) The Investor confirms that it and each Exchanging Investor is not relying on any communication (written or oral) of the Company, the Placement Agent or any of their respective Affiliates or representatives as investment advice or as a recommendation to acquire the Shares or the Cash Consideration in the Exchange. It is understood that information provided by the Company, the Placement Agent or any of their respective Affiliates and representatives shall not be considered investment advice or a recommendation to participate in the Exchange, and that none of the Company, the Placement Agent or any of their respective Affiliates or representatives is acting or has acted as an advisor to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor in deciding to participate in the Exchange.

(i) The Investor confirms that the Company has not (i) given any guarantee, representation or warranty as to the potential success, return, effect or benefit (either legal, regulatory, tax, financial, accounting or otherwise) of an investment in the Shares or (ii) made any representation or warranty to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor regarding the legality of an investment in the Shares under applicable legal investment or similar laws or regulations. In deciding to participate in the Exchange, the Investor is not relying on the advice or recommendations of the Company and the Investor has made its own independent decision that the investment in the Shares is suitable and appropriate for the Investor.

(j) The Investor and each Exchanging Investor is familiar with the business and financial condition and operations of the Company and the Investor and each Exchanging Investor has had the opportunity to conduct its own investigation of the Company and the Shares. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor has had access to the filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and such other information concerning the Company and the Shares as it deems necessary to enable it to make an informed investment decision concerning the Exchange. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor has been offered the opportunity to ask such questions of the Company and its representatives and received answers thereto, as it deems necessary to enable it to make an informed investment decision concerning the Exchange.

(k) Each Exchanging Investor is an institutional “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and it and any account (including for purposes of this Section 2(k), the Accounts) for which it is acting (for which it has sole investment discretion) is a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Investor agrees to furnish any additional information reasonably requested by the Company or any of its affiliates to ensure compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws in connection with the Exchange.

 

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(l) The Investor and each Exchanging Investor is not, and has not been during the consecutive three month period preceding the date hereof and as of the Closing, will not be, a director, officer or “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (an “Affiliate”) of the Company.

(m) Neither the Investor nor any Exchanging Investor is directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the Company.

(n) Each Exchanging Investor is acquiring the Shares solely for its own beneficial account (or for any account (including for purposes of this Section 2(n), the Accounts) for which it has sole investment discretion), for investment purposes, and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution of the Shares. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor understands that the offer and sale of the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and the Shares are being issued without registration under the Securities Act by reason of specific exemption(s) under the provisions thereof which depend in part upon the investment intent of the Exchanging Investors and the accuracy of the other representations and warranties made by the Investor in this Agreement. The Investor and the Exchanging Investors understand that the Company is relying upon the representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement (and any supplemental information provided to the Company by the Investor or the Exchanging Investors) for the purpose of determining whether this transaction meets the requirements for such exemption(s) and to issue the Shares without legends as set forth herein.

(o) The Investor acknowledges that the terms of the Exchange have been mutually negotiated between the Investor and the Company. The Investor was given a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms of the Exchange.

(p) The Investor acknowledges that it and each Exchanging Investor had a sufficient amount of time to consider whether to participate in the Exchange and that neither the Company nor the Placement Agent has placed any pressure on the Investor or any Exchanging Investor to respond to the opportunity to participate in the Exchange. The Investor acknowledges that neither it nor any Exchanging Investor become aware of the Exchange through any form of general solicitation or advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act or otherwise through a “public offering” under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

(q) The Investor acknowledges that it and each Exchanging Investor understands that the Company intends to pay the Placement Agent a fee in respect of the Exchange.

(r) The Investor will, upon request, execute and deliver, for itself and on behalf of any Exchanging Investor, any additional documents deemed by the Company and the Trustee or the transfer agent to be reasonably necessary to complete the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(s) No later than one (1) business day after the date hereof, the Investor agrees to deliver to the Company settlement instructions substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached to this Agreement for each of the Exchanging Investors.

(t) The Investor acknowledges that the Company may issue appropriate stop-transfer instructions to its transfer agent and may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its books and records to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.

 

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(u) The Investor understands that the Company, the Placement Agent and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants and agrees that if any of the representations and warranties deemed to have been made by it or the Exchanging Investors by their participation in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and acquisition of the Shares are no longer accurate, the Investor shall promptly notify the Company and the Placement Agent. The Investor understands that, unless the Investor notifies the Company in writing to the contrary before the Closing, each of the Investor’s and Exchanging Investors’ representations and warranties contained in this Agreement will be deemed to have been reaffirmed and confirmed as of the Closing. If the Investor is exchanging any Exchanged Notes and acquiring the Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more accounts (including for purposes of this Section 2(u), the Accounts), it represents that (i) it has sole investment discretion with respect to each such account, (ii) it has full power to make the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants on behalf of such account and (iii) it has contractual authority with respect to each such account.

(v) The Investor acknowledges and agrees that no Placement Agent has acted as a financial advisor or fiduciary to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor and that the Placement Agent and their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and controlling persons have no responsibility for making, and have not made, any independent investigation of the information contained herein or in the Company’s SEC filings and make no representation or warranty to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor, express or implied, with respect to the Company, the Exchanged Notes or the Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information provided to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor or any other publicly available information, nor shall any of the foregoing persons be liable for any loss or damages of any kind resulting from the use of the information contained therein or otherwise supplied to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor.

(w) The Company and its agents shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as may be required to be deducted or withheld under applicable law, and shall be timely provided with an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9 or the appropriate series of IRS Form W-8, as applicable, in order to establish whether any Exchanging Investor is entitled to an exemption from (or reduction in the rate of) withholding. To the extent any such amounts are withheld and remitted to the appropriate taxing authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes as having been paid to the Exchanging Investor to whom such amounts otherwise would have been paid.

(x) The Investor and each Exchanging Investor acknowledges and understands that at the time of the Closing, the Company may be in possession of material non-public information not known to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor that may impact the value of the Notes, including the Exchanged Notes, and the Shares (“Information”) that the Company has not disclosed to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor acknowledges that they have not relied upon the non-disclosure of any such Information for purposes of making their decision to participate in the Exchange. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor understands, based on its experience, the disadvantage to which the Investor and each Exchanging Investor is subject due to the disparity of information between the Company, on the one hand, and the Investor and each Exchanging Investor, on the other hand. Notwithstanding this, the Investor and each Exchanging Investor has deemed it appropriate to participate in the Exchange. The Investor agrees that the Company and its directors, officers, employees, agents, stockholders and affiliates shall have no liability to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor or their respective beneficiaries whatsoever due to or in connection with the Company’s use or non-disclosure of the Information or otherwise as a result of the Exchange, and the Investor hereby irrevocably waives any claim that it or any Exchanging Investor might have based on the failure of the Company to disclose the Information.

 

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(y) The Investor and each Exchanging Investor understands that no federal, state, local or foreign agency has passed upon the merits or risks of an investment in the Shares or made any finding or determination concerning the fairness or advisability of this investment.

(z) The operations of the Investor and each Exchanging Investor have been conducted in material compliance with the applicable rules and regulations administered or conducted by the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the applicable rules and regulations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and the applicable Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) rules in the Bank Secrecy Act. The Investor has performed due diligence necessary to reasonably determine that the Exchanging Investors are not named on the lists of denied parties or blocked persons administered by OFAC, resident in or organized under the laws of a country that is the subject of comprehensive economic sanctions and embargoes administered or conducted by OFAC (“Sanctions”), are not otherwise the subject of Sanctions and have not been found to be in violation or under suspicion of violating OFAC, FCPA or AML rules and regulations.

(aa) The Investor acknowledges and agrees that it and each Exchanging Holder has not disclosed, and will not disclose, to any third party any information regarding the Company or the Exchange, and that it has not transacted, and will not transact, in any securities of the Company, including, but not limited to, any hedging transactions, from the time the Holder was first contacted by the Company or the Placement Agent with respect to the Transactions until after the confidential information (as described in the confirmatory email received by the Holder from the Placement Agent (the “Wall Cross Email”)) is made public.

3. Conditions to Obligations of the Investor and the Company. The obligations of the Investor and of the Company under this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions precedent: (a) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof and of the Investor contained in Section 2 hereof shall be true and correct as of the Closing in all respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made as of the Closing, (b) the Investor and each other Exchanging Investor shall have complied in all material respects with its obligations hereunder and (c) no provision of any applicable law or any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction, award or decree of any governmental authority shall be in effect prohibiting or making illegal the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4. Waiver, Amendment. Neither this Agreement nor any provisions hereof or thereof shall be modified, changed or discharged, except by an instrument in writing, signed by the Company and the Investor.

5. Assignability. Neither this Agreement nor any right, remedy, obligation or liability arising hereunder or by reason hereof shall be assignable by either the Company or the Investor without the prior written consent of the other; provided; however, that the Company may assign any of its benefits or obligations hereunder to any of its wholly owned subsidiaries (it being understood that the Company shall remain primarily liable for the performance of any such assigned obligations except to the extent fully performed by such wholly owned subsidiary).

6. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE INVESTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

 

8


7. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to such state’s rules concerning conflicts of laws that might provide for any other choice of law.

8. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Company and the Investor: (a) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted exclusively in the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; (b) waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding; and (c) irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the Company and the Investor agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

9. Venue. Each of the Company and the Investor irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in Section 8. Each of the Company and the Investor irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

10. Service of Process. Each of the Company and the Investor irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 11. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of the Company or the Investor to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

11. Notices. All notices and other communications to the Company provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally, sent by prepaid overnight courier (providing written proof of delivery) or sent by confirmed facsimile transmission or electronic mail and will be deemed given on the date so delivered (or, if such day is not a business day, on the first subsequent business day) to the following addresses, or in the case of the Investor, the address provided on Exhibit B attached to this Agreement (or such other address as the Company or the Investor shall have specified by notice in writing to the other):

If to the Company:

12. Binding Effect. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the Company and the Investor and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Company and the Investor with respect to the subject matters hereof. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

9


13. Notification of Changes. After the date of this Agreement, each of the Company and the Investor hereby covenants and agrees to notify the other upon the occurrence of any event prior to the Closing of the Exchange pursuant to this Agreement that would cause any representation, warranty or covenant of the Company or the Investor, as the case may be, contained in this Agreement to be false or incorrect.

14. Reliance by Placement Agent. Placement Agent may rely on each representation and warranty of the Company and the Investor made herein or pursuant to the terms hereof with the same force and effect as if such representation or warranty were made directly to such Placement Agent. Placement Agent shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement to the extent provided in this Section 14.

15. Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement (in whole or in part) is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.

16. Survival. The representations and warranties of the Company and the Investor contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Exchanging Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

17. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned (a) by mutual agreement of the Company and the Investor in writing or (b) by either the Company or the Investor if the conditions to such party’s obligations set forth herein have not been satisfied (unless waived by the party entitled to the benefit thereof), and the Closing has not occurred on or before July 1, 2022 without liability of either the Company or the Investor or the Exchanging Investors, as the case may be; provided that neither the Company nor the Investor shall be released from liability hereunder if the Agreement is terminated and the transactions abandoned by reason of the failure of the Company or the Investor or the Exchanging Investors, as the case may be to have performed its obligations hereunder. Except as provided above, if this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are not concluded as described above, the Agreement will become void and of no further force and effect.

18. Taxation. The Investor acknowledges that, if an Exchanging Investor is a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes, either (i) the Company must be timely provided with a correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN,” which is generally a person’s social security or federal employer identification number) and certain other information on a properly completed and executed Form W-9 (or any successor form) stating that the Exchanging Investor is not subject to backup withholding and that the Exchanging Investor is a United States person, or (ii) another basis for exemption from backup withholding must be established. The Investor further acknowledges that, if an Exchanging Investor is not a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company must be timely provided with a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, IRS Form W-8IMY (and all required attachments) or other applicable IRS Form W-8 (or any successor form), attesting to that non-U.S. Exchanging Investor’s foreign status and certain other information, including information establishing an exemption from withholding under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Investor further acknowledges that any Exchanging Investor may be subject to 30% U.S. federal withholding or 24% U.S. federal backup withholding on certain payments made to such Exchanging Investor unless such Exchanging Investor properly establishes an exemption from, or a reduced rate of, such withholding or backup withholding. The Company and its agents shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as are required to be deducted or withheld under applicable law. To the extent any such amounts are withheld and remitted to the appropriate taxing authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes as having been paid to the Exchanging Investor to whom such amounts otherwise would have been paid.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

10


Very truly yours,
AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS, INC.
By    
  Name:
  Title:

 

11


Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between the Company and the Investor by signing in the space provided below for that purpose.

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:

Investor:

[_____________],

in its capacity as described in the first paragraph hereof

By    
  Name:
  Title:

 

12


EXHIBIT A

Exchanging Investor Information

 

Exchanging Investor

  

Aggregate Principal

Amount of Exchanged

Notes

  

Cash Consideration

  

Shares


EXHIBIT B

Exchanging Investor:

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Investor Address:

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Telephone: ______________________________________________________

Country of Residence:

_______________________________________________________________

Taxpayer Identification Number:

_______________________________________________________________

Account for Shares:

DTC Participant Number: __________________________________________

DTC Participant Name: ____________________________________________

DTC Participant Phone Number: _____________________________________

DTC Participant Contact Email: _____________________________________

FFC Account #:__________________________________________________

Account # at Bank/Broker:_________________________________________

Account for Notes:

DTC Participant Number: __________________________________________

DTC Participant Name: ____________________________________________

DTC Participant Phone Number: _____________________________________

DTC Participant Contact Email: _____________________________________

FFC Account #: __________________________________________________

Account # at Bank/Broker: _________________________________________

Wire instructions for Cash Consideration:

Bank Name: _____________________________________________________

Bank Address: ____________________________________________________

ABA Routing #: __________________________________________________

Account Name: ___________________________________________________

Account Number: __________________________________________________

FFC Account Name:________________________________________________

FFC Account #:____________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________________________

Exchanging Investor Address:

_________________________________________________________________


______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Telephone:______________________________________________

Country of Residence:

_______________________________________________________

Taxpayer Identification Number:

________________________________________________________


Exchange Procedures

NOTICE TO INVESTOR

These are the Investor Exchange Procedures for the settlement of the exchange of 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025, CUSIP __________ (the “Exchanged Notes”) of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for the Cash Consideration and the Shares (as defined in and pursuant to the Agreement between you and the Company), which is expected to occur on or about [•], 2022. To ensure timely settlement for the Shares, please follow the instructions as set forth on the following page.

These instructions supersede any prior instructions you received. Your failure to comply with these instructions may delay your receipt of the Shares.

If you have any questions, please contact Ranga Kanthadai of J. Wood Capital Advisors LLC at 862-703-8126.

To deliver Exchanged Notes:

You must post, no later than 9:00 a.m, New York City time, a withdrawal request for the Exchange Notes through the DTC via DWAC. It is important that this instruction be submitted and the DWAC posted on [_], 2022.

To receive Exchange Consideration:

To Receive Shares: You must direct your eligible DTC participant through which you wish to hold a beneficial interest in the Shares to be issued upon exchange to post on [__], 2022 no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, a one-sided deposit instruction through DTC via DWAC for the Shares deliverable in respect of the Exchanged Notes. It is important that this instruction be submitted and the DWAC posted on [___], 2022.

The DTC Participant number of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common Stock, is: [____].

To Receive Cash Consideration: You must provide valid wire instructions to the Company. You will then receive the Cash Consideration from the Company on the Closing Date.

You must comply with both procedures described above in order to complete the Exchange and to receive the Cash Consideration and the Shares in respect of the Exchanged Notes.

Closing: [_], 2022, after the Company receives your delivery instructions as set forth above and a withdrawal request in respect of the Exchanged Notes has been posted as specified above, and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to Closing as set forth in your Agreement, the Company will deliver the Exchange Consideration in respect of the Exchanged Notes in accordance with the delivery instructions above.

Exhibit 10.2

LOGO

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

New York Branch

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY, 10179

June 3, 2022                        

 

To:

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

77 Hot Metal Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Attention: Exec. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Telephone No.: [***]

 

Re:

Master Confirmation—Uncollared Accelerated Share Repurchase

This master confirmation (this “Master Confirmation”), dated as of June 3, 2022, is intended to set forth certain terms and provisions of certain Transactions (each, a “Transaction”) entered into from time to time between JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (the “Bank”) and American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Counterparty”). This Master Confirmation, taken alone, is neither a commitment by either party to enter into any Transaction nor evidence of a Transaction. The additional terms of any particular Transaction shall be set forth in a Supplemental Confirmation in the form of Schedule A hereto (a “Supplemental Confirmation”), which shall reference this Master Confirmation and supplement, form a part of, and be subject to this Master Confirmation. This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation together shall constitute a “Confirmation” as referred to in the Agreement specified below.

The definitions and provisions contained in the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”), as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., are incorporated into this Master Confirmation. This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation evidence a complete binding agreement between Counterparty and the Bank as to the subject matter and terms of each Transaction to which this Master Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation relate and shall supersede all prior or contemporaneous written or oral communications with respect thereto.

This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation supplement, form a part of, and are subject to an agreement in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “Agreement”) as if the Bank and Counterparty had executed the Agreement on the date of this Master Confirmation (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of New York law as the governing law (without reference to its choice of law provisions) and (ii) the election that subparagraph (ii) of Section 2(c) will not apply to the Transactions).

The Transactions shall be the sole Transactions under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between the Bank and Counterparty or any confirmation or other agreement between the Bank and Counterparty pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between the Bank and Counterparty, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which the Bank and Counterparty are parties, the Transactions shall not be considered Transactions under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed ISDA Master Agreement, and the occurrence of any Event of Default or Termination Event under the Agreement with respect to either party or any Transaction shall not, by itself, give rise to any right or obligation under any such other agreement or deemed agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other agreement between the parties or their Affiliates, the Transactions shall not be “Specified Transactions” (or similarly treated) under any other agreement between the parties or their Affiliates.

All provisions contained or incorporated by reference in the Agreement shall govern this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified herein or in the related Supplemental Confirmation.


If, in relation to any Transaction to which this Master Confirmation and a Supplemental Confirmation relate, there is any inconsistency between the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, such Supplemental Confirmation and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail for purposes of such Transaction in the order of precedence indicated: (i) such Supplemental Confirmation; (ii) this Master Confirmation; (iii) the Equity Definitions; and (iv) the Agreement.

1. Each Transaction constitutes a Share Forward Transaction for the purposes of the Equity Definitions. Set forth below are the terms and conditions that, together with the terms and conditions set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation relating to any Transaction, shall govern such Transaction.

 

General Terms.   

Trade Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Buyer:

   Counterparty

Seller:

   The Bank

Shares:

   The Common Stock of Counterparty, par value USD 0.01 per share (Exchange symbol “AEO”).

Exchange:

   The New York Stock Exchange

Related Exchange(s):

   All Exchanges.

Prepayment/Variable Obligation:

   Applicable

Prepayment Amount:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Prepayment Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Contract Fee:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation. On the Prepayment Date, Buyer shall pay Seller an amount in USD equal to the Contract Fee in immediately available funds by wire transfer to an account specified by Seller.
Valuation.   

VWAP Price:

   For any Exchange Business Day, the volume-weighted average price at which the Shares trade as reported in the composite transactions for United States exchanges and quotation systems, during the regular trading session for the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day, excluding (i) trades that do not settle regular way, (ii) opening (regular way) reported trades in the consolidated system on such Exchange Business Day, (iii) trades that occur in the last ten minutes before the scheduled close of trading on the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day and ten minutes before the scheduled close of the primary trading in the market where the trade is effected, and (iv) trades on such Exchange Business Day that do not satisfy the requirements of Rule 10b-18(b)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as determined in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner by the Calculation Agent (all such trades other than any trades described in clauses (i) to (iv)

 

2


   above, “Rule 10b-18 Eligible Transactions”), provided that the Calculation Agent shall refer to the Bloomberg Page “AEO US <Equity> AQR SEC” (or any successor thereto), in its judgment, for such Exchange Business Day to determine the VWAP Price, absent manifest error or unavailability of such page or successor thereto.

Forward Price:

   For each Transaction, the arithmetic average of the VWAP Prices for all of the Exchange Business Days in the Calculation Period for such Transaction, subject to “Valuation Disruption” below.

Forward Price Adjustment Amount:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Calculation Period:

   For each Transaction, the period from, and including, the Calculation Period Start Date for such Transaction to, and including, the Termination Date for such Transaction.

Calculation Period Start Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Termination Date:

   For each Transaction, the Scheduled Termination Date for such Transaction; provided that the Bank shall have the right to designate any Exchange Business Day on or after the First Acceleration Date to be the Termination Date for all or any part of such Transaction (an “Accelerated Termination Date”) by delivering notice (an “Acceleration Notice”) to Counterparty of any such designation prior to 6:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Exchange Business Day immediately following the designated Accelerated Termination Date. The Bank shall specify in each Acceleration Notice the portion of the Prepayment Amount that is subject to acceleration (which may be less than the full Prepayment Amount). If the portion of the Prepayment Amount that is subject to acceleration is less than the full Prepayment Amount, then the Calculation Agent shall adjust the terms of the Transaction as appropriate in order to take into account the occurrence of such Accelerated Termination Date (including cumulative adjustments to take into account all prior Accelerated Termination Dates).

Scheduled Termination Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation, subject to postponement as provided in “Valuation Disruption” below.

First Acceleration Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Valuation Disruption:

   The definition of “Market Disruption Event” in Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “at any time during the one-hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be” and inserting the words “at any time on any Scheduled Trading Day during the Calculation Period or Settlement Valuation Period” after the word “material,” in the third line thereof.

 

3


   Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.
   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, if a Disrupted Day occurs (i) in the Calculation Period, the Calculation Agent may, in its good faith and commercially reasonable discretion, postpone the Scheduled Termination Date by one, Scheduled Trading Day for each Disrupted Day, or (ii) in the Settlement Valuation Period, the Calculation Agent may extend the Settlement Valuation Period by one Scheduled Trading Day for each Disrupted Day. If any Disrupted Day is a Disrupted Day because of a Market Disruption Event (or deemed Market Disruption Event as provided herein), the Calculation Agent shall determine whether (i) such Disrupted Day is a Disrupted Day in full, in which case the VWAP Price for such Disrupted Day shall not be included for purposes of determining the Forward Price or the Settlement Price, as the case may be, or (ii) such Disrupted Day is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case the VWAP Price for such Disrupted Day shall be determined by the Calculation Agent based on Rule 10b-18 Eligible Transactions in the Shares on such Disrupted Day taking into account the nature and duration of the relevant Market Disruption Event, and the weighting of the VWAP Price for the relevant Exchange Business Days during the Calculation Period or the Settlement Valuation Period, as the case may be, shall be adjusted in a commercially reasonable manner by the Calculation Agent for purposes of determining the Forward Price or the Settlement Price, as the case may be, with such adjustments based on, among other factors, the duration of any Market Disruption Event and the volume, historical trading patterns and price of the Shares. Upon the written request of Counterparty, the Calculation Agent shall deliver reasonable evidence (but without disclosing any proprietary or confidential models or other information that may be proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information) to Counterparty to support its calculations related to such adjustments, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such evidence within five (5) Exchange Business Days from the receipt of such request. Any Exchange Business Day on which, as of the date hereof, the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its normal close of trading shall be deemed not to be an Exchange Business Day; if a closure of the Exchange prior to its normal close of trading on any Exchange Business Day is scheduled following the date hereof, then such Exchange Business Day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full.

 

4


   If a Disrupted Day occurs during the Calculation Period for any Transaction or the Settlement Valuation Period for any Transaction, as the case may be, and each of the nine immediately following Scheduled Trading Days is a Disrupted Day (a “Disruption Event”), then the Calculation Agent, in its good faith and commercially reasonable discretion, may deem such Disruption Event (and each consecutive Disrupted Day thereafter) to be either (x) a Potential Adjustment Event in respect of such Transaction or (y) an Additional Termination Event in respect of such Transaction, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and such Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction.
Settlement Terms.   

Settlement Procedures:

   For each Transaction:
  

(i) if the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Transaction is positive, Physical Settlement shall be applicable to such Transaction; provided that the Bank does not, and shall not, make the agreement or the representations set forth in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions related to the restrictions imposed by applicable securities laws with respect to any Shares delivered by the Bank to Counterparty under any Transaction; or

  

(ii)  if the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Transaction is negative, then the Counterparty Settlement Provisions in Annex A hereto shall apply to such Transaction.

Number of Shares to be Delivered:

   For each Transaction, a number of Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole number) equal to (a)(i) the Prepayment Amount for such Transaction, divided by (ii)(A) the Forward Price for such Transaction minus (B) the Forward Price Adjustment Amount for such Transaction, minus (b) the number of Initial Shares for such Transaction; provided that if the result of the calculation in clause (a)(ii) is equal to or less than the Floor Price for such Transaction, then the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Transaction shall be determined as if clause (a)(ii) were replaced with “(ii) the Floor Price for such Transaction”. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Forward Price Adjustment Amount for any Transaction is a negative number, clause (a)(ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be equal to (A) the Forward Price for such Transaction, plus (B) the absolute value of the Forward Price Adjustment Amount.

Floor Price:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Excess Dividend Amount:

   For the avoidance of doubt, all references to the Excess Dividend Amount shall be deleted from Section 9.2(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions.

Settlement Date:

   For each Transaction, if the Number of Shares to be Delivered for all or such portion of such Transaction is positive (x) in the case of an Accelerated Termination Date, the date that is one Settlement Cycle immediately following the date on which the Bank delivers the

 

5


   relevant Acceleration Notice and (y) in the case of a Termination Date occurring on the Scheduled Termination Date, the date that is one Settlement Cycle immediately following the Termination Date, in either case, for all or such portion of such Transaction (the final Settlement Date, the “Final Settlement Date”).

Settlement Currency:

   USD

Initial Share Delivery:

   For each Transaction, the Bank shall deliver a number of Shares equal to the Initial Shares for such Transaction to Counterparty on the Initial Share Delivery Date for such Transaction in accordance with Section 9.4 of the Equity Definitions, with such Initial Share Delivery Date deemed to be a “Settlement Date” for purposes of such Section 9.4.

Initial Share Delivery Date:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Initial Shares:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.
Share Adjustments.   

Potential Adjustment Event:

   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 11.2(e) of the Equity Definitions, none of (i) an Extraordinary Dividend (as defined below), (ii) a declaration of a Dividend (as defined below), the amount or value of which per Share (as determined by the Calculation Agent), when aggregated with the amount or value (as determined by the Calculation Agent) of any and all previous Dividends with ex-dividend dates occurring in the same calendar quarter equal, does not exceed the Ordinary Dividend Amount, (iii) an issuance of Shares (or options to acquire Shares) to “affiliated purchasers” (as defined in Rule 10b-18) pursuant to Counterparty’s compensation policies for directors, officers and employees or (iv) a purchase of Shares permitted under Section 9 hereof, shall constitute a Potential Adjustment Event. In addition to the events described in Section 11.2(e) of the Equity Definitions, it shall constitute an additional Potential Adjustment Event if (x) the Scheduled Termination Date for any Transaction is postponed pursuant to “Valuation Disruption” above (including, for the avoidance of doubt, pursuant to Section 7 hereof), (y) a Regulatory Disruption as described in Section 7 hereof occurs or (z) a Disruption Event occurs. In the case of any event described in clause (x), (y) or (z) above occurs, the Calculation Agent may, acting in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, adjust any relevant terms of such Transaction as necessary to preserve as nearly as practicable the fair value of such Transaction to the Bank prior to such postponement, Regulatory Disruption or Disruption Event, as the case may be.

 

6


Excess Dividend:

   For any calendar quarter, any dividend or distribution on the Shares with an ex-dividend date occurring during such calendar quarter (other than any dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) or (B) of the Equity Definitions or any Extraordinary Dividend) (a “Dividend”) the amount or value of which per Share (as determined by the Calculation Agent), when aggregated with the amount or value (as determined by the Calculation Agent) of any and all previous Dividends with ex-dividend dates occurring in the same calendar quarter, exceeds the Ordinary Dividend Amount. “Extraordinary Dividend” means the per Share cash dividend or distribution, or a portion thereof, declared by Counterparty on the Shares that is classified by the board of directors of Counterparty as an “extraordinary” dividend.

Consequences of Excess Dividend:

   The declaration by the Issuer of any Excess Dividend, the ex-dividend date for which occurs or is scheduled to occur during the Relevant Dividend Period for any Transaction, may, at the Bank’s election in its sole discretion, either (x) constitute an Additional Termination Event in respect of such Transaction, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and such Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction or (y) result in an adjustment, by the Calculation Agent, to the Floor Price or other terms of the Transaction as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate to preserve the fair value of such Transaction after taking into account the economic effect on the Transaction of such Excess Dividend.

Ordinary Dividend Amount:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Method of Adjustment:

   Calculation Agent Adjustment

Early Ordinary Dividend Payment:

   For each Transaction, if an ex-dividend date for any Dividend that is not (x) an Excess Dividend, (y) a dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions or (z) an Extraordinary Dividend, occurs during any calendar quarter occurring (in whole or in part) during the Relevant Dividend Period for such Transaction and is prior to the Scheduled Ex-Dividend Date for such Transaction for the relevant calendar quarter (as determined by the Calculation Agent), the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustment to the exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of the relevant Transaction as the Calculation Agent determines, in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, appropriate to preserve the fair value of such Transaction after taking into account the economic effect on the Transaction of such Dividend.

Scheduled Ex-Dividend Dates:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation for each calendar quarter.

Relevant Dividend Period:

   For each Transaction, the period from, and including, the Trade Date for such Transaction to, and including, the Relevant Dividend Period End Date for such Transaction.

 

7


Relevant Dividend Period End Date:

   For each Transaction, if the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Transaction is negative, the last day of the Settlement Valuation Period; otherwise, the Termination Date for such Transaction.
Extraordinary Events.   

Consequences of Merger Events:

  

(a) Share-for-Share:

   Cancellation and Payment

(b) Share-for-Other:

   Cancellation and Payment

(c) Share-for-Combined:

   Cancellation and Payment

Tender Offer:

   Applicable; provided that (a) Section 12.1(l) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting the parenthetical in the fifth line thereof, (ii) replacing “that” in the fifth line thereof with “whether or not such announcement” and (iii) adding immediately after the words “Tender Offer” in the fifth line thereof “, and any publicly announced change or amendment to such an announcement (including, without limitation, the announcement of an abandonment of such intention)” and (b) Sections 12.3(a) and 12.3(d) of the Equity Definitions shall each be amended by replacing each occurrence of the words “Tender Offer Date” by “Announcement Date.”

Consequences of Tender Offers:

  

(a) Share-for-Share:

   Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

(b) Share-for-Other:

   Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

(c) Share-for-Combined:

   Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
   Any adjustments to the terms of a Transaction, and the determination of amounts due upon termination of such Transaction as a result of a Merger Event or Tender Offer shall take into account, and shall not duplicate, the economic effects of, any adjustment other adjustment to such Transaction hereunder (including without limitation, any adjustment pursuant to Section 11 below).

Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:

   Cancellation and Payment; provided that in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall be deemed to be the Exchange.

 

8


Additional Disruption Events:

  

(a) Change in Law:

   Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) replacing the word “Shares” where it appears in clause (X) thereof with the words “Hedge Positions” and (iii) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date”; provided further that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing the parenthetical beginning after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof with the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, (x) any tax law or (y) adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)”.

(b) Failure to Deliver:

   Applicable

(c) Insolvency Filing:

   Applicable

(d) Loss of Stock Borrow:

   Applicable

Maximum Stock Loan Rate:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Hedging Party:

   The Bank

Determining Party:

   The Bank

(e) Hedging Disruption:

   Applicable

Hedging Party:

   The Bank

Determining Party:

   The Bank

(f) Increased Cost of Hedging:

   Applicable

Hedging Party:

   The Bank

Determining Party:

   The Bank

(g) Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:

   Applicable

Initial Stock Loan Rate:

   For each Transaction, as set forth in the related Supplemental Confirmation.

Hedging Party:

   The Bank

Determining Party:

   The Bank
   In the case of any adjustment or termination in respect of any Additional Disruption Event, upon receipt of a written request from Counterparty, the Determining Party shall promptly provide Counterparty with a written explanation describing in reasonable detail any calculation or adjustment made by it (including any quotations, market data or information from internal or external sources used in making such calculation or adjustment, as the case may be, but it being understood that the Bank shall not be obligated to disclose any

 

9


   proprietary or confidential models or other information that may be proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information), and the Determining Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such written explanation within five (5) Exchange Business Days.

Hedging Adjustments:

   For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Master Confirmation or the Equity Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Bank, assuming that the Bank maintains a commercially reasonable Hedge Position.

Non-Reliance/Agreements and Acknowledgements Regarding Hedging Activities/Additional Acknowledgements:

   Applicable
2. Calculation Agent.    The Bank. Whenever the Calculation Agent is required to act or to exercise judgment in any way with respect to any Transaction hereunder, it will do so in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Upon receipt of a written request from Counterparty, the Calculation Agent shall promptly provide Counterparty with a written explanation describing in reasonable detail any calculation or adjustment made by it (including any quotations, market data or information from internal or external sources used in making such calculation or adjustment, as the case may be, but it being understood that the Calculation Agent shall not be obligated to disclose any proprietary or confidential models or other information that may be proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information), and the Calculation Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such written explanation within five (5) Exchange Business Days from the receipt of such request.

 

3.

Account Details.

 

  (a)

Account for payments to Counterparty:

 

  Bank:

[***]

 

  ABA#:

[***]

 

  Acct No.:

[***]

 

  Beneficiary:

[***]

Account for delivery of Shares to Counterparty:

[***]

 

  (b)

Account for payments to the Bank:

 

  Bank:

[***]

  ABA#:

[***]

 

10


Acct No.:        [***]

Beneficiary:    [***]

Ref:                 [***]

Account for delivery of Shares to JPMorgan:

[***]

 

4.

Offices.

 

  (a)

The Office of Counterparty for each Transaction is: Inapplicable, Counterparty is not a Multibranch Party.

 

  (b)

The Office of the Bank for each Transaction is: New York

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

New York Branch

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY, 10179

 

5.

Notices.

 

  (a)

Address for notices or communications to Counterparty:

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

77 Hot Metal Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Attention:             Bethany Beal, Director of Treasury

Telephone No.:    [***]

Email Address:    [***]

 

  (b)

Address for notices or communications to the Bank:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

EDG Marketing Support

Email:    [***]

               [***]

With a copy to:

Attention:            Brett Chalmers

Title:                    Executive Director

Telephone No.:    [***]

Email Address:    [***]

 

6.

Representations, Warranties and Agreements.

 

  (a)

Additional Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Each Party. In addition to the representations, warranties and covenants in the Agreement, each party represents, warrants and covenants to the other party that:

 

  (i)

It is an “eligible contract participant” (as such term is defined in the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended).

 

  (ii)

The offer and sale of each Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof. Accordingly, each party represents and warrants to the other that (A) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in each Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (B) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined under Regulation D under the Securities Act and (C) the disposition of each Transaction is restricted under this Master Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

 

11


  (b)

Additional Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Counterparty. In addition to the representations, warranties and covenants in the Agreement, Counterparty represents, warrants and covenants to the Bank that:

 

  (i)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, Counterparty is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of this Master Confirmation and the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Counterparty and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Bank) this Master Confirmation, as supplemented by such Supplemental Confirmation, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of Counterparty. Counterparty has all corporate power to enter into this Master Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and to purchase the Shares and deliver any Settlement Shares in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

 

  (ii)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, the execution and delivery by Counterparty of, and the performance by Counterparty of its obligations under, this Master Confirmation and the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated, do not conflict with or violate (A) any provision of the certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other constitutive documents of Counterparty, (B) any statute or order, rule, regulation or judgment of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective assets or (C) any contractual restriction binding on or affecting Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries or any of its assets.

 

  (iii)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, all governmental and other consents that are required to have been obtained by Counterparty with respect to performance, execution and delivery of this Master Confirmation and the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction have been obtained and are in full force and effect and all conditions of any such consents have been complied with.

 

  (iv)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, (A) such Transaction is being entered into pursuant to a publicly disclosed Share buy-back program and its Board of Directors has approved the use of derivatives to effect the Share buy-back program, and (B) there is no internal policy of Counterparty, whether written or oral, that would prohibit Counterparty from entering into any aspect of such Transaction, including, without limitation, the purchases of Shares to be made pursuant to such Transaction.

 

  (v)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, the purchase or writing of such Transaction and the transactions contemplated hereby will not violate Rule 13e-1 or Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act.

 

  (vi)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, it is not entering into such Transaction, and as of the date of any election with respect to any Transaction hereunder, it is not making such election, in each case (A) on the basis of, and is not aware of, any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares, (B) in anticipation of, in connection with, or to facilitate, a distribution of its securities, a self-tender offer or a third-party tender offer in violation of the Exchange Act or (C) to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares).

 

12


  (vii)

Counterparty (A) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities; (B) will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of any broker-dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified the broker-dealer in writing; and (C) has total assets of at least USD 50,000,000 as of the date hereof.

 

  (viii)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, and as of the date of any election with respect to any Transaction hereunder, Counterparty is in compliance in all material respects with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act and its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, together with all reports subsequently filed by it pursuant to the Exchange Act, taken together and as amended and supplemented to the date of this representation, do not, as of their respective filing dates, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

  (ix)

Counterparty shall report each Transaction as required under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

  (x)

(A) The Shares are not, as of the Calculation Period Start Date, and (B) Counterparty will not, at any time during any Regulation M Period (as defined below) for any Transaction, cause the Shares to be, subject to a “restricted period” (as defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act) unless, in the case of clause (B), Counterparty has provided written notice to the Bank of such restricted period not later than the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the first day of such “restricted period”; Counterparty acknowledges that any such notice may cause a Disrupted Day to occur pursuant to Section 7 hereof; accordingly, Counterparty acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 8 hereof. As of the Trade Date for any Transaction hereunder, Counterparty is not contemplating any “distribution” (as defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act) of Shares, or any security for which Shares are a “reference security” (as defined in Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act). “Regulation M Period” means, for any Transaction, (A) the Relevant Period (as defined below) for such Transaction, (B) the Settlement Valuation Period, if any, for such Transaction and (C) the Seller Termination Purchase Period (as defined below), if any, for such Transaction. “Relevant Period” means, for any Transaction, the period commencing on the Calculation Period Start Date for such Transaction and ending on the later of (1) the earlier of (x) the Scheduled Termination Date and (y) the last Additional Relevant Day (as specified in the related Supplemental Confirmation) for such Transaction, or such earlier day as elected by the Bank and communicated to Counterparty on such day (or, if later, the First Acceleration Date without regard to any acceleration thereof pursuant to “Special Provisions for Acquisition Transaction Announcements” below) and (2) if Section 15 hereof is applicable to such Transaction, the date on which all deliveries owed pursuant to such Section 15 have been made.

 

  (xi)

As of the Trade Date, the Prepayment Date, the Initial Share Delivery Date, the Settlement Date, any Cash Settlement Payment Date and any Settlement Method Election Date for each Transaction, Counterparty is not, and will not be, “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)) and Counterparty would be able to purchase a number of Shares with a value equal to the Prepayment Amount in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction of Counterparty’s incorporation.

 

  (xii)

Counterparty is not, and after giving effect to each Transaction will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

13


  (xiii)

Counterparty shall cooperate with the Bank, and execute and deliver, or use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be executed and delivered, all such other instruments, and to obtain all consents, approvals or authorizations of any person, and take all such other actions as the Bank may reasonably request from time to time, consistent with the terms of the Agreement, this Master Confirmation and any Supplemental Confirmation, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Agreement, this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and any Transaction.

 

  (xiv)

Counterparty has not entered, and will not enter, into any repurchase transaction with respect to the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares) (including, without limitation, any agreements similar to the Transactions described herein) where any initial hedge period, calculation period, relevant period, settlement valuation period or seller termination purchase period (each however defined) in such other transaction will overlap at any time (including, without limitation, as a result of extensions in such initial hedge period, calculation period, relevant period, settlement valuation period or seller termination purchase period as provided in the relevant agreements) with any Relevant Period, any Settlement Valuation Period (if applicable) or any Seller Termination Purchase Period (if applicable) under this Master Confirmation. In the event that the initial hedge period, relevant period, calculation period or settlement valuation period in any other transaction overlaps with any Relevant Period, any Settlement Valuation Period (if applicable) or any Seller Termination Purchase Period (if applicable) under this Master Confirmation as a result of any postponement of the Scheduled Termination Date or extension of the Settlement Valuation Period pursuant to “Valuation Disruption” above or any analogous provision in such other transaction, Counterparty shall promptly amend such other transaction to avoid any such overlap.

 

  (xv)

Upon a request by the Bank, Counterparty shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, at least one day prior to the first day of the Calculation Period, the Settlement Valuation Period, if any, or the Seller Termination Purchase Period, if any, for any Transaction, notify the Bank of the total number of Shares purchased in Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks pursuant to the once-a-week block exception set forth in paragraph (b)(4) of Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”) by or for Counterparty or any of its “affiliated purchasers” (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during each of the four calendar weeks preceding such day and during the calendar week in which such day occurs (“Rule 10b-18 purchase” and “blocks” each being used as defined in Rule 10b-18), which notice shall be substantially in the form set forth in Schedule B hereto; provided that if Counterparty fails to provide any such notice, Counterparty shall be deemed to have provided a notice indicating that no Shares have been so purchased during the applicable period.

 

  (xvi)

As of the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder, and as of the date of any election with respect to any Transaction hereunder, there has not been any Merger Announcement (as defined below).

 

  (xvii)

The assets of Counterparty do not constitute “plan assets” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Labor Regulations promulgated thereunder or similar law.

 

7.

Regulatory Disruption. In the event that the Bank concludes, in its reasonable good faith discretion, that it is appropriate with respect to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures applied on a non-discriminatory basis (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by the Bank), for it to refrain from or decrease any market activity on any Scheduled Trading Day or Days during the Calculation Period or, if applicable, the Settlement Valuation Period, the Bank may by written notice to Counterparty elect to deem that a Market Disruption Event has occurred and will be continuing on such Scheduled Trading Day or Days. For the avoidance of doubt, if a Market Disruption Event is deemed to have occurred and be continuing on any Scheduled Trading Day, such Scheduled Trading Day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full.

 

14


8.

10b5-1 Plan. Counterparty represents, warrants and covenants to the Bank that:

 

  (a)

Counterparty is entering into this Master Confirmation and each Transaction hereunder in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b5-1”) or any other antifraud or anti-manipulation provisions of the federal or applicable state securities laws and that it has not entered into or altered and will not enter into or alter any corresponding or hedging transaction or position with respect to the Shares. Counterparty acknowledges that it is the intent of the parties that each Transaction entered into under this Master Confirmation comply with the requirements of paragraphs (c)(1)(i)(A) and (B) of Rule 10b5-1 and each Transaction entered into under this Master Confirmation shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).

 

  (b)

During the Calculation Period and the Settlement Valuation Period, if any, for any Transaction and in connection with the delivery of any Alternative Delivery Units for any Transaction, the Bank (or its agent or Affiliate) may effect transactions in Shares in connection with such Transaction. The timing of such transactions by the Bank, the price paid or received per Share pursuant to such transactions and the manner in which such transactions are made, including, without limitation, whether such transactions are made on any securities exchange or privately, shall be within the sole judgment of the Bank. Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that all such transactions shall be made in the Bank’s sole judgment and for the Bank’s own account.

 

  (c)

Counterparty does not have, and shall not attempt to exercise, any control or influence over how, when or whether the Bank (or its agent or Affiliate) makes any “purchases or sales” (within the meaning of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B)(3)) in connection with any Transaction, including, without limitation, over how, when or whether the Bank (or its agent or Affiliate) enters into any hedging transactions. Counterparty represents and warrants that it has consulted with its own advisors as to the legal aspects of its adoption and implementation of this Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation under Rule 10b5-1.

 

  (d)

Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5, and no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at any time at which Counterparty or any officer, director, manager or similar person of Counterparty is aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares.

 

  (e)

Counterparty shall not, directly or indirectly, communicate any information relating to the Shares or any Transaction (including, without limitation, any notices required by Section 10(a) hereof) to any employee of the Bank, other than as set forth in the Communications Procedures attached as Annex B hereto.

 

9.

Counterparty Purchases. Counterparty (or any “affiliate” or “affiliated purchaser” as defined in Rule 10b-18) shall not, without the prior written consent of the Bank, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of a derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or equivalent interest, including, without limitation, a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share), listed contracts on the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares (including, without limitation, any Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks (as defined in Rule 10b-18)) during any Relevant Period, any Settlement Valuation Period (if applicable) or any Seller Termination Purchase Period (if applicable), under this Master Confirmation.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall (i) limit Counterparty’s ability, pursuant to its employee incentive plan, to re-acquire Shares in connection with the related equity transactions, (ii) limit Counterparty’s ability to withhold shares to cover tax liabilities associated with such equity transactions or (iii) limit Counterparty’s ability to grant stock, restricted stock units and options to “affiliated purchasers’ (as defined in Rule 10b-18) or the ability of such affiliated purchasers to acquire such stock, restricted stock units or options, in connection with the Counterparty’s compensation policies for directors, officers and employees.

 

15


10.

Special Provisions for Merger Transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Equity Definitions:

 

  (a)

Counterparty agrees that it:

 

  (i)

will not during the period commencing on the Trade Date for any Transaction and ending on the last day of the Relevant Period or, if applicable, the later of the last day of the Settlement Valuation Period and the last day of the Seller Termination Purchase Period, for such Transaction make, or (to the extent within its control) permit to be made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any Merger Transaction or potential Merger Transaction (a “Merger Announcement”) unless such Merger Announcement is made prior to the opening or after the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange for the Shares;

 

  (ii)

shall promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) notify the Bank following any such Merger Announcement that such Merger Announcement has been made; and

 

  (iii)

shall promptly (but in any event prior to the next opening of the regular trading session on the Exchange) provide the Bank with written notice specifying (i) Counterparty’s average daily Rule 10b-18 Purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months immediately preceding the announcement date of any Merger Transaction or potential Merger Transaction that were not effected through the Bank or its Affiliates and (ii) the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act for the three full calendar months preceding the announcement date of any Merger Transaction or potential Merger Transaction. Such written notice shall be deemed to be a certification by Counterparty to the Bank that such information is true and correct. In addition, Counterparty shall promptly notify the Bank of the earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders.

 

  (b)

Counterparty acknowledges that any such Merger Announcement or delivery of a notice with respect thereto may cause the terms of any Transaction to be adjusted or such Transaction to be terminated; accordingly, Counterparty acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 8 hereof.

 

  (c)

Upon the occurrence of any Merger Announcement (whether made by Counterparty or a third party), the Bank in its commercially reasonable discretion may (i) make commercially reasonable adjustments to the terms of any Transaction to account for the economic effect on the Transaction of such Merger Announcement, including, without limitation, the Scheduled Termination Date or the Forward Price Adjustment Amount, and/or suspend the Calculation Period and/or any Settlement Valuation Period or (ii) treat the occurrence of such Merger Announcement as an Additional Termination Event with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and the Transactions hereunder as the Affected Transactions and with the amount under Section 6(e) of the Agreement determined taking into account the fact that the Calculation Period or Settlement Valuation Period, as the case may be, had fewer Scheduled Trading Days than originally anticipated.

Merger Transaction” means any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization as contemplated by Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv) under the Exchange Act other than any such transaction in which the consideration consists solely of cash and there is no valuation period.

 

16


11.

Special Provisions for Acquisition Transaction Announcements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Equity Definitions:

 

  (a)

If an Acquisition Transaction Announcement occurs on or prior to the Final Settlement Date for any Transaction, then the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustments to the exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of such Transaction as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate (including, without limitation and for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments that would allow the Number of Shares to be Delivered to be less than zero), at such time or at multiple times as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate, to account for the economic effect on such Transaction of such event (including adjustments to account for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate, value of any commercially reasonable Hedge Positions in connection with the Transaction and liquidity relevant to the Shares or to such Transaction). If an Acquisition Transaction Announcement occurs after the Trade Date, but prior to the First Acceleration Date of any Transaction, the First Acceleration Date shall be the date of such Acquisition Transaction Announcement. If the Number of Shares to be Delivered for any settlement of any Transaction is a negative number, then the terms of the Counterparty Settlement Provisions in Annex A hereto shall apply.

 

  (b)

Acquisition Transaction Announcement” means (i) the announcement of an Acquisition Transaction or an event that, if consummated, would result in an Acquisition Transaction, (ii) an announcement that Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries has entered into an agreement, a letter of intent or an understanding designed to result in an Acquisition Transaction, (iii) the announcement of the intention to solicit or enter into, or to explore strategic alternatives or other similar undertaking that may include, an Acquisition Transaction, (iv) any other announcement that in the reasonable judgment of the Calculation Agent could reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Transaction, or (v) any announcement of any change or amendment to any previous Acquisition Transaction Announcement (including any announcement of the abandonment of any such previously announced Acquisition Transaction, agreement, letter of intent, understanding or intention). For the avoidance of doubt, announcements as used in the definition of Acquisition Transaction Announcement refer to any public announcement whether made by the Issuer or a third party.

 

  (c)

Acquisition Transaction” means (i) any Merger Event (for purposes of this definition the definition of Merger Event shall be read with the references therein to “100%” being replaced by “20%” and references to “50%” being replaced by “75%” and without reference to the clause beginning immediately following the definition of Reverse Merger therein to the end of such definition), Tender Offer or Merger Transaction or any other transaction involving the merger of Counterparty with or into any third party, (ii) the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Counterparty, (iii) a recapitalization, reclassification, binding share exchange or other similar transaction with respect to Counterparty, (iv) any acquisition by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries where the aggregate consideration transferable by Counterparty or its subsidiaries exceeds 20% of the market capitalization of Counterparty (measured as of the relevant date of announcement), (v) any lease, exchange, transfer, disposition (including, without limitation, by way of spin-off or distribution) of assets (including, without limitation, any capital stock or other ownership interests in subsidiaries) or other similar event by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries where the aggregate consideration transferable or receivable by or to Counterparty or its subsidiaries exceeds 20% of the market capitalization of Counterparty (measured as of the relevant date of announcement) or (vi) any transaction in which Counterparty or its board of directors has a legal obligation to make a recommendation to its shareholders in respect of such transaction (whether pursuant to Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act or otherwise).

 

12.

Acknowledgments.

 

  (a)

The parties hereto intend for:

 

  (i)

each Transaction to be a “securities contract” as defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “forward contract” as defined in Section 101(25) of the Bankruptcy Code, and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(27), 362(o), 546(e), 546(j), 555, 556, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

17


  (ii)

the Agreement to be a “master netting agreement” as defined in Section 101(38A) of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

  (iii)

a party’s right to liquidate, terminate or accelerate any Transaction, net out or offset termination values or payment amounts, and to exercise any other remedies upon the occurrence of any Event of Default or Termination Event under the Agreement with respect to the other party or any Extraordinary Event that results in the termination or cancellation of any Transaction to constitute a “contractual right” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code); and

 

  (iv)

all payments for, under or in connection with each Transaction, all payments for the Shares (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of the Prepayment Amount) and the transfer of such Shares to constitute “settlement payments” and “transfers” (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code).

 

  (b)

Counterparty acknowledges that:

 

  (i)

during the term of any Transaction, the Bank and its Affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to establish, adjust or unwind its hedge position with respect to such Transaction;

 

  (ii)

the Bank and its Affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and Share-linked transactions other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to any Transaction;

 

  (iii)

the Bank shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Counterparty’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Forward Price and the VWAP Price;

 

  (iv)

any market activities of the Bank and its Affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the Forward Price, the VWAP Price and the Settlement Price, each in a manner that may be adverse to Counterparty; and

 

  (v)

each Transaction is a derivatives transaction in which it has granted the Bank an option; the Bank may purchase shares for its own account at an average price that may be greater than, or less than, the price paid by Counterparty under the terms of the related Transaction.

 

13.

No Collateral, Netting or Setoff. Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement or any other agreement between the parties to the contrary, the obligations of Counterparty hereunder are not secured by any collateral. Obligations under any Transaction shall not be netted, recouped or set off (including pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement) against any other obligations of the parties, whether arising under the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, or under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and no other obligations of the parties shall be netted, recouped or set off (including pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement) against obligations under any Transaction, whether arising under the Agreement, this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, or under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and each party hereby waives any such right of setoff, netting or recoupment.

 

14.

Delivery of Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Bank may, by prior notice to Counterparty, satisfy its obligation to deliver any Shares or other securities on any date due (an “Original Delivery Date”) by making separate deliveries of Shares or such securities, as the case may be, at more than one time on or prior to such Original Delivery Date, so long as the aggregate number of Shares and other securities so delivered on or prior to such Original Delivery Date is equal to the number required to be delivered on such Original Delivery Date.

 

18


15.

Alternative Termination Settlement. In the event that (a) an Early Termination Date (whether as a result of an Event of Default or a Termination Event) occurs or is designated with respect to any Transaction or (b) any Transaction is cancelled or terminated upon the occurrence of an Extraordinary Event (except as a result of (i) a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event in which the consideration to be paid to all or substantially all holders of Shares consists solely of cash, (ii) a Merger Event or Tender Offer that is within Counterparty’s control, or (iii) an Event of Default in which Counterparty is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Counterparty is the Affected Party other than an Event of Default of the type described in Section 5(a)(iii), (v), (vi), (vii) or (viii) of the Agreement or a Termination Event of the type described in Section 5(b) of the Agreement, in each case that resulted from an event or events outside Counterparty’s control), if either party would owe any amount to the other party pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement or any Cancellation Amount pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions (any such amount, a “Payment Amount”), then, in lieu of any payment of such Payment Amount, unless Counterparty makes an election to the contrary no later than the Early Termination Date or the date on which such Transaction is terminated or cancelled, Counterparty or the Bank, as the case may be, shall deliver to the other party a number of Shares (or, in the case of a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event, a number of units, each comprising the number or amount of the securities or property that all or substantially all hypothetical holders of one Share would receive in such Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event, as the case may be (each such unit, an “Alternative Delivery Unit”)) with a value equal to the Payment Amount, as determined by the Calculation Agent in a good faith and commercially reasonable manner over a commercially reasonable period of time (and the parties agree that, in making such determination of value, the Calculation Agent may take into account a number of factors, including, without limitation, the market price of the Shares or Alternative Delivery Units on the Early Termination Date or the date of early cancellation or termination, as the case may be, and, if such delivery is made by the Bank, the prices at which the Bank purchases Shares or Alternative Delivery Units, assuming the Bank makes such purchases in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner, to fulfill its delivery obligations under this Section 15); provided that in determining the composition of any Alternative Delivery Unit, if the relevant Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash; and provided further that Counterparty may elect that the provisions of this Section 15 above providing for the delivery of Shares or Alternative Delivery Units, as the case may be, shall not apply only if Counterparty represents and warrants to the Bank, in writing on the date it notifies the Bank of such election, that, as of such date, Counterparty is not aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares and is making such election in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws. If delivery of Shares or Alternative Delivery Units, as the case may be, pursuant to this Section 15 is to be made by Counterparty, paragraphs 2 through 7 of Annex A hereto shall apply as if (A) such delivery were a settlement of such Transaction to which Net Share Settlement applied, (B) the Cash Settlement Payment Date were the Early Termination Date or the date of early cancellation or termination, as the case may be, and (C) the Forward Cash Settlement Amount were equal to (x) zero minus (y) the Payment Amount owed by Counterparty. For the avoidance of doubt, if Counterparty validly elects for the provisions of this Section 15 relating to the delivery of Shares or Alternative Delivery Units, as the case may be, not to apply to any Payment Amount, the provisions of Article 12 of the Equity Definitions, or the provisions of Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply. If delivery of Shares or Alternative Delivery Units, as the case may be, is to be made by the Bank pursuant to this Section 15, the period during which the Bank purchases Shares or Alternative Delivery Units to fulfill its delivery obligations under this Section 15 shall be referred to as the “Seller Termination Purchase Period.”

 

16.

Calculations and Payment Date upon Early Termination. The parties acknowledge and agree that in calculating (a) the Close-Out Amount pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and (b) the amount due upon cancellation or termination of any Transaction (whether in whole or in part) pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions as a result of an Extraordinary Event, the Bank may (but need not) determine such amount based on (i) expected losses assuming a commercially reasonable (including, without limitation, with regard to reasonable legal and regulatory guidelines) risk bid were used to determine loss or (ii) the price at which one or more market participants would offer to sell to the Seller a block of Shares equal in number to the Seller’s hedge position, assuming Seller’s hedge position is commercially reasonable, in relation to the Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement or Article 12 of the Equity Definitions, all amounts calculated as being due in respect of an Early Termination Date under Section 6(e) of the Agreement or upon cancellation or termination of the relevant

 

19


  Transaction under Article 12 of the Equity Definitions will be payable on the day that notice of the amount payable is effective; provided that if Counterparty elects to receive or deliver Shares or Alternative Delivery Units in accordance with Section 15 hereof, such Shares or Alternative Delivery Units shall be delivered on a date selected by the Bank as promptly as practicable. In addition, upon the termination of any Transaction upon the occurrence of an Excess Dividend, the Close-Out Amount shall not take into account changes between any assumed dividends and actual dividends since the Trade Date for such Transaction.

 

17.

Limit on Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Bank may not be entitled to take delivery of any Shares deliverable hereunder to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such receipt of any Shares hereunder, the Equity Percentage would exceed 7.5%. Any purported delivery hereunder shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such delivery the Equity Percentage would exceed 7.5%. If any delivery owed to the Bank hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, Counterparty’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Counterparty shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Business Day after, the Bank gives notice to Counterparty that, after such delivery, the Equity Percentage would not exceed 7.5%. The “Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that the Bank and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with the Bank for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which the Bank is or may be deemed to be a part beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day (or, to the extent that for any reason the equivalent calculation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder results in a higher number, such higher number) and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

 

18.

Maximum Share Delivery. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Master Confirmation, in no event shall the Bank be required to deliver any Shares, or any Shares or other securities comprising Alternative Delivery Units, in respect of any Transaction in excess of the Maximum Number of Shares set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.

 

19.

Additional Termination Events.

 

  (a)

The occurrence of an event described in paragraph III of Annex B hereto will constitute an Additional Termination Event, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and the Transactions specified in such paragraph III as the Affected Transactions.

 

  (b)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6 of the Agreement, if a Termination Price is specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for any Transaction, then an Additional Termination Event will occur without any notice or action by the Bank or Counterparty if the price of the Shares on the Exchange at any time falls below such Termination Price, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and such Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction.

 

20.

Non-confidentiality. The Bank and Counterparty hereby acknowledge and agree that, subject to Section 8(e) hereof, each is authorized to disclose every aspect of this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, and there are no express or implied agreements, arrangements or understandings to the contrary.

 

21.

Counterparty Indemnification. Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Bank and its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, advisors, agents and controlling persons (each, an “Indemnified Person”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint or several (collectively, “Obligations”), to which an Indemnified Person may become subject arising out of or in connection with (x) any breach by Counterparty of any of its representations or covenants under this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, or (y) any unaffiliated third-party claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation (but excluding any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding arising out of the Bank’s breach of this Master Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement or the Bank’s fraud, gross negligence or willful

 

20


  misconduct), in each case, regardless of whether any of such Indemnified Person is a party thereto, and to reimburse, within 30 days, upon written request, each such Indemnified Person for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating, preparation for, providing evidence for or defending any of the foregoing; provided, however, that Counterparty shall not have any liability to any Indemnified Person to the extent that such Obligations (a) are finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person or a breach by the Bank of this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation (and in such case, such Indemnified Person shall promptly return to Counterparty any amounts previously expended by Counterparty hereunder) or (b) are trading losses incurred by the Bank as part of its purchases or sales of Shares pursuant to this Master Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation (unless such trading losses are related to the breach of any agreement, term or covenant herein).

 

22.

Assignment and Transfer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the Bank may assign any of its rights or duties hereunder to any one or more of its Affiliates without the prior written consent of Counterparty, provided that (1) such Affiliate has a rating for its long-term, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness that is equal to or better than the Bank’s credit rating at the time of such transfer or assignment, or (2) such Affiliate’s obligations hereunder will be guaranteed, pursuant to the terms of a customary guarantee in a form used by the Bank generally for similar transactions, by the Bank. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Master Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing the Bank to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, the Bank may designate any of its Affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform the Bank’s obligations in respect of any Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. The Bank may assign the right to receive Settlement Shares to any third party who may legally receive Settlement Shares. The Bank shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty only to the extent of any such performance. For the avoidance of doubt, the Bank hereby acknowledges that notwithstanding any such designation hereunder, to the extent any of the Bank’s obligations in respect of any Transaction are not completed by its designee, the Bank shall be obligated to continue to perform or to cause any other of its designees to perform in respect of such obligations.

 

23.

Amendments to the Equity Definitions.

 

  (a)

Section 11.2(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “a material economic”; and adding the phrase “or such Transaction” at the end of the sentence.

 

  (b)

Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the words “a diluting or concentrative” with “a material economic” in the fifth line thereof, (ii) adding the phrase “or such Transaction” after the words “the relevant Shares” in the same sentence, (iii) replacing the words “diluting or concentrative” in the sixth to last line thereof with “material economic”, and (iv) deleting the phrase “(provided that no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)” and replacing it with the phrase “(and, for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments may be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares).”

 

  (c)

Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “a diluting or concentrative effect on the theoretical value of the relevant Shares” and replacing them with the words “a material economic effect on the relevant Transaction”.

 

  (d)

Section 12.6(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) deleting from the fourth line thereof the word “or” after the word “official” and inserting a comma therefor, and (ii) deleting the semi-colon at the end of subsection (B) thereof and inserting the following words therefor “or (C) at the Bank’s option, the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 5(a)(vii) (1) through (9) of the ISDA Master Agreement with respect to that Issuer.”

 

  (e)

Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by:

 

21


  (i)

deleting (1) subsection (A) in its entirety, (2) the phrase “or (B)” following subsection (A) and (3) the phrase “in each case” in subsection (B); and

 

  (ii)

replacing the phrase “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares” with the phrase “such Lending Party does not lend Shares” in the penultimate sentence.

 

  (f)

Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by:

 

  (i)

adding the word “or” immediately before subsection “(B)” and deleting the comma at the end of subsection (A); and

 

  (ii)

(1) deleting subsection (C) in its entirety, (2) deleting the word “or” immediately preceding subsection (C), (3) deleting the penultimate sentence in its entirety and replacing it with the sentence “The Hedging Party will determine the Cancellation Amount payable by one party to the other” and (4) deleting clause (X) in the final sentence.

 

  (g)

Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by:

 

  (i)

adding the word “or” immediately before subsection “(B)” and deleting the comma at the end of subsection (A); and

 

  (ii)

(1) deleting subsection (C) in its entirety, (2) deleting the word “or” immediately preceding subsection (C) and (3) deleting the final sentence in its entirety and replacing it with the sentence “The Hedging Party will determine the Cancellation Amount payable by one party to the other”.

 

  (h)

Section 12(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended by (1) deleting the phrase “or email” in the third line thereof and (2) deleting the phrase “or that communication is delivered (or attempted) or received, as applicable, after the close of business on a Local Business Day” in the final clause thereof.

 

24.

Extraordinary Dividend. If Counterparty declares any Extraordinary Dividend that has an ex-dividend date during the period commencing on the Trade Date for any Transaction and ending on the last day of the Relevant Period or, if applicable, the later of the last day of the Settlement Valuation Period and the last day of the Seller Termination Purchase Period, for such Transaction, then prior to or on the date on which such Extraordinary Dividend is paid by Counterparty to holders of record, Counterparty shall pay to the Bank, for each Transaction under this Master Confirmation, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the amount of such Extraordinary Dividend and (ii) the theoretical short delta number of shares as of the opening of business on the related ex-dividend date, as determined in a good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner by the Calculation Agent, to the extent required for the Bank to hedge its exposure to such Transaction, assuming the Bank has established and maintained a commercially reasonable hedge position.

 

25.

Status of Claims in Bankruptcy. The Bank acknowledges and agrees that neither this Master Confirmation nor any Supplemental Confirmation is intended to convey to the Bank rights against Counterparty with respect to any Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders of Counterparty in any United States bankruptcy proceedings of Counterparty; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit the Bank’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Counterparty of its obligations and agreements with respect to any Transaction; provided further that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit the Bank’s rights in respect of any transactions other than any Transaction.

 

26.

Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act. In connection with Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (“WSTAA”), the parties hereby agree that neither the enactment of WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, nor any requirement under WSTAA or an amendment made by WSTAA, nor any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the date of this Master Confirmation, shall limit or otherwise impair

 

22


  either party’s otherwise applicable rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement any Supplemental Confirmation, this Master Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under any Supplemental Confirmation, this Master Confirmation, the Equity Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, without limitation, rights arising from Change in Law, Loss of Stock Borrow, Increased Cost of Stock Borrow, Hedging Disruption, Increased Cost of Hedging, or Illegality).

 

27.

Communications with Employees of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. If Counterparty interacts with any employee of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC with respect to any Transaction, Counterparty is hereby notified that such employee will act solely as an authorized representative of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (and not as a representative of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC) in connection with such Transaction.

 

28.

Delivery of Cash.    For the avoidance of doubt, other than payment of the Prepayment Amount by Counterparty, nothing in this Master Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Counterparty to cash settle any Transaction, except in circumstances where cash settlement is within Counterparty’s control (including, without limitation, where Counterparty elects to receive or deliver a Payment Amount in accordance with Section 15) or in those circumstances in which holders of the Shares would also receive cash.

 

29.

Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THE AGREEMENT, THIS MASTER CONFIRMATION, EACH SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION, THE TRANSACTIONS HEREUNDER AND ALL MATTERS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGREEMENT, THIS MASTER CONFIRMATION AND ANY SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION AND THE TRANSACTIONS HEREUNDER. EACH PARTY (I) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF SUCH A SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (II) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THE TRANSACTIONS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS PROVIDED HEREIN.

 

30.

Counterparts. This Master Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Master Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.

 

31.

U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol. The parties acknowledge and agree that (i) to the extent that prior to the date hereof both parties have adhered to the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (the “Protocol”), the terms of the Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of the Agreement, and for such purposes the Agreement shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement, the Bank shall be deemed a Regulated Entity and Counterparty shall be deemed an Adhering Party; (ii) to the extent that prior to the date hereof the parties have executed a separate agreement the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between them to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules (the “Bilateral Agreement”), the terms of the Bilateral Agreement are incorporated into and form a part of the Agreement, and for such purposes the Agreement shall be deemed a Covered Agreement, the Bank shall be deemed a Covered Entity and Counterparty shall be deemed a Counterparty Entity; or (iii) if clause (i) and clause (ii) do not apply, the terms of Section 1 and Section 2 and the related defined terms (together, the “Bilateral Terms”) of the form of bilateral template entitled “Full-Length Omnibus (for use between U.S. G-SIBs and Corporate Groups)” published by ISDA on November 2, 2018 (currently available on the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol page at www.isda.org and, a copy of which is available upon request), the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between the parties thereto to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules, are hereby incorporated into and form a part of the Agreement, and for such purposes the Agreement shall be deemed a “Covered Agreement,” the Bank shall be deemed a “Covered Entity” and Counterparty shall be deemed a “Counterparty Entity.” In the event that, after the date of the Agreement, both parties hereto become adhering parties to the Protocol, the terms of the Protocol will replace the terms of this paragraph. In the event of any inconsistencies between the Agreement and the terms of the Protocol, the Bilateral Agreement or the Bilateral Terms (each, the “QFC

 

23


  Stay Terms”), as applicable, the QFC Stay Terms will govern. Terms used in this paragraph without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them under the QFC Stay Rules. For purposes of this paragraph, references to “the Agreement” include any related credit enhancements entered into between the parties or provided by one to the other. In addition, the parties agree that the terms of this paragraph shall be incorporated into any related covered affiliate credit enhancements, with all references to the Bank replaced by references to the covered affiliate support provider.

QFC Stay Rules” means the regulations codified at 12 C.F.R. 252.2, 252.81–8, 12 C.F.R. 382.1-7 and 12 C.F.R. 47.1-8, which, subject to limited exceptions, require an express recognition of the stay-and-transfer powers of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Orderly Liquidation Authority under Title II of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the override of default rights related directly or indirectly to the entry of an affiliate into certain insolvency proceedings and any restrictions on the transfer of any covered affiliate credit enhancements.

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing this Master Confirmation and returning it to us.

Very truly yours,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Sanjeet Dewal

Authorized Signatory

Name: Sanjeet Dewal

            Managing Director

 

Accepted and confirmed as of the date first set forth above:
AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Michael A. Mathias

Authorized Signatory
Name: Michael A. Mathias

 

24


SCHEDULE A

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

New York Branch

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY, 10179

[            ], 2022

To:

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

 

77 Hot Metal Street

 

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

 

Attention:       Exec. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

Telephone No.: [***]

 

Re:

Supplemental Confirmation—Uncollared Accelerated Share Repurchase

The purpose of this Supplemental Confirmation is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (the “Bank”) and American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Counterparty”) on the Trade Date specified below. This Supplemental Confirmation is a binding contract between the Bank and Counterparty as of the relevant Trade Date for the Transaction referenced below.

1. This Supplemental Confirmation supplements, forms part of, and is subject to the Master Confirmation, dated as of June 3, 2022 (the “Master Confirmation”), between the Bank and Counterparty, as amended and supplemented from time to time. All provisions contained in the Master Confirmation govern this Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified below.

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

 

Trade Date:    [            ], 2022
Forward Price Adjustment Amount:    USD [            ]
Calculation Period Start Date:    [            ], 2022
Scheduled Termination Date:    [            ], 2022
First Acceleration Date:    [            ], 2022
Prepayment Amount:    USD [            ]
Prepayment Date:    [            ], 2022
Initial Shares:    [            ] Shares; provided that if, in connection with its establishment of a commercially reasonable hedge position associated with the Transaction, the Bank is unable to borrow or otherwise acquire a number of Shares equal to the Initial Shares for delivery to Counterparty on the Initial Share Delivery Date, as would be required to establish its commercially reasonable hedge position, the Initial Shares delivered on the Initial Share Delivery Date shall be reduced to such number of Shares that the Bank is able to so borrow or otherwise acquire;

 

A-1


   provided further that if the Initial Shares are reduced as provided in the preceding proviso, then the Bank shall use commercially reasonable efforts to borrow or otherwise acquire an additional number of Shares, at a stock borrow cost no greater than the Initial Stock Loan Rate, equal to the shortfall in the Initial Shares delivered on the Initial Share Delivery Date and shall deliver such additional Shares as promptly as practicable, and all Shares so delivered shall be considered Initial Shares. All Shares delivered to Counterparty in respect of the Transaction pursuant to this paragraph shall be the “Initial Shares” for purposes of “Number of Shares to be Delivered” in the Master Confirmation.
Initial Share Delivery Date:   

[            ]

Ordinary Dividend Amount:    For any Dividend before the Termination Date, USD 0.18 per Share
   For any Dividend after the Termination Date, USD 0.00 per Share
Scheduled Ex-Dividend Dates:   

[            ]

Maximum Stock Loan Rate:    [            ] basis points per annum
Initial Stock Loan Rate:    [            ] basis points per annum
Maximum Number of Shares:    [            ] Shares
Floor Price:    USD [            ] per Share
Contract Fee:    USD [            ]
Termination Price:    USD [            ] per Share
Additional Relevant Days:    The [            ] Exchange Business Days immediately following the Calculation Period.
Reserved Shares:    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Master Confirmation, as of the date of this Supplemental Confirmation, the Reserved Shares shall be equal to [            ] Shares.

3. Counterparty represents and warrants to the Bank that neither it nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act) has made any purchases of blocks pursuant to the proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act during either (i) the four full calendar weeks immediately preceding the Trade Date or (ii) during the calendar week in which the Trade Date occurs, except as set forth in any notice delivered pursuant to Section 6(b)(xv) of the Master Confirmation.

4. This Supplemental Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Supplemental Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts.

 

A-2


Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing this Supplemental Confirmation and returning it to us.

Very truly yours,

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

         

Authorized Signatory
Name:

Accepted and confirmed

as of the Trade Date:

 

AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS, INC.
By:  

             

Authorized Signatory
Name:

 

A-3


SCHEDULE B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF RULE 10B-18 PURCHASES

[Letterhead of Counterparty]

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

New York Branch

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY, 10179

 

Re:

Uncollared Accelerated Share Repurchase

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our entry into the Master Confirmation, dated as of June 3, 2022, between JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the “Master Confirmation”) and the Supplemental Confirmation thereto, dated as of [            ], we hereby represent that set forth below is the total number of shares of our common stock purchased by or for us or any of our affiliated purchasers in Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks (all as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) pursuant to the once-a-week block exception set forth in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) during the four full calendar weeks immediately preceding the first day of the [Calculation Period][Settlement Valuation Period][Seller Termination Purchase Period] (as defined in the Master Confirmation) and the week during which the first day of such [Calculation Period][Settlement Valuation Period][Seller Termination Purchase Period] occurs.

Number of Shares:    __________________

We understand that you will use this information in calculating trading volume for purposes of Rule 10b-18.

Very truly yours,

 

AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS, INC.
By:  

                              

Authorized Signatory
Name:

 

B-1


ANNEX A

COUNTERPARTY SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS

1. The following Counterparty Settlement Provisions shall apply to any Transaction to the extent indicated under the Master Confirmation:

 

Settlement Currency:    USD
Settlement Method Election:    Applicable; provided that (i) Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the word “Physical” in the sixth line thereof and replacing it with the words “Net Share” and (ii) the Electing Party may make a settlement method election only if the Electing Party represents and warrants to the Bank in writing on the date it notifies the Bank of its election that, as of such date, the Electing Party is not aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares and is electing the settlement method in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws.
Electing Party:    Counterparty
Settlement Method Election Date:    The earlier of (i) the Scheduled Termination Date and (ii) the second Exchange Business Day immediately following the Accelerated Termination Date (in which case the election under Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions shall be made no later than 10 minutes prior to the open of trading on the Exchange on such second Exchange Business Day), as the case may be.
Default Settlement Method:    Cash Settlement
Forward Cash Settlement Amount:    An amount equal to (a) the Number of Shares to be Delivered, multiplied by (b) the Settlement Price.
Settlement Price:    An amount equal to the average of the VWAP Prices for the Exchange Business Days in the Settlement Valuation Period, plus USD 0.02, subject to Valuation Disruption as specified in the Master Confirmation (in each case, plus interest on such amount during the Settlement Valuation Period at the rate of interest for Counterparty’s long term, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, as determined by the Calculation Agent).
Settlement Valuation Period:    A number of Scheduled Trading Days selected by the Bank in its good faith and commercially reasonable discretion, beginning on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the earlier of (i) the Scheduled Termination Date or (ii) the Exchange Business Day immediately following the Termination Date.
Cash Settlement:    If Cash Settlement is applicable, then Buyer shall pay to the Bank the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount on the Cash Settlement Payment Date.
Cash Settlement Payment Date:    The Exchange Business Day immediately following the last day of the Settlement Valuation Period.

 

Annex A-1


Net Share Settlement Procedures:    If Net Share Settlement is applicable, Net Share Settlement shall be made in accordance with paragraphs 2 through 7 below.

2. Net Share Settlement shall be made by delivery on the Cash Settlement Payment Date of a number of Shares satisfying the conditions set forth in paragraph 3 below (the “Registered Settlement Shares”), or a number of Shares not satisfying such conditions (the “Unregistered Settlement Shares”), in either case with a value equal to 101% (in the case of Registered Settlement Shares) or 105% (in the case of Unregistered Settlement Shares) of the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount, with such Shares’ value based on the value thereof to the Bank (which value shall, in the case of Unregistered Settlement Shares, take into account a commercially reasonable illiquidity discount), in each case as determined by the Calculation Agent in a good faith and commercially reasonable manner. If all of the conditions for delivery of either Registered Settlement Shares or Unregistered Settlement Shares have not been satisfied, Cash Settlement shall be applicable in accordance with paragraph 1 above notwithstanding Counterparty’s election of Net Share Settlement.

3. Counterparty may only deliver Registered Settlement Shares pursuant to paragraph 2 above if:

(a) a registration statement covering public resale of the Registered Settlement Shares by the Bank (the “Registration Statement”) shall have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act and been declared or otherwise become effective on or prior to the date of delivery, and no stop order shall be in effect with respect to the Registration Statement; a printed prospectus relating to the Registered Settlement Shares (including, without limitation, any prospectus supplement thereto, the “Prospectus”) shall have been delivered to the Bank, in such quantities as the Bank shall reasonably have requested, on or prior to the date of delivery;

(b) the form and content of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including, without limitation, any sections describing the plan of distribution) shall be satisfactory to the Bank;

(c) as of or prior to the date of delivery, the Bank and its agents shall have been afforded a reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for underwritten offerings of equity securities for an issuance of a similar size by a similar issuer and the results of such investigation are satisfactory to the Bank, in its discretion; and

(d) as of the date of delivery, an agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) shall have been entered into with the Bank in connection with the public resale of the Registered Settlement Shares by the Bank substantially similar to underwriting agreements customary for underwritten offerings of equity securities for an issuance of a similar size by a similar issuer, in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank, which Underwriting Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such underwriting agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, the Bank and its Affiliates and the provision of customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters and lawyers’ negative assurance letters.

4. If Counterparty delivers Unregistered Settlement Shares pursuant to paragraph 2 above:

(a) all Unregistered Settlement Shares shall be delivered to the Bank (or any Affiliate of the Bank designated by the Bank) pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof;

(b) as of or prior to the date of delivery, the Bank and any potential purchaser of any such shares from the Bank (or any Affiliate of the Bank designated by the Bank) identified by the Bank shall be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for private placements of equity securities for an issuance of a similar size by a similar issuer (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and other information reasonably requested by them); provided that any such potential purchaser may be required by Counterparty to enter into a customary nondisclosure agreement with Counterparty in respect of any such due diligence investigation.

 

Annex A-2


(c) as of the date of delivery, Counterparty shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) with the Bank (or any Affiliate of the Bank designated by the Bank) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to the Bank (or any such Affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by the Bank (or any such Affiliate), substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities for an issuance of a similar size by a similar issuer, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to the Bank, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating, without limitation, to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, the Bank and its Affiliates and the provision of customary opinions, accountants’ comfort letters and lawyers’ negative assurance letters, and shall provide for the payment by Counterparty of all commercially reasonable fees and expenses of the Bank (and any such Affiliate) in connection with such resale, including, without limitation, all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses of counsel for the Bank, and shall contain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Counterparty reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales; and

(d) in connection with the private placement of such shares by Counterparty to the Bank (or any such Affiliate) and the private resale of such shares by the Bank (or any such Affiliate), Counterparty shall, if so requested by the Bank, prepare, in cooperation with the Bank, a private placement memorandum in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Bank and customary for private placements of equity securities of a similar size by a similar issuer to Counterparty.

5. The Bank, itself or through an Affiliate (the “Selling Agent”) or any underwriter(s), will sell all, or such lesser portion as may be required hereunder, of the Registered Settlement Shares or Unregistered Settlement Shares and any Makewhole Shares (as defined below) (together, the “Settlement Shares”) delivered by Counterparty to the Bank pursuant to paragraph 6 below commencing on the Cash Settlement Payment Date and continuing until the date on which the aggregate Net Proceeds (as such term is defined below) of such sales, as determined by the Bank, is equal to the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount (such date, the “Final Resale Date”). If the proceeds of any sale(s) made by the Bank, the Selling Agent or any underwriter(s), net of any commercially reasonable fees and commissions (including, without limitation, underwriting or placement fees) customary for similar transactions under the circumstances at the time of the offering, together with commercially reasonable carrying charges and expenses incurred in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares (including, without limitation, the covering of any over-allotment or short position (syndicate or otherwise)) (the “Net Proceeds”) exceed the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount, the Bank will refund, in USD, or Shares at Counterparty’s election, such excess to Counterparty on the date that is three (3) Currency Business Days following the Final Resale Date, and, if any portion of the Settlement Shares remains unsold, the Bank shall return to Counterparty on that date such unsold Shares.

6. If the Calculation Agent determines that the Net Proceeds received from the sale of the Registered Settlement Shares or Unregistered Settlement Shares or any Makewhole Shares, if any, pursuant to this paragraph 6 are less than the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount (the amount in USD by which the Net Proceeds are less than the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount being the “Shortfall” and the date on which such determination is made, the “Deficiency Determination Date”), Counterparty shall on the Exchange Business Day next succeeding the Deficiency Determination Date (the “Makewhole Notice Date”) deliver to the Bank, through the Selling Agent, a notice of Counterparty’s election that Counterparty shall either (i) pay an amount in cash equal to the Shortfall on the day that is one Currency Business Day after the Makewhole Notice Date, or (ii) deliver additional Shares. If Counterparty elects to deliver to the Bank additional Shares, then Counterparty shall deliver additional Shares in compliance with the terms and conditions of paragraph 3 or paragraph 4 above, as the case may be (the “Makewhole Shares”), on the first Clearance System Business Day which is also an Exchange Business Day following the Makewhole Notice Date in such number as the Calculation Agent reasonably believes would have a market value on that Exchange Business Day equal to the Shortfall. Such Makewhole Shares shall be sold by the Bank in accordance with the provisions above; provided that if the sum of the Net Proceeds from the sale of the originally delivered Shares and the Net Proceeds from the sale of any Makewhole Shares is less than the absolute value of the Forward Cash Settlement Amount then Counterparty shall, at its election, either make such cash payment or deliver to the Bank further Makewhole Shares until such Shortfall has been reduced to zero.

 

Annex A-3


7. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the aggregate number of Settlement Shares for any Transaction be greater than the Reserved Shares minus the amount of any Shares actually delivered by Counterparty under any other Transaction under this Master Confirmation (the result of such calculation, the “Capped Number”). Counterparty represents and warrants (which shall be deemed to be repeated on each day that a Transaction is outstanding) that the Capped Number is equal to or less than the number of Shares determined according to the following formula:

A – B

 

Where    A =    the number of authorized but unissued shares of Counterparty that are not reserved for future issuance on the date of the determination of the Capped Number; and
   B =    the maximum number of Shares required to be delivered to third parties if Counterparty elected Net Share Settlement of all transactions in the Shares (other than Transactions in the Shares under this Master Confirmation) with all third parties that are then currently outstanding and unexercised.

Reserved Shares” means initially, [            ] Shares. The Reserved Shares may be increased or decreased in a Supplemental Confirmation.

If at any time, as a result of this paragraph 7, Counterparty fails to deliver to the Bank any Settlement Shares, Counterparty shall, to the extent that Counterparty has at such time authorized but unissued Shares not reserved for other purposes, promptly notify the Bank thereof and deliver to the Bank a number of Shares not previously delivered as a result of this paragraph 7. Counterparty agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the number of authorized but unissued Shares to be increased, if necessary, to an amount sufficient to permit Counterparty to fulfill its obligation to deliver any Settlement Shares.

 

Annex A-4


ANNEX B

COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES

June 3, 2022

 

  I.

Introduction

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (“Counterparty”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (the “Bank”) have adopted these communications procedures (the “Communications Procedures”) in connection with entering into the Master Confirmation (the “Master Confirmation”), dated as of June 3, 2022, between the Bank and Counterparty relating to Uncollared Accelerated Share Repurchase transactions. These Communications Procedures supplement, form part of, and are subject to the Master Confirmation.

 

  II.

Communications Rules

For each Transaction, from the Trade Date for such Transaction until the date all payments or deliveries of Shares have been made with respect to such Transaction, Counterparty and its Employees and Designees shall not engage in any Program-Related Communication with, or disclose any Material Non-Public Information to, any EDG Trading Personnel. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, the Master Confirmation shall not limit Counterparty and its Employees and Designees in their communication with Affiliates and Employees of the Bank, including, without limitation, Employees who are EDG Permitted Contacts.

 

  III.

Termination

If, in the sole judgment of any EDG Trading Personnel or any Affiliate or Employee of the Bank participating in any Communication with Counterparty or any Employee or Designee of Counterparty, such Communication would not be permitted by these Communications Procedures, such EDG Trading Personnel or Affiliate or Employee of the Bank shall immediately terminate such Communication. In such case, or if such EDG Trading Personnel or Affiliate or Employee of the Bank determines following completion of any Communication with Counterparty or any Employee or Designee of Counterparty that such Communication was not permitted by these Communications Procedures, such EDG Trading Personnel or such Affiliate or Employee of the Bank shall promptly consult with his or her supervisors and with counsel for the Bank regarding such Communication. If, in the reasonable judgment of the Bank’s counsel following such consultation, there is more than an insignificant risk that such Communication could materially jeopardize the availability of the affirmative defenses provided in Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act with respect to any ongoing or contemplated activities of the Bank or its Affiliates in respect of any Transaction pursuant to the Master Confirmation, it shall be an Additional Termination Event pursuant to Section 19(a) of the Master Confirmation, with Counterparty as the sole Affected Party and all Transactions under the Master Confirmation as Affected Transactions.

IV. Definitions

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Master Confirmation. As used herein, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

Communication” means any contact or communication (whether written, electronic, oral or otherwise) between Counterparty or any of its Employees or Designees, on the one hand, and the Bank or any of its Affiliates or Employees, on the other hand.

Designee” means a person designated, in writing or orally, by Counterparty to communicate with the Bank on behalf of Counterparty.

EDG Permitted Contact” means any of of Mr. David Aidelson, Mr. Brett Chalmers, Mr. Elliot Chalom, Ms. Yana Chernobilsky, Mr. Sanjeet S. Dewal, Mr. Ganaraj S. Hegde and Mr. Noah L. Wynkoop or any of their designees; provided that the Bank may amend the list of EDG Permitted Contacts by delivering a revised list of EDG Permitted Contacts to Counterparty.

 

Annex B-1


EDG Trading Personnel” means Mr. Derek Brown, Mr. Michael Captain, Mr. Spyros Kallipolitis, Mr. Michael Tatro and any other Employee of the public side of the Equity Derivatives Group of JPMorgan Chase & Co.; provided that the Bank may amend the list of EDG Trading Personnel by delivering a revised list of EDG Trading Personnel to Counterparty; and provided further that, for the avoidance of doubt, the persons listed as EDG Permitted Contacts are not EDG Trading Personnel.

Employee” means, with respect to any entity, any owner, principal, officer, director, employee or other agent or representative of such entity, and any Affiliate of any of such owner, principal, officer, director, employee, agent or representative.

Material Non-Public Information” means information relating to Counterparty or the Shares that (a) has not been widely disseminated by wire service, in one or more newspapers of general circulation, by communication from Counterparty to its shareholders or in a press release, or contained in a public filing made by Counterparty with the Securities and Exchange Commission and (b) a reasonable investor might consider to be of importance in making an investment decision to buy, sell or hold Shares. For the avoidance of doubt and solely by way of illustration, information should be presumed “material” if it relates to such matters as dividend increases or decreases, earnings estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant expansion or curtailment of operations, a significant increase or decline of orders, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, significant new products or discoveries, extraordinary borrowing, major litigation, liquidity problems, extraordinary management developments, purchase or sale of substantial assets and similar matters.

Program-Related Communication” means any Communication the subject matter of which relates to the Master Confirmation or any Transaction under the Master Confirmation or any activities of the Bank (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the Master Confirmation or any Transaction under the Master Confirmation.

 

 

Annex B-2

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

AEO Inc. Announces a Series of Actions to Strengthen Capital Structure

 

 

Enters Into Exchange Agreements for Outstanding Convertible Senior Notes due 2025

 

 

Announces $200 Million Accelerated Share Repurchase Program (ASR)

 

 

Pursuing Upsize and Extension of ABL Facility to Unlock Additional Liquidity

June 3, 2022

PITTSBURGH — (BUSINESS WIRE) – American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) today announced that it has entered into exchange agreements with certain holders of its 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 in exchange for a combination of cash and shares of the company’s common stock.

The 2025 Notes to be exchanged represent approximately $342 million of the outstanding principal amount. Following the exchange, approximately $70 million in aggregate principal amount will remain outstanding. The exchange transactions are expected to close on June 8, 2022.

The company has also entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement (ASR) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association to repurchase $200 million of the company’s common stock. This equates to approximately 16.7 million shares based on the closing price on June 2, 2022 and represents approximately 8% of the company’s fully diluted shares outstanding as of that date. The final number of shares to be repurchased will be based on the volume-weighted average price of the company’s common stock during an averaging period. The ASR has been entered into in connection with AEO’s existing share repurchase authorization of 30 million shares.

AEO expects to fund the cash portion of the amounts payable under the exchange agreements and the ASR using available cash on hand and borrowings under the company’s existing $400 million ABL facility.

The company is also pursuing an upsize and extension of its ABL facility to $600 million with a term of 5 years, to unlock additional liquidity. The company has not yet entered into definitive documentation, and there is no guarantee that the ABL credit facility will be amended, or of the terms of any such amendment.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation, or sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Advisors

J. Wood Capital Advisors acted as financial advisor and placement agent to the Company with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz serving as legal counsel.

* * * *


About American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories and personal care products at affordable prices under its American Eagle® and Aerie® brands. Our purpose is to show the world that there’s REAL power in the optimism of youth. The company operates stores in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Hong Kong, and ships to 81 countries worldwide through its websites. American Eagle and Aerie merchandise also is available at more than 200 international locations operated by licensees in 25 countries. For more information, please visit www.aeo-inc.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This release and related statements by management contain forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which represent our expectations or beliefs concerning future events. All forward-looking statements made by the company involve material risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on many important factors, some of which may be beyond the company’s control. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “potential,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise and even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. The following factors, in addition to the risks disclosed in Item 1A., Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022 and in any other filings that we may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, the company’s financial performance and could cause actual results for fiscal 2022 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any of the forward-looking statements included in this release or otherwise made by management: the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and related operational disruptions; the risk that the company’s operating, financial and capital plans may not be achieved; our inability to anticipate customer demand and changing fashion trends and to manage our inventory commensurately; seasonality of our business; our inability to achieve planned store financial performance; our inability to react to raw material cost, labor and energy cost increases; our inability to gain market share in the face of declining shopping center traffic; our inability to respond to changes in e-commerce and leverage omni-channel demands; our inability to expand internationally; difficulty with our international merchandise sourcing strategies; challenges with information technology systems, including safeguarding against security breaches; and global economic, public health, social, political and financial conditions, and the resulting impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending, as well as other changes in consumer discretionary spending habits, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and liquidity.