UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 10, 2023
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-34177 | 35-2333914 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
230 Park Avenue South
New York, New York 10003
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
212-548-5555
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-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 | ||
Series A Common Stock | WBD | Nasdaq |
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. |
Senior Notes
On March 10, 2023, WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc. (“WMH”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (“WBD”), completed its registered offering of $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.412% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Senior Notes”). The offering of the Senior Notes was made pursuant to WMH’s effective automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-264453), including a prospectus, which became effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2022 (the “Registration Statement”).
The Senior Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023 (the “Base Indenture”), among WMH, WBD and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among WMH, WBD, Discovery Communications, LLC (“DCL”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBD, Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (“Scripps”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of WBD, and the Trustee. The Indenture contains certain covenants, events of default and other customary provisions. The Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis (the “Guarantees”) by WBD, DCL and Scripps (collectively, the “Guarantors”).
The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.412% per year and will mature on March 15, 2026. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2023.
Prior to March 15, 2024, WMH may redeem the Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the applicable make-whole premium redemption price described in the prospectus supplement relating to the Senior Notes. On and after March 15, 2024, WMH may redeem the Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes being redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Senior Notes being redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date.
The foregoing descriptions of the Senior Notes, the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture are summaries only and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such documents. The Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture, which are filed hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and Exhibit 4.2, are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The information contained in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
The Senior Notes were sold in an underwritten public offering pursuant to an underwriting agreement, dated as of March 6, 2023, among WMH, WBD, DCL, Scripps, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as the representatives of the several underwriters named therein, which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto.
Opinions regarding the validity of the Senior Notes and the Guarantees and certain related legal matters are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and are filed as Exhibits 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 hereto, and consents relating to the incorporation of such opinions by reference into the Registration Statement are filed as Exhibits 23.1, 23.2 and 23.3 hereto by reference to their inclusion within Exhibits 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3, respectively.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
The exhibits (except Exhibit 104) to this Current Report on Form 8-K are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.
(d) | Exhibits |
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: March 10, 2023 | WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC. | |||||
By: | /s/ Gunnar Wiedenfels | |||||
Name: | Gunnar Wiedenfels | |||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 1.1
Execution Version
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.
$1,500,000,000 6.412% Senior Notes due 2026
Underwriting Agreement
March 6, 2023
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
As Representatives of the
several Underwriters listed
in Schedule 1 hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and a direct wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Parent Guarantor), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the Underwriters), for whom J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Mizuho Securities USA LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives (the Representatives), $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.412% Senior Notes due 2026 (the Securities). The Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below) (the Base Indenture), among the Company, the Parent Guarantor and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the Trustee), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture to be dated as of the Closing Date, among the Company, the Guarantors (as defined below) and the Trustee (the Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture). The Securities will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis (the Guarantees) by the Parent Guarantor, Discovery Communications, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (DCL) and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., an Ohio corporation (Scripps and, together with the Parent Guarantor and DCL, the Guarantors).
The Company and the Guarantors hereby confirm their agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Securities, as follows:
1. Registration Statement. The Company and the Guarantors have prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Securities Act), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-264453), including a prospectus, relating to the Securities. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the
information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (Rule 430 Information), is referred to herein as the Registration Statement. A base prospectus was included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information which, as supplemented from time to time, will be used in connection with offerings of securities, including the Securities (the Base Prospectus). As used herein, the term Preliminary Prospectus means each preliminary prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities, filed together with the Base Prospectus (and any amendments thereto) pursuant to Rule 424(b), and any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act, and the term Prospectus means the prospectus supplement, together with the Base Prospectus, in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Securities. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the Rule 462 Registration Statement), then any reference herein to the term Registration Statement shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any reference in this agreement (this Agreement) to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to amend, amendment or supplement with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Exchange Act) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company and the Guarantors had prepared the following information (collectively, the Time of Sale Information): a Preliminary Prospectus dated March 6, 2023, and each free-writing prospectus (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex B hereto as constituting part of the Time of Sale Information.
Applicable Time means 2:45 p.m., New York City time, on March 6, 2023.
On April 8, 2022 (the Merger Closing Date) the Parent Guarantor completed the Merger (as defined below) in which it acquired the business, operations and activities that constituted the WarnerMedia segment of AT&T Inc. (AT&T), subject to certain exceptions (the WarnerMedia Business) and changed its name from Discovery, Inc. to Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. On the Merger Closing Date, the Parent Guarantor and AT&T completed the transactions contemplated by (1) the Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2021 (as amended, the Separation Agreement), by and among AT&T, the Parent Guarantor and the Company, (2) the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 17, 2021 (as amended, the Merger Agreement), by and among Drake Subsidiary, Inc., AT&T, the Parent Guarantor and the Company (the Merger) and (3) certain other agreements in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the Separation Agreement.
The Company intends to use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities to repay a portion of the outstanding amounts under its credit facility pursuant to the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 4, 2021, among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the Existing Indebtedness).
2
2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters. (a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amount of Securities set forth opposite such Underwriters name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price equal to 99.700% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any, from March 10, 2023 to the Closing Date (as defined below). The Company will not be obligated to deliver any of the Securities except upon payment for all the Securities to be purchased as provided herein.
(b) The Company and each Guarantor understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Time of Sale Information. The Company and each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Securities purchased by it to or through any Underwriter.
(c) Payment for and delivery of the Securities will be made at the New York offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on March 10, 2023, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment and delivery is referred to herein as the Closing Date.
(d) Payment for the Securities shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account(s) specified by the Company to the Representatives against delivery to the nominee of The Depository Trust Company (DTC), for the account of the Underwriters, of one or more global notes representing the Securities (the Global Notes), with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of the Securities duly paid by the Company. The Global Notes will be made available for inspection by the Representatives not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.
(e) The Company and the Guarantors acknowledge and agree that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arms length contractual counterparty to the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering and the Guarantees) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company, the Guarantors or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company, the Guarantors or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company and the Guarantors shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making their own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company or the Guarantors with respect thereto. Any review by any Representative or any Underwriter of the Company, the Guarantors and their subsidiaries, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of such Representative or such Underwriter, as the case may be, and shall not be on behalf of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, or any other person.
3
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to each Underwriter that:
(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact (other than Rule 430 Information) required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company and the Guarantors make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company and the Guarantors in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus.
(b) Time of Sale Information. The Time of Sale Information, at the Applicable Time did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company and the Guarantors make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company and the Guarantors in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Time of Sale Information. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Time of Sale Information and no statement of material fact included in the Time of Sale Information that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.
(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Company and the Guarantors (including their agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) have not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by an the Company and the Guarantors or their agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i) (ii) and (iii) below) an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Prospectus, (iv) the documents listed on Annex B hereto as constituting part of the Time of Sale Information and (v) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case approved in writing in advance by the Representatives (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld). Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus filed prior to the first use of such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, at the Applicable Time, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company and the Guarantors make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company and the Guarantors in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No order
4
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Trust Indenture Act), and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act or (ii) any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(e) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable.
(f) Financial Statements. (i) The financial statements and the related notes thereto of the Parent Guarantor included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby (except as otherwise noted therein, and subject, in the case of interim financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments), and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information present fairly the information required to be stated therein; the other financial information of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby; (ii) the financial statements of the WarnerMedia Business and the related notes thereto, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the WarnerMedia Business as of the dates indicated and the results of its operations and the changes in its cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby (except as otherwise noted therein, and subject, in the case of interim financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments), and the
5
supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and (iii) the pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus have been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the assumptions underlying such pro forma financial information are reasonable to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Parent Guarantor included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than (A) in the ordinary course consistent with past practice pursuant to employee or director equity compensation, benefit, stock option, stock purchase or equity incentive plans existing on the date of this Agreement, as such plans may be amended from time to time, or (B) as a result of the exercise of options or rights or vesting of rights to purchase or acquire capital stock outstanding as of the date of this Agreement) or increase in long-term debt of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Parent Guarantor on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement that is material to the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its subsidiaries taken as a whole has sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case of (i) through (iii) as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(h) Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of the Guarantors has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, and has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the business in which it is engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified, in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect, or be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect, on the business, consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their obligations under the Securities and the Guarantees (a Material Adverse Effect). Each of the Parent Guarantors subsidiaries (other than the Company, DCL and Scripps) has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, and has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the business in which it is engaged, except where the failure to be so duly organized, validly existing and in good standing, or to be so qualified, in good standing or have such power or authority, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
6
(i) Capitalization. The Parent Guarantor has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading Capitalization and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus or where the failure of the Subsidiary Stock (as defined below) to be authorized, issued, fully paid, non-assessable or owned by the Parent Guarantor as set forth below would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor (collectively, the Subsidiary Stock) have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Parent Guarantor, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.
(j) Due Authorization. The Company and each Guarantor has the right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture (collectively, the Transaction Documents) to which it is a party and to perform their respective obligations under the Transaction Documents; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken.
(k) The Indenture. The Base Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and the Parent Guarantor and the Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors. The Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture, when duly executed and delivered on the Closing Date in accordance with their terms by each of the parties thereto, will each constitute, a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, the Parent Guarantor and each of the Guarantors, as applicable, enforceable against the Company, the Parent Guarantor and each of the Guarantors, as applicable, in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally or by equitable principles of general applicability (collectively, the Enforceability Exceptions); and on the Closing Date, the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.
(l) The Securities and the Guarantees. The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; and the Guarantees have been duly authorized by each of the Guarantors and, when the Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be valid and legally binding obligations of each of the Guarantors, enforceable against each of the Guarantors in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(m) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and each of the Guarantors.
(n) Descriptions of the Securities, Guarantees and the Indenture. The Securities, Guarantees and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
7
(o) No Violation or Default. Neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which each is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities, the issuance of the Guarantees and compliance by the Company and each of the Guarantors with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, (A) in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (B) in the case of clause (i) above, after giving effect to the repayment of the Existing Indebtedness.
(q) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of each of the Transaction Documents to which they are party, the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the Guarantees) and compliance by the Company and each of the Guarantors with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for (i) the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, (ii) the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and (iii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters.
(r) Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, threatened by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others.
8
(s) Independent Accountants. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who certified certain financial statements of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the PCAOB) and as required by the Securities Act. Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the WarnerMedia Business, are independent public accountants with respect to the WarnerMedia Business within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the PCAOB and as required by the Securities Act.
(t) Title to Intellectual Property. The Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses; and the conduct of their respective businesses will not conflict in any respect with any such rights of others, and the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement of or conflict with any such rights of others, except where the failure to own such rights or the existence of a conflict with any such rights of others or the receipt of such notice would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, none of them will be, required to register as an investment company or an entity controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Investment Company Act).
(v) Licenses and Permits. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus: (A) the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries hold all permits, licenses, authorizations and approvals issued by the Federal Communications Commission (the FCC) and any equivalent authority in each other jurisdiction in which the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries operate that are necessary to conduct their respective businesses in the manner in which they are currently being conducted (collectively, the Authorizations); (B) the Authorizations are in full force and effect; and (C) all reports and documents that are required by the Communications Laws to be filed with respect to the ownership, management or operation of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries business have been duly and timely filed, except, in each of the foregoing cases, where the failure to hold such Authorizations, to be in full force and effect or to be so filed would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this paragraph the term Communications Laws shall mean the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and any equivalent statute or laws in each other jurisdiction in which the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries operate, and the respective rules, regulations, written policies and decisions of the applicable regulatory or other governmental authority promulgated or issued thereunder.
(w) Disclosure Controls. The Parent Guarantor maintains an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Parent Guarantor in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commissions rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Parent Guarantors management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
9
(x) Accounting Controls. The Parent Guarantor maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by, or under the supervision of, its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managements general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any material differences and (v) interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commissions rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there were no material weaknesses in the Parent Guarantors internal controls as of December 31, 2022; provided that the Parent Guarantor makes no representation as to the internal controls of the WarnerMedia Business.
(y) eXtensible Business Reporting Language. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commissions rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(z) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company and each of the Guarantors, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the FCPA), the UK Bribery Act, or any other applicable anti-bribery laws or anti-corruption laws (collectively, the Anti-Bribery Laws), including, without limitation, (i) making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any foreign official (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in violation of any Anti-Bribery Law, (ii) making, offering, agreeing, requesting or taking an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit, or (iii) using any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity. Each of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries, to the knowledge of the Parent Guarantor, have conducted their respective businesses in compliance in all material respects with applicable Anti-Bribery Laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
10
(aa) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, assets or operations (each, a Governmental Entity) (collectively, the Anti-Money Laundering Laws); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of the Guarantors, threatened.
(bb) OFAC. Neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its subsidiaries, directors or officers or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Guarantors, any agent, employee, affiliate or representative of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is an individual or entity (Person) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is, currently the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the European Union, His Majestys Treasury (HMT), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, Sanctions), nor is the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the target of Sanctions (currently the Crimea Region and the non-government controlled areas of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Regions of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic and the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a Sanctioned Country)). The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person (i) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is a Sanctioned Country or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as an initial purchaser, underwriter, advisor, investor, or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, except as would be permitted for a Person organized under the laws of the United States, none of the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries have knowingly engaged in or are now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.
(cc) No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Securities, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(dd) No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.
(ee) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure in any material respect on the part of the Parent Guarantor or, to the Parent Guarantors knowledge, any of the Parent Guarantors directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
11
(ff) Status under the Securities Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not or is not an ineligible issuer, and the Parent Guarantor is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(gg) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Parent Guarantor, from making any other distribution on such subsidiarys capital stock, from repaying to the Parent Guarantor any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Parent Guarantor or from transferring any of such subsidiarys properties or assets to the Parent Guarantor or any other subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiarys capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiarys properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.
4. Further Agreements of the Company and the Guarantors. The Company and the Guarantors jointly and severally covenant and agree with each Underwriter that:
(a) Required Filings. The Company and the Guarantors will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including the Pricing Term Sheet in the form of Annex C hereto) to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company and the Guarantors will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company and the Guarantors with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 AM, New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fees for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, to each Underwriter during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term Prospectus Delivery Period means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer.
12
(c) Amendments or Supplements; Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.
(d) Notice to the Representatives. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or amendment to the Prospectus has been filed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or, to the Companys best knowledge, the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain as soon as reasonably practicable the withdrawal thereof.
(e) Time of Sale Information. If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Information as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Information to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Information (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Time of Sale Information as so amended or supplemented (including such documents to be incorporated by reference therein) will not, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Information will comply with law.
13
(f) Ongoing Compliance. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Underwriters thereof as promptly as reasonably practicable and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented (including such documents to be incorporated by reference therein) will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law.
(g) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will use its best efforts to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Securities; provided that neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors shall be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
(h) Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable an earnings statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the effective date (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.
(i) Clear Market. During the period from the date hereof through and including the Closing Date, the Company and each of the Guarantors will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of the Guarantors and having a tenor of more than one year.
(j) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading Use of proceeds.
(k) No Stabilization. Neither the Parent Guarantor nor any of its subsidiaries will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.
(l) Reports. The Company, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.
(m) Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
14
5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters (a) Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that it has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of, any free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company or any of the Guarantors and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company or any of the Guarantors) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that, solely as a result of use by such underwriter, would not trigger an obligation to file such free writing prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex B or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underwriters may use the Pricing Term Sheet substantially in the form of Annex C hereto without the consent of the Company or any of the Guarantors.
6. Conditions of Underwriters Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase Securities on the Closing Date as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company and each of the Guarantors of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information to be included in the Registration Statement or Prospectus shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and the Guarantors and their respective officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.
(c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Securities or any other debt securities of or guaranteed by the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, as such term is defined by the Commission in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of the Securities or of any other debt securities of or guaranteed by the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).
(d) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(g) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Time of Sale Information (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
15
(e) Officers Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of an executive officer of the Company and of each Guarantor who has knowledge of the Companys or such Guarantors financial matters and is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officer has carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and, to the best knowledge of such officer, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) or 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantors in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company and the Guarantors have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.
(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, (A) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants comfort letters to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; (B) Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants comfort letters to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information with respect to the WarnerMedia Business contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; provided that for (A) and (B) above, each such letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a cut-off date no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date; and (C) the Parent Guarantor shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, of the Parent Guarantors chief financial officer with respect to certain financial data of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries and the WarnerMedia Business contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company and the Guarantors. (i) Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, special New York counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company and the Guarantors, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A-1 hereto. (ii) Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, special Delaware counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company and the Guarantors, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A-2 hereto. (iii) Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, special Ohio counsel for the Company and the Guarantors, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company and the Guarantors, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A-3 hereto.
16
(h) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion and 10b-5 statement, addressed to the Underwriters, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(i) No Legal Impediment to Issuance. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or the issuance of the Guarantees; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or the issuance of the Guarantees.
(j) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and the Guarantors in their respective jurisdictions of organization, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.
(k) Base Indenture, Supplemental Indenture and Securities. The Representatives shall have received executed copies of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Securities.
(l) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company and each of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors and officers, each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the respective affiliates of the Underwriters, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, (ii) or any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood that such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b).
17
(b) Indemnification of the Company and the Guarantors. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the Guarantors, each of their respective directors and officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or a Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the second sentence of the third paragraph, the first sentence of the fourth paragraph, the third sentence of the sixth paragraph and the seventh paragraph under the caption Underwriting.
(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the Indemnified Person) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the Indemnifying Person) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 7 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company, the Guarantors, their respective directors and officers who
18
signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company and the Guarantors shall be designated in writing by the Parent Guarantor. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Guarantors from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or any Guarantor or by the Underwriters and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company, the Guarantors and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled
19
to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
8. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on The New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or the over-the-counter market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of the Guarantors shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
10. Defaulting Underwriter. (a) If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term Underwriter includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriters pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.
20
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all such Securities, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate with respect to such Securities without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement with respect to such Securities pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company or the Guarantors, except that the Company an each of the Guarantors will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company, the Guarantors or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
11. Payment of Expenses. (a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of their respective obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing each of the Transaction Documents; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Companys and the Guarantors counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties); (viii) all other expenses and application fees incurred in connection with the approval of the Securities for book-entry transfer by DTC; and (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company and the Guarantors in connection with any road show presentation to potential investors.
(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company and each of the Guarantors jointly and severally agree to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.
12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.
21
13. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Guarantors, and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Guarantors or the Underwriters.
14. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity (as defined below) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime (as defined below), the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate (as defined below) of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights (as defined below) under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
As used in this Section 14, BHC Act Affiliate has the meaning assigned to the term affiliate in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); Covered Entity means (A) a covered entity as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (B) a covered bank as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (C) a covered FSI as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); Default Right has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and U.S. Special Resolution Regime means each of (x) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (y) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
15. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term business day means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term subsidiary has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
16. Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company and the Guarantors, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
22
17. Miscellaneous. (a) Authority of the Representatives. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by the Representatives shall be binding upon the Underwriters.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives, to (i) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179 (Fax: 212-834-6081); Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, (ii) Mizuho Securities USA LLC, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020 (Fax: 212-205-7812), Attention: Debt Capital Markets and (iii) Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, Attention: Transaction Management, Email: tmgcapitalmarkets@wellsfargo.com. Notices to the Company and the Guarantors shall be given to them at Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., 230 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10003; Attention: Investor Relations.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
(d) Trial by Jury. Each of the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The words execution, signed, signature, delivery, and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures (as defined below), deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means. Electronic Signatures means any electronic symbol or process attached to, or associated with, any contract or other record and adopted by a person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
(f) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(g) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
23
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.
Very truly yours, | ||
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Fraser Woodford | |
Name: Fraser Woodford | ||
Title: Executive Vice President, Treasury, | ||
Investments, and Real Estate | ||
WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Fraser Woodford | |
Name: Fraser Woodford | ||
Title: Executive Vice President, Treasury, | ||
Investments, and Real Estate | ||
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Fraser Woodford | |
Name: Fraser Woodford | ||
Title: Executive Vice President, Treasury, | ||
Investments, and Real Estate | ||
SCRIPPS NETWORKS INTERACTIVE, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Fraser Woodford | |
Name: Fraser Woodford | ||
Title: Executive Vice President, Treasury, | ||
Investments, and Real Estate |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Accepted: March 6, 2023 | ||
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Som Bhattacharyya | |
Name: Som Bhattacharyya | ||
Title: Executive Director | ||
MIZUHO SECURITIES USA LLC | ||
By: | /s Timothy Blair | |
Name: Timothy Blair | ||
Title: Managing Director | ||
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Carolyn Hurley | |
Name: Carolyn Hurley | ||
Title: Managing Director |
For themselves and on behalf of the several Underwriters
listed in Schedule 1 hereto.
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Schedule 1 Underwriters J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Mizuho Securities USA LLC Wells Fargo Securities, LLC AmeriVet Securities, Inc. Blaylock Van, LLC Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc. R. Seelaus & Co., LLC Total
Principal Amount
of Securities
$
450,000,000
$
450,000,000
$
450,000,000
$
37,500,000
$
37,500,000
$
37,500,000
$
37,500,000
$
1,500,000,000
Annex A-1
[Intentionally Omitted]
Annex A-2
[Intentionally Omitted]
Annex A-3
[Intentionally Omitted]
Annex B
Pricing Term Sheet, dated March 6, 2023, relating to the Securities, as filed pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act and attached to the Underwriting Agreement as Annex C
Annex C
Pricing Term Sheet
March 6, 2023
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.
$1,500,000,000 6.412% Senior Notes due 2026 (the Notes)
Issuer: | WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc. | |
Parent Guarantor: | Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. | |
Subsidiary Guarantors: | Discovery Communications, LLC, Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. and, in the future, each wholly-owned domestic subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor that is a borrower or guarantees the payment of any debt under the Senior Credit Facilities or any Material Debt (each as defined in the preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Notes) | |
Security Type / Format: | Senior Notes / SEC Registered | |
Aggregate Principal Amount Offered: | $1,500,000,000 | |
Maturity Date: | March 15, 2026 | |
Coupon (Interest Rate): | 6.412% | |
Price to Public (Issue Price): | 100.000% of principal amount | |
Underwriting Discount: | 0.300% | |
Yield to Maturity: | 6.412% | |
Spread to Benchmark Treasury: | +178 bps | |
Benchmark Treasury: | UST 4.000% due February 15, 2026 | |
Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield: | 98-08 7/8 / 4.632% | |
Net Proceeds to Issuer: | The Issuer expects the net proceeds from this offering of Notes to be approximately $1.49 billion after deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated expenses related to the offering. | |
Interest Payment Dates: | March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning September 15, 2023 | |
Day Count Convention: | 30/360 | |
Make-whole Call: | 30 basis points (prior to March 15, 2024) | |
Par Call: | On or after March 15, 2024 | |
Change of Control: | If a change of control triggering event occurs, the Issuer must offer to repurchase the Notes at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount of Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase. |
Trade Date: | March 6, 2023 | |
Settlement Date: | March 10, 2023 (T+4) | |
CUSIP / ISIN: | 55903V BG7 / US55903VBG77 | |
Ratings*: | [Intentionally Omitted] | |
Joint Bookrunners: | J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Mizuho Securities USA LLC Wells Fargo Securities, LLC | |
Co-Managers: | AmeriVet Securities, Inc. Blaylock Van, LLC Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc. R. Seelaus & Co., LLC |
* | Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time. |
The Issuer expects that delivery of the Notes will be made to investors on or about March 10, 2023 which will be the fourth business day following the date of this pricing term sheet (such settlement being referred to as T+4). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes prior to the second business day before the date of delivery of the Notes hereunder will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Notes initially settle in T+4, to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the Notes who wish to trade the Notes prior to the second business day before the date of delivery of the Notes hereunder should consult their advisors.
The Issuer has filed a registration statement (No. 333-264453) (including a prospectus and a preliminary prospectus supplement) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 1-212-834-4533 (collect), Mizuho Securities USA LLC at 1-866-271-7403 (toll-free) and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at 1-800-645-3751 (toll-free).
Any disclaimer or other notice that may appear below is not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such disclaimer or notice was automatically generated as a result of this communication being sent by Bloomberg or another email system.
Exhibit 4.1
EXECUTION VERSION
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.
Issuer
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
Parent Guarantor
and
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of March 10, 2023
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE (1)
Section of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended |
Section of Indenture | |
310(a) | 6.09 | |
310(b) | 6.08 | |
6.10 | ||
310(c) | Inapplicable | |
311(a) | 6.13 | |
311(b) | 6.13 | |
311(c) | Inapplicable | |
312(a) | 4.01 | |
4.04 | ||
312(b) | 4.04(c) | |
312(c) | 4.04(c) | |
313(a) | 4.03 | |
313(b) | 4.03 | |
313(c) | 4.03 | |
313(d) | 4.03 | |
314(a) | 4.02 | |
314(b) | Inapplicable | |
314(c) | 2.04 | |
8.04 | ||
9.01(c) | ||
10.06(b) | ||
11.05 | ||
314(d) | Inapplicable | |
314(e) | 11.05 | |
314(f) | Inapplicable | |
315(a) | 6.01 | |
6.02 | ||
315(b) | 5.11 | |
315(c) | 6.01 | |
315(d) | 6.01 | |
6.02 | ||
315(e) | 5.12 | |
316(a) | 5.09 | |
5.10 | ||
7.04 | ||
316(b) | 5.06 | |
5.10 | ||
316(c) | 7.02 | |
317(a) | 5.04 | |
317(b) | 3.04 | |
318(a) | 11.07 |
(1) | This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS |
6 | |||||
Section 1.01. |
Certain Terms Defined | 6 | ||||
ARTICLE 2 SECURITIES |
10 | |||||
Section 2.01. |
Forms Generally | 10 | ||||
Section 2.02. |
Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication | 10 | ||||
Section 2.03. |
Reserved | 10 | ||||
Section 2.04. |
Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series | 10 | ||||
Section 2.05. |
Authentication and Delivery of Securities | 12 | ||||
Section 2.06. |
Execution of Securities | 13 | ||||
Section 2.07. |
Certificate of Authentication | 13 | ||||
Section 2.08. |
Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of Interest | 13 | ||||
Section 2.09. |
Registration, Transfer and Exchange | 14 | ||||
Section 2.10. |
Mutilated, Defaced, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 15 | ||||
Section 2.11. |
Cancellation of Securities; Destruction Thereof | 16 | ||||
Section 2.12. |
Temporary Securities | 16 | ||||
ARTICLE 3 COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY |
17 | |||||
Section 3.01. |
Payment of Principal and Interest | 17 | ||||
Section 3.02. |
Offices for Payments, etc. | 17 | ||||
Section 3.03. |
Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in Office of Trustee | 17 | ||||
Section 3.04. |
Paying Agents | 18 | ||||
Section 3.05. |
Written Statement to Trustee | 18 | ||||
ARTICLE 4 SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY, GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE |
18 | |||||
Section 4.01. |
Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Securityholders | 18 | ||||
Section 4.02. |
Reports by the Company and Guarantors | 19 | ||||
Section 4.03. |
Reports by the Trustee | 19 | ||||
Section 4.04. |
Preservation of Information; Communication with Securityholders | 19 | ||||
ARTICLE 5 REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT |
19 | |||||
Section 5.01. |
Event of Default Defined; Acceleration of Maturity; Waiver of Default | 19 | ||||
Section 5.02. |
Collection of Debt by Trustee; Trustee May Prove Debt | 21 | ||||
Section 5.03. |
Application of Proceeds | 22 | ||||
Section 5.04. |
Suits for Enforcement | 23 | ||||
Section 5.05. |
Restoration of Rights on Abandonment of Proceedings | 23 | ||||
Section 5.06. |
Limitations on Suits by Securityholders | 23 | ||||
Section 5.07. |
Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Institute Certain Suits | 23 | ||||
Section 5.08. |
Powers and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver of Default | 24 | ||||
Section 5.09. |
Control by Holders of Securities | 24 | ||||
Section 5.10. |
Waiver of Past Defaults | 24 | ||||
Section 5.11. |
Trustee to Give Notice of Default | 24 | ||||
Section 5.12. |
Right of Court to Require Filing of Undertaking to Pay Costs | 25 | ||||
ARTICLE 6 CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE |
25 | |||||
Section 6.01. |
Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee; During Default; Prior to Default | 25 | ||||
Section 6.02. |
Certain Rights of the Trustee | 25 | ||||
Section 6.03. |
Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of Securities or Application of Proceeds Thereof | 26 | ||||
Section 6.04. |
Trustee and Agents May Hold Securities; Collections, etc. | 27 | ||||
Section 6.05. |
Moneys Held by Trustee | 27 | ||||
Section 6.06. |
Compensation and Indemnification of Trustee and Its Prior Claim | 27 | ||||
Section 6.07. |
Right of Trustee to Rely on Officers Certificate, etc. | 27 |
3
Section 6.08. |
Disqualification; Conflicting Interests | 27 | ||||
Section 6.09. |
Persons Eligible for Appointment as Trustee | 27 | ||||
Section 6.10. |
Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor Trustee | 28 | ||||
Section 6.11. |
Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee | 29 | ||||
Section 6.12. |
Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business of Trustee | 29 | ||||
Section 6.13. |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company | 30 | ||||
ARTICLE 7 CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS |
30 | |||||
Section 7.01. |
Evidence of Action Taken by Securityholders | 30 | ||||
Section 7.02. |
Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Securities | 30 | ||||
Section 7.03. |
Holders to Be Treated as Owners | 30 | ||||
Section 7.04. |
Securities Owned by Company or Guarantors Deemed Not Outstanding | 30 | ||||
Section 7.05. |
Right of Revocation of Action Taken | 31 | ||||
ARTICLE 8 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES |
31 | |||||
Section 8.01. |
Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders | 31 | ||||
Section 8.02. |
Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders | 32 | ||||
Section 8.03. |
Effect of Supplemental Indenture | 33 | ||||
Section 8.04. |
Documents to Be Given to Trustee | 33 | ||||
Section 8.05. |
Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures | 33 | ||||
ARTICLE 9 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE |
34 | |||||
Section 9.01. |
Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms | 34 | ||||
Section 9.02. |
Successor Company Substituted | 34 | ||||
Section 9.03. |
Parent Guarantor May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms | 35 | ||||
Section 9.04. |
Successor Guarantors Substituted | 35 | ||||
ARTICLE 10 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS |
36 | |||||
Section 10.01. |
Discharge of Liability on Securities | 36 | ||||
Section 10.02. |
Repayment to the Company | 36 | ||||
Section 10.03. |
Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 36 | ||||
Section 10.04. |
Defeasance and Discharge | 36 | ||||
Section 10.05. |
Covenant Defeasance | 37 | ||||
Section 10.06. |
Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 37 | ||||
ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
37 | |||||
Section 11.01. |
No Recourse | 37 | ||||
Section 11.02. |
Provisions of Indenture for the Sole Benefit of Parties and Holders of Securities | 38 | ||||
Section 11.03. |
Successors and Assigns of Company and Guarantors Bound by Indenture | 38 | ||||
Section 11.04. |
Notices and Demands on Company, Guarantors, Trustee and Holders of Securities | 38 | ||||
Section 11.05. |
Officers Certificates and Opinions of Counsel; Statements to Be Contained Therein | 38 | ||||
Section 11.06. |
Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays | 39 | ||||
Section 11.07. |
Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture With Trust Indenture Act | 39 | ||||
Section 11.08. |
New York Law to Govern | 39 | ||||
Section 11.09. |
Waiver of Jury Trial | 39 | ||||
Section 11.10. |
Counterparts | 40 | ||||
Section 11.11. |
Effect of Headings | 40 | ||||
Section 11.12. |
Actions by Successor | 40 | ||||
Section 11.13. |
Severability | 40 | ||||
Section 11.14. |
Assignment | 40 | ||||
ARTICLE 12 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS |
40 | |||||
Section 12.01. |
Applicability of Article | 40 | ||||
Section 12.02. |
Notice of Redemption; Conditional Notice; Partial Redemptions | 41 | ||||
Section 12.03. |
Payment of Securities Called for Redemption | 42 | ||||
Section 12.04. |
Exclusion of Certain Securities from Eligibility for Selection for Redemption | 42 | ||||
Section 12.05. |
Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds | 42 |
4
ARTICLE 13 GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES |
44 | |||||
Section 13.01. |
Guarantee | 44 | ||||
Section 13.02. |
Notations of Guarantee Not Required | 45 |
EXHIBIT A FORM OF SENIOR NOTE |
5
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of March 10, 2023 between WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), as issuer, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Parent Guarantor), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (the Trustee).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company may from time to time duly authorize the issuance of, and in the case of the Guarantors, the guarantee of, the Companys unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the Securities) up to such principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
WHEREAS, each of the Company and the Guarantors has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery and administration of the Securities; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid indenture and agreement of each of the Company and the Guarantors, in accordance with its terms have been done;
NOW, THEREFORE:
In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by the holders thereof, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Securities as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Certain Terms Defined. The following terms (except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise clearly requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act or the definitions of which in the Securities Act of 1933 are referred to in the Trust Indenture Act, including terms defined therein by reference to the Securities Act of 1933 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise clearly requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of this Indenture. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, and the term generally accepted accounting principles means such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the time of any computation. The words herein, hereof and hereunder and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular.
Authorized Newspaper means a newspaper, in the English language or, at the option of the Company, in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different Authorized Newspapers meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.
Board of Directors means, as to any Person, the board of directors or other governing body of such Person or, if such Person does not have such a board of directors or other governing body and is owned or managed by a single entity, such entity, the board of directors or other governing body of such entity, or, in either case, any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board of directors or other governing body. Unless otherwise provided, Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.
6
Board Resolution means, as to any Person, a copy of one or more resolutions, certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary or other authorized person of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect, and delivered to the Trustee.
Business Day means, with respect to any Security, a day that in the city (or in any of the cities, if more than one) in which amounts are payable, as specified in the form of such Security, is not a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close.
Commission means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or if at any time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.
Common Stock means shares of Series A common stock, par value $0.01 per share of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., as the same exists at the date of execution and delivery of this Indenture or as such stock may be reconstituted from time to time.
Company means the Person named as the Company in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, Company shall mean the successor and, for purposes of any provision contained herein and required by the Trust Indenture Act, each other obligor on the Securities.
Company Order means a written statement, request or order of the Company signed in the name of a director or officer of the Company on its behalf and delivered to the Trustee.
Corporate Trust Office means the corporate trust office of the Trustee at which the transactions contemplated by this Indenture shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office is, at the date as of which this Indenture is dated, located at One Federal Street, 10th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.
Debt of any Person means any debt for money borrowed which is created, assumed, incurred or guaranteed in any manner by such Person or for which such Person is otherwise responsible or liable, and shall expressly include any such guaranty thereof by such Person. For the purpose of computing the amount of the Debt of any Person there shall be excluded all Debt of such Person for the payment or redemption or satisfaction of which money or securities (or evidences of such Debt, if permitted under the terms of the instrument creating such Debt) in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the proper depositary, whether upon or prior to the maturity or the date fixed for redemption or satisfaction of such Debt; and, in any instance where Debt is so excluded, for the purpose of computing the assets of such Person there shall be excluded the money, securities or evidences of Debt deposited by such Person in trust for the purpose of paying or satisfying such Debt.
Defeased Securities shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.03.
Depositary means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 2.05 until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter.
Dollar means the currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
Event of Default means any event or condition specified as such in Section 5.01.
Foreign Currency means a currency issued by the government of a country other than the United States.
Global Security, means a Security evidencing all or a part of a series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such series in accordance with Section 2.05, and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 2.05.
7
Governmental Obligations means securities that are (i) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are fully guaranteed by, the government which issued the currency in which the Securities of such series are denominated, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the government which issued the currency in which the Securities of such series are denominated, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the government which issued the currency in which the Securities of such series are denominated, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
Guarantee means the irrevocable and unconditional guarantee by the Guarantors of any Security of any series of the Company authenticated and delivered pursuant to Article 13.
Guarantor means each of the Parent Guarantor and each Subsidiary Guarantor until a successor replaces such Guarantor and, thereafter, Guarantor shall mean such successor.
Guarantor Authorizing Resolution means, a Board Resolution.
Holder, holder of Securities, Securityholder or other similar terms mean the Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security register kept by the Company for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.
Indenture means this instrument as originally executed and delivered or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented or both, and shall include the forms and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
interest, unless the context otherwise requires, refers to interest, and when used with respect to non-interest bearing Securities, refers to interest payable after maturity, if any.
Officers Certificate means, with respect to, (i) the Company, a certificate signed by any director of the Company, the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president, any vice president, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the secretary or any assistant secretary of the Company and (ii) a Guarantor, a certificate signed by any director, chairman of the Board of Directors and/or Members as the case may be, the president, any vice president, treasurer, secretary, or any assistant secretary of such Guarantor, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and shall include the statements provided for in Section 11.05, if and to the extent required hereby.
Opinion of Counsel means an opinion in writing signed by the general corporate counsel or such other legal counsel who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Guarantors and who shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and shall include the statements provided for in Section 11.05, if and to the extent required hereby.
original issue date of any Security (or portion thereof) means the earlier of (a) the date of such Security or (b) the date of any Security (or portion thereof) for which such Security was issued (directly or indirectly) on registration of transfer, exchange or substitution.
Original Issue Discount Security means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.01.
8
Outstanding, when used with reference to Securities, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except
(a) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations (or a combination thereof) in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside, segregated and held in trust by the Company for the Holders of such Securities (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent), or which shall have been paid; provided, that if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as herein provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and
(c) Securities in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered, pursuant to the terms of Section 2.10 (except with respect to any such Security as to which proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a Person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company), Securities converted into Common Stock pursuant hereto and Securities not deemed outstanding pursuant to Section 12.02.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.01.
Parent Guarantor means Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
principal whenever used with reference to the Securities or any Security or any portion thereof, shall be deemed to include and premium, if any.
Registrar shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.09.
Responsible Officer, when used with respect to the Trustee, means the chairman of the board of directors, any vice chairman of the board of directors, the chairman of the trust committee, the chairman of the executive committee, any vice chairman of the executive committee, the president, any vice president, the cashier, the secretary, the treasurer, any trust officer, any assistant trust officer, any assistant vice president, any assistant cashier, any assistant secretary, any assistant treasurer, or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
Security or Securities has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture, or, as the case may be, Securities that have been authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
Subsidiary means a corporation or other business entity of which equity interests having a majority of the voting power under ordinary circumstances is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more subsidiaries of the Company, or by the Company and one or more subsidiaries of the Company.
Subsidiary Guarantor means any Subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor that provides a Guarantee, in each case, unless and until such Subsidiary is released from such Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
9
Trust Indenture Act (except as otherwise provided in Sections 8.01 and 8.02) means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was originally executed.
Trustee means the Person identified as Trustee in the first paragraph hereof and, subject to the provisions of Article 6, shall also include any successor trustee. Trustee shall also mean or include each Person who is then a trustee hereunder and if at any time there is more than one such Person, Trustee as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
vice president, when used with respect to the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title of vice president.
Yield to Maturity means the yield to maturity on a series of securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.
ARTICLE 2
SECURITIES
Section 2.01. Forms Generally. The Securities of each series shall be substantially in such form (not inconsistent with this Indenture) as shall be established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (as set forth in a Board Resolution or, to the extent established pursuant to (rather than set forth in) a Board Resolution, an Officers Certificate detailing such establishment) or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have imprinted or otherwise reproduced thereon such legend or legends or endorsements, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, as may be required to comply with any law or with any rules or regulations pursuant thereto, or with any rules of any securities exchange or to conform to general usage, all as may be determined by the officers executing such Securities as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
Section 2.02. Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication. The Trustees certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| ||
as Trustee | ||
By: |
||
Authorized Officer |
Section 2.03. Reserved.
Section 2.04. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. The terms of a series of Securities shall be established prior to the initial issuance thereof in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions and set forth in a Board Resolution, or, to the extent established pursuant to (rather than set forth in) a Board Resolution, in an Officers Certificate detailing such establishment and/or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto. The terms of such series reflected in such Board Resolution, Officers Certificate, or supplemental indenture may include the following or any additional or different terms:
10
(a) the designation of the Securities of the series (which may be part of a series of Securities previously issued);
(b) the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which conversion or exchange of the Securities into Common Stock will be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate and any adjustments thereto, the conversion or exchange period and other provisions in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;
(c) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 2.09, 2.10, 2.12, 8.05 or 12.03);
(d) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which the Securities of that series are denominated;
(e) any date on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;
(f) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the record date or dates for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue and on which such interest shall be payable and/or the method by which such rate or rates or date or dates shall be determined;
(g) the place or places where the principal of and any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable (if other than as provided in Section 3.02);
(h) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;
(i) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and any terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(j) if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(k) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(l) if other than the currency in which the Securities of that series are denominated, the currency in which payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series shall be payable;
(m) if the principal of or interest on the Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company, the Guarantors or a Holder thereof, in a currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;
(n) if the amount of payments of principal of and interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index based on a currency other than that in which the Securities of the series are denominated, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(o) whether and upon what terms the Securities may be defeased;
11
(p) whether and under what circumstances the Company or the Guarantors will pay additional amounts on the Securities of any series in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company or the Guarantors will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;
(q) if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;
(r) any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or any other agents with respect to the Securities of such series;
(s) any other events of default or covenants with respect to the Securities of such series in addition to or in lieu of those contained in this Indenture;
(t) if the Securities of the series may be issued in exchange for surrendered Securities of another series, or for other securities of the Company or the Guarantors, pursuant to the terms of such Securities or securities or of any agreement entered into by the Company or the Guarantors, the ratio of the principal amount of the Securities of the series to be issued to the principal amount of the Securities or securities to be surrendered in exchange, and any other material terms of the exchange;
(u) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed as to payment or performance; and
(v) any other terms of the series.
The Company may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of any series of Securities, create and issue further Securities of any such series ranking equally with the Securities of such series in all respects (or in all respects other than the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such further Securities or except for the first payment of interest following the issue date of such further Securities). Such further Securities may be consolidated and form a single series with the Securities of such series and have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Securities of such series.
Section 2.05. Authentication and Delivery of Securities. The Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by or on behalf of the Company to the Trustee for authentication together with the applicable documents referred to below in this Section, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities to or upon the order of the Company (contained in the Company Order referred to below in this Section) or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to such recipients as may be specified from time to time by a Company Order. The maturity date, original issue date, interest rate and any other terms of the Securities of such series shall be determined by or pursuant to such Company Order and procedures. If provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon:
(a) a Company Order requesting such authentication and setting forth delivery instructions if the Securities are not to be delivered to the Company;
(b) any Board Resolution, Officers Certificate and/or executed supplemental indenture referred to in Sections 2.01 and 2.04 by or pursuant to which the forms and terms of the Securities were established;
(c) an Officers Certificate setting forth the form or forms and terms of the Securities stating that the form or forms and terms of the Securities have been established pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.04 and comply with this Indenture; and
(d) an Opinion of Counsel, in addition to the requirements of Section 11.05, to the effect that the form or forms and terms of such Securities have been established pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.04 and comply with this Indenture.
12
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken by the Company or if the Trustee in good faith determines that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders or would affect the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities, this Indenture or otherwise.
The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section with respect to the Securities of a series, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the Securities of such series issued and not yet cancelled, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositarys instructions and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to the nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.
Each Depositary designated pursuant to this Section must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any other applicable statute or regulation.
Section 2.06. Execution of Securities. The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its chief executive officer, its principal financial officer, its president, any vice president, its treasurer or any assistant treasurer. Such signatures may be executed by electronic means or in the form of manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such officers. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.
In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Security so signed shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Company, such Security nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such Security had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.
Section 2.07. Certificate of Authentication. Only such Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. The execution of such certificate by the Trustee upon any Security executed by or on behalf of the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 2.08. Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of Interest. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in denominations established as contemplated by Section 2.04 or, if not so established, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The Securities of each series shall be numbered, lettered or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plan as the officers of the Company executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee, as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof. Unless otherwise indicated in a Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular series, interest will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Securities of each series shall bear interest, if any, from the date, and such interest shall be payable on the dates, established as contemplated by Section 2.04.
13
The Person in whose name any Security of any series is registered at the close of business on any record date applicable to a particular series with respect to any interest payment date for such series shall be entitled to receive the interest, if any, payable on such interest payment date notwithstanding any transfer, exchange or conversion of such Security subsequent to the record date and prior to such interest payment date, except if and to the extent the Company shall default in the payment of the interest due on such interest payment date for such series, in which case such defaulted interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names Outstanding Securities for such series are registered at the close of business on a subsequent record date (which shall be not less than five Business Days prior to the date of payment of such defaulted interest) established by notice given by mail by or on behalf of the Company to the Holders of Securities not less than 15 days preceding such subsequent record date. The term record date as used with respect to any interest payment date (except a date for payment of defaulted interest) for the Securities of any series shall mean the date specified as such in the terms of the Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 2.04, or, if no such date is so established, if such interest payment date is the first day of a calendar month, the 15th day of the next preceding calendar month or, if such interest payment date is the 15th day of a calendar month, the first day of such calendar month, whether or not such record date is a Business Day.
Section 2.09. Registration, Transfer and Exchange. The Company will keep, or cause to be kept, at an office or agency designated for such purpose (the Registrar) for each series of Securities a register or registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it will provide for the registration of Securities of such series and the registration of transfer of Securities of such series. Such register shall be in written form in the English language or in any other form capable of being converted into such form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times such register or registers shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The office of the Registrar initially will be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the offices of the Registrar, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date in authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the Holder thereof, Securities of any series (except a Global Security) may be exchanged for a Security or Securities of such series having authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of such Securities to be exchanged at the offices of the Registrar and upon payment, if the Company shall so require, of the charges hereinafter provided. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. All Securities surrendered upon any exchange or transfer provided for in this Indenture shall be promptly cancelled and disposed of by the Trustee and the Trustee will deliver a certificate of disposition thereof to the Company.
All Securities presented for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing.
The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp or other tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities. No service charge shall be made for any such transaction.
The Company shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of (a) any Securities of any series for a period of 15 days next preceding the first mailing of notice of redemption of Securities of such series to be redeemed or (b) any Securities selected, called or being called for redemption, in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed.
Except under the limited circumstances described below, Securities represented by a Global Security will not be exchangeable for, and will not otherwise be issuable as, Securities in definitive registered form. Owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities, including members of, or participants in, the Depositary, shall not be considered holders thereof for any purpose under this Indenture. The rights of beneficial holders of such Global Securities shall be exercised only through the Depositary. Each of the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and the Registrar shall not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Securities, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
14
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.09, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.
If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series shall no longer be eligible under Section 2.05, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Companys election pursuant to Section 2.04 that the Securities of such series be represented by a Global Security shall no longer be effective and the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers Certificate for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive registered form, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing the Securities of such series, in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by a Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers Certificate for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive registered form, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing such series, in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
The Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of the same series in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge,
(i) to the Person specified by such Depositary a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Persons beneficial interest in the Global Security; and
(ii) to such Depositary a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause (i) above.
Upon the exchange in whole of a Global Security for Securities in definitive registered form, in authorized denominations, such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.09 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
Section 2.10. Mutilated, Defaced, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated, defaced or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company in its discretion may execute, and upon the written request of any officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
15
a new Security of the same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date, bearing a number or other distinguishing symbol not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated or defaced Security, or in lieu of and substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substitute Security shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to indemnify and defend and to save each of them harmless and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof and in the case of mutilation or defacement shall surrender the Security to the Trustee.
Upon the issuance of any substitute Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith. In case any Security which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full, or is being surrendered for conversion in full, shall become mutilated or defaced or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security (with the Holders consent, in the case of convertible Securities), pay or authorize the payment of the same or convert, or authorize conversion of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated or defaced Security), if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and to the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee such security or indemnity as any of them may require to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.
Every substitute Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section by virtue of the fact that any such Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations of rights set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment or conversion of mutilated, defaced or destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.11. Cancellation of Securities; Destruction Thereof. All Securities surrendered for exchange for Securities of the same series or for payment, redemption, registration of transfer, conversion or for credit against any payment in respect of a sinking or analogous fund, if surrendered to the Company or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it; and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of cancelled Securities held by it and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall acquire any of the Securities, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Debt represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.12. Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities for any series, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities for such series (printed, lithographed, typewritten or otherwise reproduced, in each case in form satisfactory to the Trustee). Temporary Securities of any series shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Securities of such series but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company with the concurrence of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof. Temporary Securities may contain such reference to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Security shall be executed by or on behalf of the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities. Without unreasonable delay the Company shall execute and shall furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor without charge at each office or agency to be maintained by the Company for that purpose pursuant to Section 3.02 and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities of such series an equal
16
aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series having authorized denominations. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series, unless the benefits of the temporary Securities are limited pursuant to Section 2.04.
Section 2.13. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities of any series may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers, and, if it does so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP and/or ISIN number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of such numbers printed in the notice or on the Securities of such series and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities of such series, and any such redemption or exchange shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP number or ISIN number.
ARTICLE 3
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 3.01. Payment of Principal and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and interest on, each of the Securities of such series (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) at the place or places, at the respective times and in the manner provided in such Securities and in this Indenture. The interest on Securities (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) shall be payable only to or upon the written order of the Holders thereof and at the option of the Company may be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to or upon the written order of such Holders at their last addresses as they appear on the Security register of the Company.
Section 3.02. Offices for Payments, etc.. So long as any Securities remain Outstanding, the Company will maintain (i) in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an agency where the Securities of each series may be presented for payment, an agency where the Securities of each series may be presented for exchange and conversion, if applicable, as provided in this Indenture and an agency where the Securities of each series may be presented for registration of transfer as provided in this Indenture and (ii) such further agencies in such places as may be determined for the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 2.04.
The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of any series or this Indenture may be served.
The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of each such agency and of any change of location thereof. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any agency required by this Section to be located in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location of any of the above agencies, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The Company may from time to time designate one or more additional agencies where the Securities of a series may be presented for payment, where the Securities of that series may be presented for exchange or conversion, if applicable, as provided in this Indenture and pursuant to Section 2.04 and where the Securities of that series may be presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided, and the Company may from time to time rescind any such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain the agencies provided for in this Section. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.
Section 3.03. Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in Office of Trustee. The Company or the Guarantors, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each series of Securities hereunder.
17
Section 3.04. Paying Agents. Whenever the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section,
(a) that it will hold all sums received by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series or of the Trustee,
(b) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable, and
(c) that at any time during the continuance of any such failure, upon the written request of the Trustee, it will forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.
The Company will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest so becoming due, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.
The Company or any Subsidiary of the Company may act as Paying Agent. If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to the Securities of any series, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest so becoming due. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.
Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, but subject to Section 10.01, the Company or the Guarantors may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to one or more or all series of Securities hereunder, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust for any such series by the Company, the Guarantors or any paying agent hereunder, as required by this Section, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.
Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Sections 10.03 and 10.04.
Section 3.05. Written Statement to Trustee. So long as any Securities are Outstanding hereunder, the Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, a written statement covering the previous fiscal year, signed by its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer (which statement need not comply with Section 11.05), stating that in the course of the performance of their duties as an officer of the Company, they would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company, in the performance or fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signer has knowledge and the nature thereof.
ARTICLE 4
SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY, GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 4.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Securityholders. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Securities of each series pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) semiannually and not more than 15 days after each record date for the payment of interest on such Securities, as hereinabove specified, as of such record date and on dates to be determined pursuant to Section 2.04 for non-interest bearing Securities in each year, and
18
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such request as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished, provided, that, if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar for such series, such list shall not be required to be furnished.
Section 4.02. Reports by the Company and Guarantors. Each of the Company and the Guarantors covenants to comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act insofar as it relates to information, documentations, and other reports which the Company or the Guarantors may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Section 4.03. Reports by the Trustee. Any Trustees report required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be transmitted on or before July 15 in each year following the date hereof, so long as any Securities are Outstanding hereunder, and shall be dated as of a date convenient to the Trustee but no more than 60 nor less than 45 days prior thereto. The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b), 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 4.04. Preservation of Information; Communication with Securityholders. (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.01 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).
(a) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
ARTICLE 5
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 5.01. Event of Default Defined; Acceleration of Maturity; Waiver of Default. Event of Default, with respect to Securities of any series wherever used herein, means each one of the following events which shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 60 days (or such other period as may be established for the Securities of such series as contemplated by Section 2.04); or
(b) default in the payment of all or any part of the principal or any premium on any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, and the continuance of such default for five days (or such other period as may be established for the Securities of such series as contemplated by Section 2.04); or
(c) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company or the Parent Guarantor in respect of the Securities of such series (other than a covenant or warranty in respect of the Securities of such series a default in the performance or breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company and the Parent Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected thereby, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a Notice of Default hereunder; or
19
(d) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Guarantor in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company, any Guarantor or for all or substantially all of its property and assets or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(e) the Company or any Guarantor shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or any Guarantor or for any substantial part of its property and assets, or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(f) a Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms of this Indenture) or is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or the applicable Guarantee; or
(g) any other Event of Default provided for in such series of Securities.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (e)) occurs and is continuing, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all of the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding hereunder (each such series voting as a separate class) by notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantors (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all Securities of such series and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (e) occurs and is continuing, then and in each and every such case, the entire principal (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the Securities then Outstanding and interest accrued thereon, if any, shall become immediately due and payable.
The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal (or, if the Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of the Securities of any series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of such series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) and the principal of any and all Securities of such series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest, at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series, (or at the respective rates of interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case may be) to the date of such payment or deposit) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover compensation in accordance with Section 6.06 to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith, and if any and all Events of Default under the Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided hereinthen and in every such case the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities of such series, each series voting as a separate class, (or of all the Securities, as the case may be, voting as a single class) then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to such series (or with respect to all the Securities, as the case may be) and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.
20
For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.
Section 5.02. Collection of Debt by Trustee; Trustee May Prove Debt. The Company covenants that (a) in case default shall be made in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of any series when such interest shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 60 days or (b) in case default shall be made in the payment of all or any part of the principal of any of the Securities of any series when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of five days, whether upon maturity of the Securities of such series or upon any redemption or by declaration or otherwisethen, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Securities of such series for principal or interest, as the case may be (with interest to the date of such payment upon the overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and any expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith.
In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon such Securities and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated, the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.
In case there shall be pending proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Company or its property, or such other obligor or its property, or in case of any other comparable judicial proceedings relative to the Company, or other obligor upon the Securities of any series, or to the creditors or property of the Company, or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of any Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest (or, if the Securities of any series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities of any series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for compensation in accordance with Section 6.06 to the Trustee and each predecessor trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor trustee, except as a result of negligence or bad faith) and of the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, or other obligor upon the Securities of any series, or to the creditors or property of the Company, or such other obligor,
21
(ii) unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the Holders of the Securities of any series in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings, and
(iii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of the Securityholders and of the Trustee on their behalf; and any trustee, receiver or liquidator, custodian or other similar official is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover compensation in accordance with Section 6.06 to the Trustee, each predecessor trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith and all other amounts due to the Trustee or any predecessor trustee pursuant to Section 6.06.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of any series or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding except, as aforesaid, to vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar person.
All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities of such series or the production thereof on any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment, subject to the payment of the expenses, disbursements and compensation of the Trustee, each predecessor trustee and their respective agents and attorneys, shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such action was taken.
In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Securities in respect to which such action was taken, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of such Securities parties to any such proceedings.
Section 5.03. Application of Proceeds. Any moneys or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article in respect of any series shall be applied in the following order at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys or property on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the several Securities in respect of which monies have been collected and stamping (or otherwise noting) thereon the payment, or issuing Securities of such series in reduced principal amounts in exchange for the presented Securities of like series if only partially paid, or upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee or any predecessor trustee pursuant to Section 6.06;
SECOND: In case the principal of the Securities of such series in respect of which moneys have been collected shall not have become and be then due and payable, to the payment of interest on the Securities of such series in default in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in such Securities, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;
22
THIRD: In case the principal of the Securities of such series in respect of which moneys have been collected shall have become and shall be then due and payable, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon all the Securities of such series for principal and interest, with interest upon the overdue principal, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series; and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and interest or Yield to Maturity, without preference or priority of principal over interest or Yield to Maturity, or of interest or Yield to Maturity over principal, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Security of such series over any other Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and accrued and unpaid interest or Yield to Maturity; and
FOURTH: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company, the Guarantors or both, as they are entitled or any other Person lawfully entitled thereto.
Section 5.04. Suits for Enforcement. In case an Event of Default has occurred, has not been waived and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Section 5.05. Restoration of Rights on Abandonment of Proceedings. In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
Section 5.06. Limitations on Suits by Securityholders. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of default and of the continuance thereof, as hereinbefore provided, and unless also the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in its own name as trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action or proceeding and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.09; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Security with every other Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Securities of any series shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such Holder of Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Securities of the applicable series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
Section 5.07. Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Institute Certain Suits. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture and any provision of any Security, the right of any Holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Security on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, or for the enforcement of such conversion right on or after the respective due date therefor, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
23
Section 5.08. Powers and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver of Default. Except as provided in Section 5.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to Section 5.06, every power and remedy given by this Indenture or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities.
Section 5.09. Control by Holders of Securities. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.02(h) of this Indenture, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected (with each series voting as a separate class) at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by this Indenture; provided, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture and provided, further, that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.01) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith determines that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or if the Trustee in good faith shall so determine that the actions or forbearances specified in or pursuant to such direction would be unduly prejudicial to the interests of Holders of the Securities of all series so affected not joining in the giving of said direction, it being understood that (subject to Section 6.01) the Trustee shall have no duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders.
Nothing in this Indenture shall impair the right of the Trustee in its discretion to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction or directions by Securityholders.
Section 5.10. Waiver of Past Defaults. Prior to the declaration of the acceleration of the maturity of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 5.01, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.04 with respect to such series and its consequences, except an uncured default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities. In the case of any such waiver, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist and be deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, and not to have occurred for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 5.11. Trustee to Give Notice of Default. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the Securities of any series of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge, give notice of all defaults with respect to that series known to the Trustee to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 4.03, unless in each case such defaults shall have been cured before the mailing or publication of such notice (the term defaults for the purpose of this Section being hereby defined to mean any event or condition which is, or with notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default); provided, that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the Securities of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment on such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such series.
24
Section 5.12. Right of Court to Require Filing of Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his or her acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder or group of Securityholders of any series holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
ARTICLE 6
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 6.01. Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee; During Default; Prior to Default. With respect to the Holders of any series of Securities issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred with respect to such series, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct.
Section 6.02. Certain Rights of the Trustee. In furtherance of and subject to the Trust Indenture Act and subject to Section 6.01:
(a) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any statements, certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such statements, certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 5.09 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture;
(d) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there shall be reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it;
(e) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, Officers Certificate or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
25
(f) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company or the Guarantors mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers Certificate of the Company or the applicable Guarantor as the case may be (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company and any Guarantor Authorizing Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the applicable Guarantor;
(g) the Trustee may consult with counsel and any advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(h) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the trusts or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or thereby;
(i) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion, rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(j) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, security, or other paper or document unless requested in writing so to do by the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series affected then Outstanding; provided, that, if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it against such expenses or liabilities as a condition to proceeding; the reasonable expenses of every such investigation shall be paid by the Company, or, if paid by the Trustee or any predecessor trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;
(k) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys not regularly in its employ and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(l) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and to its agents;
(m) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities; and
(n) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 6.03. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of Securities or Application of Proceeds Thereof. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustees certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds thereof.
26
Section 6.04. Trustee and Agents May Hold Securities; Collections, etc.. The Trustee or any agent of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent and may otherwise deal with the Company or the Guarantors and receive, collect, hold and retain collections from the Company or the Guarantors with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent.
Section 6.05. Moneys Held by Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 10.04 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law. Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee shall be under any liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder.
Section 6.06. Compensation and Indemnification of Trustee and Its Prior Claim. The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as the Company and the Trustee may from time to time agree in writing and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by or on behalf of it in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all agents and other persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee and each predecessor trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture or the trusts hereunder and its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and each predecessor trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. Such additional indebtedness shall be a senior claim to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities, and the Securities are hereby subordinated to such senior claim.
The provisions of this Section 6.06 shall survive the termination of this Indenture, the payment in full of the Securities, and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
Section 6.07. Right of Trustee to Rely on Officers Certificate, etc.. Subject to Sections 6.01 and 6.02, whenever in the administration of the trusts of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section 6.08. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 6.09. Persons Eligible for Appointment as Trustee. The Trustee for each series of Securities hereunder shall at all times be a corporation having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and shall be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of a Federal, State or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.
27
Section 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor Trustee. (a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by giving written notice of resignation to the Company and by mailing notice of such resignation to the Holders of then Outstanding Securities of each series affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Security register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees with respect to the applicable series by written instrument in duplicate, executed by authority of the Board of Directors of the Company, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee or trustees. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed with respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.12, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(a) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:
(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months; or
(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder; or
(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver or liquidator of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation;
then, in any such case, (A) the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to the applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor trustee for such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Company or the Guarantors may remove the Trustee with respect to the applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor trustee for such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Guarantors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, (B) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months may on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(b) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of such series and appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, with the consent of the Company, by delivering to the Trustee so removed, to the successor trustee so appointed and to the Company the evidence provided for in Section 7.01 of the action in that regard taken by the Securityholders.
(c) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to any series and any appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.10 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 6.11.
28
Section 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee. Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.10 shall execute and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee with respect to all or any applicable series shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee for such series hereunder; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, upon payment of its charges then unpaid, the trustee ceasing to act shall, subject to Section 10.04, pay over to the successor trustee all moneys at the time held by it hereunder and shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a prior claim upon all property or funds held or collected by such trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.06.
If a successor trustee is appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Guarantors, the predecessor trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts under separate indentures.
No successor trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 6.11 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act and eligible under the provisions of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Upon acceptance of appointment by any successor trustee as provided in this Section 6.11, the Company shall mail notice thereof to the Holders of Securities of each series affected, by mailing such notice to such Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Security register. If the acceptance of appointment is substantially contemporaneous with the resignation, then the notice called for by the preceding sentence may be combined with the notice called for by Section 6.10. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be given at the expense of the Company.
Section 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business of Trustee. Any organization or entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any organization or entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any organization or entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder; provided, that such organization or entity shall be qualified under the provisions of this Article 6 and Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act and eligible under the provisions of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
In case, at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Securities of any series shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and, in case at that time any of the Securities of any series shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor trustee; and in all such cases such certificate shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities of such series or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or to authenticate Securities of any series in the name of any predecessor trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
29
Section 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
ARTICLE 7
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 7.01. Evidence of Action Taken by Securityholders. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified percentage in principal amount of the Securityholders of any or all series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such specified percentage of Securityholders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee. Proof of execution of any instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Sections 6.01 and 6.02) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors, if made in the manner provided in this Article.
Section 7.02. Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Securities. Subject to Sections 6.01 and 6.02, the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy may be proved in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The holding of Securities shall be proved by the Security register or by a certificate of the registrar thereof. The Company or the Guarantors may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of any series entitled to vote or consent to any action referred to in Section 7.01, which record date may be set at any time or from time to time by notice to the Trustee, for any date or dates (in the case of any adjournment or reconsideration) not more than 60 days nor less than five days prior to the proposed date of such vote or consent, and thereafter, notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, only Holders of such series of record on such record date shall be entitled to so vote or give such consent or revoke such vote or consent. Notice of such record date may be given before or after any request for any action referred to in Section 7.01 is made by the Company or the Guarantors.
Section 7.03. Holders to Be Treated as Owners. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Security shall be registered upon the Security register for such series as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, and, subject to the provisions of this Indenture, interest on, such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any such Person, or upon his or her order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable.
Section 7.04. Securities Owned by Company or Guarantors Deemed Not Outstanding. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the Company, the Guarantors or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, the Guarantors or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgees right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company, the Guarantors or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, the Guarantors or any other obligor on the Securities. In case of a dispute as to such right, the advice of counsel shall be full protection in respect of any decision made by the Trustee in accordance with such advice.
30
Section 7.05. Right of Revocation of Action Taken. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be in the Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice at the Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding as provided in this Article, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Security and of any Securities issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon any such Security. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Securities affected by such action.
ARTICLE 8
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 8.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders. In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Holders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the Trustee as security for the Securities of one or more series any property or assets;
(b) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or any Guarantor, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company or the Guarantors pursuant to Article 9;
(c) to add to the covenants of the Company or the Guarantors such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Board of Directors of the Company shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default;
(d) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to conform this Indenture or any supplemental indenture to the description of the Securities set forth in any prospectus or prospectus supplement related to such series of Securities;
(e) to provide for or add guarantors for the Securities of one or more series;
(f) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by this Indenture;
(g) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11;
31
(h) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of any series of Securities, as herein set forth;
(i) to make any change to the Securities of any series so long as no Securities of such series are Outstanding; and
(j) to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of the Holders of the Securities in any material respect (as determined in good faith by the Company).
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 8.02.
Section 8.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders. With the consent (evidenced as provided in Article 7) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class), the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series; provided, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Security so affected,
(a) extend the final maturity of any Securities of such series;
(b) reduce the principal amount of, or premium, if any, any Securities of such series;
(c) reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest on any Securities of such series;
(d) reduce the amount payable upon the redemption of any Securities of such series;
(e) change the currency of payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Securities of such series;
(f) change the provisions relating to the waiver of past defaults or change or impair the right of Securityholders to receive payment or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment or conversion of any Securities of such series on or after the due date therefor;
(g) reduce the above-stated percentage of outstanding Securities of such series the consent of whose Securityholders is necessary to modify or amend or to waive certain provisions of or defaults under this Indenture;
(h) waive a default in the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities;
(i) modify any of the provisions of this Section 8.02, except to increase any required percentage or to provide that certain other provisions cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Securityholder of each Security of such series affected by the modification;
32
(j) reduce the amount of Securities whose Securityholders must consent to a supplemental indenture; or
(k) make any change to a Guarantee in any manner materially adverse to the Securityholders of Securities of such series (as determined in good faith by the Company).
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid and other documents, if any, required by Section 7.01, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, waiver or supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Promptly after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall give a notice thereof to the Holders of then Outstanding Securities of each series affected thereby, by mailing a notice thereof by first-class mail to such Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Security register, and in each case such notice shall set forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
Section 8.03. Effect of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors and the Holders of Securities of each series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 8.04. Documents to Be Given to Trustee. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, may receive an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article 8 complies with the applicable provisions of this Indenture.
Section 8.05. Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series, affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture or as to any action taken by Securityholders. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.
33
ARTICLE 9
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
Section 9.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person (in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving entity) or sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of its property and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless (a) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety (i) shall be a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust, (ii) shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and (iii) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed, by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee, by the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company shall have been merged or by the Person which shall have acquired the Companys assets; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
The conditions of (a)(ii) above shall not apply in the case of a corporation or entity not organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia which shall agree, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, (i) to subject itself to the jurisdiction of the United States district court for the Southern District of New York and (ii) to indemnify and hold harmless the holders of all Securities against (A) any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed on such holders by a jurisdiction other than the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein with respect to, and withheld on the making of, any payment of principal or interest on such Securities and which would not have been so imposed and withheld had such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance not been made and (B) any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed on or relating to, and any costs or expenses involved in, such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance.
The restrictions in this Section 9.01 shall not apply to (i) the merger or consolidation of the Company with one of its affiliates, if the Board of Directors determines in good faith that the purpose of such transaction is principally to change the Companys state of incorporation or convert the Companys form of organization to another form, or (ii) the merger of the Company with or into a single direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary pursuant to Section 251(g) (or any successor provision) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, if applicable.
Nothing contained in this Article shall apply to, limit or impose any requirements upon the consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company where the Company is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).
Section 9.02. Successor Company Substituted. Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 9.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
34
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
Section 9.03. Parent Guarantor May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. The Parent Guarantor shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person (in a transaction in which the Parent Guarantor is not the surviving entity) or sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of its property and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless (a) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Parent Guarantor is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Parent Guarantor substantially as an entirety (i) shall be a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust, (ii) shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof, the District of Columbia or any member country of the European Union and (iii) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Parent Guarantor to be performed, by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee, by the Person and the Company (if other than the Parent Guarantor) formed by such consolidation or into which the Parent Guarantor shall have been merged or by the Person which shall have acquired the Parent Guarantors assets; (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Parent Guarantor as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Parent Guarantor at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (c) the Parent Guarantor has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
The conditions of (a)(ii) above shall not apply in the case of a corporation or entity not organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia or any member country of the European Union which shall agree, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, (i) to subject itself to the jurisdiction of the United States district court for the Southern District of New York and (ii) to indemnify and hold harmless the holders of all Securities against (A) any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed on such holders by a jurisdiction other than the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein with respect to, and withheld on the making of, any payment of principal or interest on such Securities and which would not have been so imposed and withheld had such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance not been made and (B) any tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed on or relating to, and any costs or expenses involved in, such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance.
The restrictions in this Section 9.03 shall not apply to (i) the merger or consolidation of the Parent Guarantor with one of its affiliates, if the Board of Directors determine in good faith that the purpose of such transaction is principally to change the Parent Guarantors state of incorporation or convert the Parent Guarantors form of organization to another form, or (ii) the merger of the Parent Guarantor with or into a single direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary pursuant to Section 251(g) (or any successor provision) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Nothing contained in this Article shall apply to, limit or impose any requirements upon the consolidation or merger of any Person into the Parent Guarantor where the Parent Guarantor is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Parent Guarantor, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Parent Guarantor).
Section 9.04. Successor Guarantors Substituted. Upon any consolidation of the Parent Guarantor with, or merger of the Parent Guarantor into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Parent Guarantor substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 9.03, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Parent Guarantor is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Parent Guarantor under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Parent Guarantor herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
35
ARTICLE 10
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
Section 10.01. Discharge of Liability on Securities. Except as otherwise contemplated by Section 2.04, when (a) the Company or the Guarantors deliver to the Trustee all Outstanding Securities or all Outstanding Securities of any series, as the case may be, theretofore authenticated and delivered and all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto (other than (i) Securities or Securities of such series, as the case may be, and coupons, if any, which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.10, (ii) coupons, if any, appertaining to Securities or Securities of such series, as the case may be, called for redemption and maturing after the relevant redemption date, whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 12.03 and (iii) Securities or Securities of such series, as the case may be, and coupons, if any, for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company or the Guarantors and thereafter repaid to the Company or the Guarantors or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 2.05) for cancellation or (b) all Outstanding Securities have become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company or the Guarantors deposit with the Trustee (i) cash sufficient to pay at stated maturity the principal of and interest on Outstanding Securities or all Outstanding Securities of such series (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.10) or (ii) such amount of Governmental Obligations (or a combination of amounts deposited (i) and (ii)), and if in either case the Company or the Guarantors pay all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall, subject to Section 6.06, cease to be of further effect as to all Outstanding Securities or all Outstanding Securities of any series, as the case may be. The Trustee shall join in the execution of proper instruments prepared by the Company or the Guarantors acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture on demand of the Company or the Guarantors accompanied by an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company.
Section 10.02. Repayment to the Company. At the request of the Company or the Guarantors, the Trustee and the paying agent shall return to the Company or the Guarantors on Company Order any money held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the Securities that remains unclaimed for two years; provided, however, that the Trustee or such paying agent, before being required to make any such return, shall, at the expense and direction of the Company or the Guarantors, cause to be published once in an Authorized Newspaper in each place of payment of or mail to each such Holder notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing, any unclaimed money then remaining will be returned to the Company or the Guarantors. After return to the Company or the Guarantors, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company or the Guarantors for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
Section 10.03. Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.04 with respect to Securities of a particular series, the Company by Board Resolution or the Guarantors, may at their option, by Guarantor Authorizing Resolutions, at any time, with respect to any series of Securities, elect to have either Section 10.04 or Section 10.05 be applied to all of the Outstanding Securities of any series (the Defeased Securities), upon compliance with the conditions set forth in this Article 10.
Section 10.04. Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Companys or the Guarantors exercise under Section 10.03 of the option applicable to this Section 10.04, the Company or the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Defeased Securities on the date the conditions set forth below in Section 10.06 are satisfied (hereinafter defeasance). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company or the Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Defeased Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be Outstanding only for the purposes of Sections 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 3.01, 3.02, 3.04, 5.06, 5.07, 6.06, 6.10 and 10.02 of this Indenture and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such series of Securities and this Indenture and cured all existing Events of Default insofar as such series of Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, and, upon written request, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same). Subject to compliance with this Article 10, the Company or the Guarantors may exercise their option under this Section 10.04 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 10.05 with respect to a series of Securities.
36
Section 10.05. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Companys or the Guarantors exercise under Section 10.03 of the option applicable under this Section 10.05, the Company or the Guarantors shall be released from its obligations under Section 3.05 and Article 9 and such other provisions as may be provided as contemplated by Section 2.04 with respect to Securities of a particular series and with respect to the Defeased Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth below in Section 10.06 are satisfied (hereinafter covenant defeasance), and the Defeased Securities shall thereafter be deemed to be not Outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences if any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Defeased Securities, the Company or the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or Article described in this Section 10.05, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or Article described in this Section 10.05 or by reason of any reference in any such Section or Article described in this Section 10.05 to any other provisions herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 5.01 but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Defeased Securities shall be unaffected thereby.
Section 10.06. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 10.04 or Section 10.05 to a series of outstanding Securities.
(a) The Company or the Guarantors shall have irrevocably deposited with the Trustee, in trust, (i) sufficient funds in the currency or currency unit in which the Securities of such series are denominated to pay the principal of and interest to stated maturity (or redemption) on, the Securities of such series, or (ii) such amount of Governmental Obligations (or a combination of amounts deposited in (i) and (ii)), as will, together with the predetermined and certain income to accrue thereon without consideration of any reinvestment thereof, be sufficient to pay when due the principal of, and interest to stated maturity (or redemption) on, the Securities of such series.
(b) The Company or the Guarantors shall (i) have delivered an opinion of counsel that the Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance, and will be subject to tax in the same manner as if no defeasance and discharge or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, had occurred or (ii) in the case of an election under Section 10.04 the Company or the Guarantors shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (A) the Company or the Guarantors has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date this Indenture was first executed, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel in the United States shall confirm that, the holders of Outstanding Securities of that particular series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance, and will be subject to tax in the same manner as if no defeasance and discharge had occurred.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 11.01. No Recourse. No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, member, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company, of any Guarantor, of any Subsidiary thereof or of any predecessor or successor Person, either directly or through the Company, any Guarantor, of any Subsidiary thereof or any such predecessor or successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, members, officers or directors as such, of the Company, any Guarantor or of any predecessor or successor Person, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any
37
and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, member, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
Section 11.02. Provisions of Indenture for the Sole Benefit of Parties and Holders of Securities. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person other than the parties hereto and their successors and the Holders of the Securities any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the Holders of the Securities.
Section 11.03. Successors and Assigns of Company and Guarantors Bound by Indenture. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Indenture by or on behalf of the Company or the Guarantors shall bind their successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 11.04. Notices and Demands on Company, Guarantors, Trustee and Holders of Securities. Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities to or on the Company or the Guarantors may be given or served by being deposited postage prepaid, first-class mail (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed (until another address of the Company is filed by the Company with the Trustee or until another address of the Guarantors is filed by the Guarantors with the Trustee) c/o WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc., 230 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10003, Attn: General Counsel. Any notice, direction, request or demand by the Company, the Guarantors or any Holder of Securities to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made at U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, Corporate Trust Services, One Federal Street, 10th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Attn: Karen Beard (WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.).
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder entitled thereto, at his or her last address as it appears in the Security register. In any case where notice to such Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.
In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service, it shall be impracticable to mail notice to the Company or the Guarantors when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice.
In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service, it shall be impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders of Securities when said notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture or of the Securities, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice. Neither the failure to give notice, nor any defect in any notice so given, to any particular Holder of a Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Securities given as provided above.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
Section 11.05. Officers Certificates and Opinions of Counsel; Statements to Be Contained Therein. Upon any application or demand by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company or the Guarantors, as applicable shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
38
Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based, (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or the Guarantors may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by counsel, unless such officer knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous. Any certificate, statement or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, information with respect to which is in the possession of the Company or the Guarantors, upon the certificate, statement or opinion of or representations by an officer or officers of the Company or the Guarantors, unless such counsel knows that the certificate, statement or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.
Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or an officer of any Guarantor or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company or the Guarantors, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.
Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants filed with and directed to the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.
Section 11.06. Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. If the date of maturity of interest on or principal of the Securities of any series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any such Security, or the last day on which a Holder has the right to convert any Security, shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal, or any conversion, need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption or on such last day for conversion, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date.
Section 11.07. Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture With Trust Indenture Act. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in this Indenture by operation of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such incorporated provision shall control.
Section 11.08. New York Law to Govern. This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such State, except as may otherwise be required by mandatory provisions of law.
Section 11.09. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, EACH GUARANTOR, THE HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, THE REGISTRAR, ANY PAYING AGENT, THE CALCULATION AGENT AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
39
Section 11.10. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The words execution, signed, signature, and words of like import in this Indenture shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, pdf, tif or jpg) and other electronic signatures (including without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign or any other similar platform identified by the Company and reasonably available at no undue burden or expense to the Trustee). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code. Without limitation to the foregoing, and anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) any Officers Certificate, company order, Opinion of Counsel, Security, amendment, notice, direction, certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Security, supplemental indenture or other certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, agreement or other document delivered pursuant to this Indenture may be executed, attested and transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means and formats and (b) all references in Article 2 or elsewhere in this Indenture to the execution, attestation or authentication of any Security or any certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Security by means of a manual or facsimile signature shall be deemed to include signatures that are made or transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means or formats. The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the authenticity or authorization of any such electronic signature and shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any such electronic signature without any liability with respect thereto. The Company and any Guarantor each assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic signatures and electronic methods to send any communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting in good faith on an unauthorized notice and the risk of interception or misuse by third parties.
Section 11.11. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 11.12. Actions by Successor. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee, member or officer of the Company or the Guarantors shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee, member or officer of any corporation or other entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company or the Guarantors.
Section 11.13. Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
Section 11.14. Assignment. The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor with the written consent of the parties hereto, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company, will remain liable for all such obligations, subject to Section 9.01 of this Indenture. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.
ARTICLE 12
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS
Section 12.01. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are redeemable before their maturity or to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified, as contemplated by Section 2.04 for Securities of such series.
40
Section 12.02. Notice of Redemption; Conditional Notice; Partial Redemptions. Notice of redemption to the Holders of Securities of any series to be redeemed as a whole or in part at the option of the Company shall be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositarys procedures), at least 10 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to such Holders of Securities of such series at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security register. Any notice which is given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security of such series.
A notice of redemption may, at the discretion of the Company, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an equity offering, a financing, or other corporate transaction; provided that, if such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Companys discretion, the date fixed for such redemption may be postponed until up to 60 days following the notice of redemption, and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the date fixed for such redemption (including as it may be postponed).
The notice of redemption to each such Holder shall specify the principal amount of each Security of such series held by such Holder to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that such redemption is pursuant to the mandatory or optional sinking fund, or both, if such be the case, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in such notice and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue and shall also specify, if applicable, the conversion price then in effect and the date on which the right to convert such Securities or the portions thereof to be redeemed will expire. In case any Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
The notice of redemption of Securities of any series to be redeemed at the option of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Companys request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
On or before the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents (or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 3.04) an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities of such series so called for redemption (other than those theretofore surrendered for conversion into Common Stock) at the appropriate redemption price, together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. If any Security called for redemption is converted pursuant hereto, any money deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall be paid to the Company upon the Companys request, or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust. The Company will deliver to the Trustee at least 70 days prior to the date fixed for redemption (unless a shorter time period shall be acceptable to the Trustee) an Officers Certificate (which need not comply with Section 11.05) stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. In case of a redemption at the election of the Company prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, prior to the giving of any notice of redemption to Holders pursuant to this Section, an Officers Certificate stating that such restriction has been complied with.
If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, selection of the Securities for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by other methods as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair in accordance with the applicable depositary procedures and any applicable stock exchange. No Securities of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities of such series selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities of such series selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. If any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Security will state the portion of the principal amount of the Security to be redeemed. A new Security in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security will be issued in the name of the holder of the Security upon surrender for cancellation of the original Security. For so
41
long as the Securities are held by the Depositary, the redemption of the Securities shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depositary. For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities of any series shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed. If any Security selected for partial redemption is surrendered for conversion after such selection, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption.
Section 12.03. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption. If notice of redemption has been given as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities at the redemption price, together with interest accrued to said date) interest on the Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and, except as provided in Sections 6.05 and 10.04, such Securities shall cease from and after the date fixed for redemption to be convertible into Common Stock, if applicable, and to be entitled to any benefit or security under this Indenture, and the Holders thereof shall have no right in respect of such Securities except the right to receive the redemption price thereof and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice, said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided, that payment of interest becoming due on or prior to the date fixed for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities registered as such on the relevant record date subject to the terms and provisions of Sections 2.03 and 2.07 hereof.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid or duly provided for, bear interest from the date fixed for redemption at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security) borne by such Security and, if applicable, such Security shall remain convertible into Common Stock until the principal of such Security shall have been paid or duly provided for.
Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of such series, of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
Section 12.04. Exclusion of Certain Securities from Eligibility for Selection for Redemption. Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for selection for redemption if they are identified by registration and certificate number in an Officers Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 40 days prior to the last date on which notice of redemption may be given as being owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by either (a) the Company or (b) an entity specifically identified in such written statement as directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company.
Section 12.05. Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any series is herein referred to as a mandatory sinking fund payment, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of the Securities of any series is herein referred to as an optional sinking fund payment. The date on which a sinking fund payment is to be made is herein referred to as the sinking fund payment date.
In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any series of Securities in cash, the Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of such series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired (except upon redemption pursuant to the mandatory sinking fund) by the Company or receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired (except as aforesaid) by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.11 and, if applicable, receive credit for Securities (not previously so credited) converted into Common Stock and so delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, (b) receive credit for optional sinking fund payments (not previously so credited) made pursuant to this Section, or (c) receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) redeemed by the Company through any optional redemption provision contained in the terms of such series. Securities so delivered or credited shall be received or credited by the Trustee at the sinking fund redemption price specified in such Securities.
42
On or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund payment date for any series, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate (which need not contain the statements required by Section 11.05) (a) specifying the portion of the mandatory sinking fund payment to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion to be satisfied by credit of Securities of such series and the basis for such credit, (b) stating that none of the Securities of such series has theretofore been so credited, (c) stating that no defaults in the payment of interest or Events of Default with respect to such series have occurred (which have not been waived or cured) and are continuing and (d) stating whether or not the Company intends to exercise its right to make an optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series and, if so, specifying the amount of such optional sinking fund payment which the Company intends to pay on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Any Securities of such series to be credited and required to be delivered to the Trustee in order for the Company to be entitled to credit therefor as aforesaid which have not theretofore been delivered to the Trustee shall be delivered for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.11 to the Trustee with such Officers Certificate (or reasonably promptly thereafter if acceptable to the Trustee). Such Officers Certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its receipt by the Trustee the Company shall become unconditionally obligated to make all the cash payments or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Company, on or before any such 60th day, to deliver such Officers Certificate and Securities specified in this paragraph, if any, shall not constitute a default but shall constitute, on and as of such date, the irrevocable election of the Company that the mandatory sinking fund payment for such series due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date shall be paid entirely in cash without the option to deliver or credit Securities of such series in respect thereof.
If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional or both) to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash shall exceed $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency or a lesser sum in Dollars or in any Foreign Currency if the Company shall so request) with respect to the Securities of any particular series, such cash shall be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date to the redemption of Securities of such series at the sinking fund redemption price together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. If such amount shall be $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency) or less and the Company makes no such request then it shall be carried over until a sum in excess of $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency) is available. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 12.02, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said cash, as nearly as may be, and shall (if requested in writing by the Company) inform the Company of the serial numbers of the Securities of such series (or portions thereof) so selected. The Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Company (or the Company, if it shall so request the Trustee in writing), shall cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series to be given in substantially the manner provided in Section 12.02 (and with the effect provided in Section 12.03) for the redemption of Securities of such series in part at the option of the Company. The amount of any sinking fund payments not so applied or allocated to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section. Any and all sinking fund moneys held on the stated maturity date of the Securities of any particular series (or earlier, if such maturity is accelerated), which are not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied, together with other moneys, if necessary, sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of, and interest on, the Securities of such series at maturity. The Companys obligation to make a mandatory or optional sinking fund payment shall automatically be reduced by an amount equal to the sinking fund redemption price allocable to any Securities or portions thereof called for redemption pursuant to the preceding paragraph on any sinking fund payment date and converted into Common Stock; provided that, if the Trustee is not the conversion agent for the Securities, the Company or such conversion agent shall give the Trustee written notice prior to the date fixed for redemption of the principal amount of Securities or portions thereof so converted.
On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee in cash or shall otherwise provide for the payment of all interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on the next following sinking fund payment date.
43
The Trustee shall not redeem or cause to be redeemed any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of redemption of Securities for such series by operation of the sinking fund during the continuance of a default in payment of interest on such Securities or of any Event of Default except that, where the mailing of notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been made, the Trustee shall redeem or cause to be redeemed such Securities, provided that it shall have received from the Company a sum sufficient for such redemption. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such default or Event of Default shall occur, and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund, shall, during the continuance of such default or Event of Default, be deemed to have been collected under Article 5 and held for the payment of all such Securities. In case such Event of Default shall have been waived as provided in Section 5.10, or the default cured on or before the 60th day preceding the sinking fund payment date in any year, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date in accordance with this Section to the redemption of such Securities.
ARTICLE 13
GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES
Section 13.01. Guarantee. The Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee to each Holder of a Security of each series issued by the Company, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal (including any amount due in respect of any Original Issue Discount Security) of and any premium and interest on such Security, and the due and punctual payment of any sinking fund payments provided for pursuant to the terms of such Security, when and as the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of such Security and this Indenture. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that in the event of an Event of Default its obligations hereunder shall be as if it were a principal debtor and not merely a surety, and shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of any Security of any series or this Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of any Security of any series or this Indenture, any waiver, modification or indulgence granted to the Company with respect thereto by the Holder of any Security of any series or the Trustee, or any other circumstances which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of such Guarantor, increase the principal amount of any Security or the interest rate thereon or increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof. Each Guarantor hereby waives, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, the benefit of discussion, protest or notice with respect to any Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby or with respect to any sinking fund payment required pursuant to the terms of such Security issued under this Indenture and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged with respect to such Security except by payment in full of the principal thereof and any premium and interest thereon or as provided in Article 10 or Section 9.02. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or the Guarantors any amount paid by the Company or the Guarantors to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. The Guarantors further agree that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 5 hereof for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby.
The Guarantors also agree, to pay any and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holders in enforcing any rights under this Guarantee.
The Guarantors hereby waive any right of set off which the Guarantors may have against the Holder of any Security in respect of any amounts which are or may become payable by such Holder to the Company.
The Guarantors shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders of any series of Securities and the Trustee against the Company in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders and the Trustee by the Guarantors pursuant to the provisions of the Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantors shall not be entitled to enforce or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all of the Securities of such series shall have been paid in full.
44
No past, present or future stockholder, officer, director, employee or incorporator of the Guarantors or any Subsidiary thereof shall have any personal liability under the Guarantee set forth in this Section 13.01 by reason of his, her or its status as such stockholder, officer, director, employee or incorporator.
The Guarantee set forth in this Section 13.01 shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose with respect to any Security until the certificate of authentication on such Security shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.
Section 13.02. Notations of Guarantee Not Required. Neither the Company, nor the Parent Guarantor nor any Guarantor shall be required to make a notation on the Securities to reflect any Guarantee or any release, termination or discharge thereof.
45
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date above written.
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Fraser Woodford | |
Name: | Fraser Woodford | |
Title: | Executive Vice President, Treasury, Investments, and Real Estate | |
WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Fraser Woodford | |
Name: | Fraser Woodford | |
Title: | Executive Vice President, Treasury, Investments, and Real Estate | |
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: | /s/ Karen R. Beard | |
Name: | Karen R. Beard | |
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature Page to Base Indenture]
EXHIBIT A
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (DTC), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.
[ ]% Note Due [ ]
No. [ ] | CUSIP No.: [ ] | |
$[ ] |
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company, which term includes any successor corporation), for value received promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum of _______ (the Principal) on _______.
Interest Payment Dates: _______ and _______ (each, an Interest Payment Date), commencing on _______.
Interest Record Dates: _______ and _______ (each, an Interest Record Date).
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Security contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
47
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Security to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officer under its seal.
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
(REVERSE OF SECURITY)
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.
[ ]% NOTE DUE [ ]
1. | Interest. |
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. Cash interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from _________. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, commencing ________. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal from time to time on demand at the rate borne by the Securities and on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) to the extent lawful.
2. | Method of Payment. |
The Company shall pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the Interest Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Security subsequent to such Interest Record Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date. Holders must surrender Securities to the Trustee to collect principal payments. The Company shall pay Principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts (U.S. Legal Tender). However, the payments of interest, and any portion of the Principal (other than interest payable at maturity or on any redemption or repayment date or the final payment of Principal) shall be made by the Paying Agent, upon receipt from the Company of immediately available funds by _________[a./p.m.], New York City time (or such other time as may be agreed to between the Company and the Paying Agent or the Company), directly to a Holder (by Federal funds wire transfer or otherwise) if the Holder has delivered written instructions to the Trustee 15 days prior to such payment date requesting that such payment will be so made and designating the bank account to which such payments shall be so made and in the case of payments of Principal surrenders the same to the Trustee in exchange for a Security or Securities aggregating the same principal amount as the unredeemed principal amount of the Securities surrendered.
3. | Paying Agent. |
Initially, _________ (the Trustee) will act as Paying Agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent without notice to the Holders.
4. | Indenture. |
The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture, dated as of ______, ____ (the Indenture), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) (the TIA), as in effect on the date of the Indenture until such time as the Indenture is qualified under the TIA, and thereafter as in effect on the date on which the Indenture is qualified under the TIA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Securities are subject to all such terms, and holders of Securities are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them. To the extent the terms of the Indenture and this Security are inconsistent, the terms of the Indenture shall govern.
5. | Guarantee. |
The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium and interest on, the Securities is irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by the Guarantors.
6. | Denominations; Transfer; Exchange. |
The Securities are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000. A Holder shall register the transfer of or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Company may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not issue, authenticate, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities or portions thereof for a period of fifteen (15) days before such series is selected for redemption, nor need the Company register the transfer or exchange of any security selected for redemption in whole or in part.
7. | Persons Deemed Owners. |
The registered Holder of a Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
8. | Unclaimed Funds. |
If funds for the payment of principal or interest remain unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will repay the funds to the Company or any Guarantor at its written request. After that, all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such funds shall cease.
9. | Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. |
The Company may be discharged from its obligations under the Securities and under the Indenture with respect to the Securities except for certain provisions thereof, and may be discharged from obligations to comply with certain covenants contained in the Securities and in the Indenture with respect to the Securities, in each case upon satisfaction of certain conditions specified in the Indenture.
10. | Amendment; Supplement; Waiver. |
Subject to certain exceptions, the Securities and the provisions of the Indenture relating to the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series then outstanding affected by such amendment or supplement (voting as one class), and any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with certain provisions may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities of such series, each series voting as a separate class, (or of all the Securities, as the case may be, voting as a single class) then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture and the Securities to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities, or make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of a Security.
11. | Defaults and Remedies. |
If an Event of Default (other than certain bankruptcy Events of Default with respect to the Company or the Guarantors) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series then outstanding (voting as a separate class) may declare all of the Securities to be due and payable immediately in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. If a bankruptcy Event of Default with respect to the Company or the Guarantors occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of all series of Securities then outstanding (treated as one class) may declare all of the Securities to be due and payable immediately in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Holders of Securities may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee is not
obligated to enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it has received indemnity satisfactory to it. The Indenture permits, subject to certain limitations therein provided, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding to direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of Securities notice of certain continuing Defaults or Events of Default if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.
12. | Trustee Dealings with Company. |
The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company as if it were not the Trustee.
13. | No Recourse Against Others. |
No stockholder, director, officer, employee, member or incorporator, as such, of the Company, of the Guarantors or any successor Person thereof shall have any liability for any obligation under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of a Security by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.
14. | Authentication. |
This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on this Security.
15. | Abbreviations and Defined Terms. |
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Security or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
16. | CUSIP Numbers. |
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to the Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
17. | Governing Law. |
The laws of the State of New York shall govern the Indenture and this Security thereof.
ASSIGNMENT FORM
I or we assign and transfer this Security to
(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee or transferee)
(Insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee or transferee)
and irrevocably appoint
________________________________________________ agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Dated: |
Signed: |
|||||
(Signed exactly as name appears on the other side of this Security) |
Signature Guarantee: |
||
Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee) |
Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION VERSION
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.,
Issuer
WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC.,
Parent Guarantor
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
SCRIPPS NETWORKS INTERACTIVE, INC.,
Subsidiary Guarantors
and
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Trustee
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
DATED AS OF March 10, 2023
TO
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF March 10, 2023
Relating To
$1,500,000,000 6.412% Senior Notes due 2026
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 10, 2023 (the Supplemental Indenture), to the Base Indenture (defined below) among WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Parent Guarantor), Discovery Communications, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (DCL), Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., an Ohio corporation (Scripps), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (the Trustee).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company has executed and delivered to the Trustee the Indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023 (the Base Indenture and, together with this Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture), providing for the issuance from time to time of its Securities;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Base Indenture, the Company desires to provide for the establishment of a new series of its Securities to be known as its 6.412% Senior Notes due 2026 (the Notes), the form and substance of the Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture, and all requirements necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument in accordance with its terms, and to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, and all acts and things necessary have been done and performed to make this Supplemental Indenture enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture have been duly authorized in all respects.
WITNESSETH:
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises contained herein, each party agrees for the benefit of each other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Supplemental Indenture shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Base Indenture.
Section 1.02. References in this Supplemental Indenture to article and section numbers shall be deemed to be references to article and section numbers of this Supplemental Indenture unless otherwise specified.
2
Section 1.03. For purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:
Attributable Debt means, with respect to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, an amount equal to the present value of the lease payments with respect to the term of the lease remaining on the date as of which the amount is being determined, without regard to any renewal or extension options contained in the lease, discounted at the rate of interest set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease, compounded semi-annually.
Base Indenture has the meaning provided in the recitals.
Company has the meaning provided in the preamble.
DCL has the meaning provided in the preamble.
Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
Indenture has the meaning provided in the recitals.
Interest Payment Date has the meaning provided in Section 2.04.
Lien means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit, arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease substantially having the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
Notes has the meaning provided in the recitals.
Par Call Date means March 15, 2024.
Parent Guarantor has the meaning provided in the preamble.
Paying Agent has the meaning provided in Section 2.03(d).
Permitted Sale and Leaseback Transaction means any of the following: (i) temporary leases for a term, including renewals at the option of the lessee, of not more than three years, (ii) leases between only the Company and a Subsidiary or only between Subsidiaries of the Company and (iii) leases of property executed by the time of, or within 12 months after the latest of (A) the acquisition, (B) the completion of construction or improvement or (C) the commencement of commercial operation of the property.
3
Permitted Securitization Financing means any financing arrangement or factoring of Securitization Assets by the Parent Guarantor or any Subsidiary and any securitization facility of any Securitization Subsidiary, in each case, the obligations of which are non-recourse (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings) to the Parent Guarantor or any Subsidiary (other than any Securitization Subsidiary) in connection therewith.
Sale and Leaseback Transaction means any arrangement with any Person pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary leases any property that has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or the Subsidiary to such person.
Securitization Assets means accounts receivable, loans, mortgages, royalties, other rights to payment, supporting obligations therefor, proceeds therefrom and other related assets customarily disposed of or pledged in connection with non-recourse receivables financings or factorings or securitization facilities (as determined in good faith by the Parent Guarantor or any Subsidiary).
Securitization Subsidiary means any subsidiary formed for purposes of consummating any Permitted Securitization Financing and which holds no material assets other than Securitization Assets and which is engaged in no material activities other than those related to such Permitted Securitization Financing.
Standard Securitization Undertakings means representations, warranties, covenants (including repurchase obligations) and indemnities entered into by the Parent Guarantor or any Subsidiary that the Parent Guarantor or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has determined in good faith are customary for non-recourse accounts receivables financings or factoring or securitization financings.
Scripps has the meaning provided in the preamble.
Supplemental Indenture has the meaning provided in the preamble.
Total Consolidated Assets means, as of any date, the total consolidated assets of the Parent Guarantor and its Subsidiaries computed in accordance with GAAP as set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Parent Guarantor and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter prior to the applicable date of determination for which financial statements are available; provided that the assets of the Parent Guarantor and its consolidated subsidiaries shall be adjusted to reflect any significant (as determined under Regulation S-X) acquisitions and dispositions of assets that have occurred during the period from the date of the applicable balance sheet through the applicable date of determination, including the transaction being tested under this Supplemental Indenture.
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
4
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15 (or any successor designation or publication) (H.15) under the caption U.S. government securitiesTreasury constant maturitiesNominal (or any successor caption or heading) (H.15 TCM). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the Remaining Life); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
Trustee has the meaning provided in the preamble.
5
ARTICLE 2
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES
Section 2.01. Designation and Principal Amount. The Notes are hereby authorized and are designated the 6.412% Senior Notes due 2026, unlimited in aggregate principal amount. The Notes issued on the date hereof pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000,000, which amount shall be set forth in the written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of the Notes pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Base Indenture. In addition, the Company may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the Holders of the Notes, create and issue additional Notes ranking equally and ratably with the Notes issued on the date hereof in all respects, so that such additional Notes shall be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes issued on the date hereof and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Notes issued on the date hereof (other than the date of issuance and, under certain circumstances, the first Interest Payment Date and the date from which interest thereon will begin to accrue), provided that if any such additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes initially issued hereunder for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional Notes shall have a separate CUSIP number.
Section 2.02. Maturity. The principal amount of the Notes shall be payable on March 15, 2026.
Section 2.03. Form and Payment. (a) The Notes shall be issued as global notes, only in fully registered book-entry form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(b) Principal, premium, if any, and interest on the global notes representing the Notes shall be made to the Paying Agent (defined below) which in turn shall make payment to The Depository Trust Company as the Depositary with respect to the Notes or its nominee.
(c) The global notes representing the Notes shall be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and shall be registered, at the request of the Depositary, in the name of Cede & Co.
(d) U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association shall initially act as paying agent for the Notes (the Paying Agent). The Company may appoint and change the Paying Agent without prior notice to the Holders.
Section 2.04. Interest. Interest on the Notes shall accrue at the rate of 6.412% per annum. Interest on the Notes shall be payable semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2023 (each an Interest Payment Date), to the Holders in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on the March 1 and September 1 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. If any Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, then the related payment of interest for such Interest Payment Date shall be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date and no further interest shall accrue as a result of such delay.
Section 2.05. Other Terms. The Notes shall be unsecured senior indebtedness of the Company and shall rank equally and ratably in right of payment with all of the Companys other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness outstanding from time to time. The Notes shall not be convertible into, or exchangeable for, any other securities of the Company, except that the Notes shall be exchangeable for other Notes to the extent provided for in the Base Indenture.
6
ARTICLE 3
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
Section 3.01. Limitation on Liens. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset, to secure any Debt of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, without securing the Notes equally and ratably with such Debt for so long as such Debt will be so secured, subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 3.01(b).
(b) The foregoing restriction does not apply, with respect to any Person, to any of the following:
(i) Liens existing on the date hereof;
(ii) Liens on assets or property of a Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary securing only indebtedness of such Person or Liens existing on assets or property at the time of the acquisition of such assets, provided such indebtedness was not incurred or such Liens were not created in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such assets being acquired;
(iii) Liens on assets created at the time of or within 12 months after the acquisition, purchase, lease, improvement or development of such assets to secure all or a portion of the purchase price or lease for, or the costs of improvement or development of, such assets;
(iv) Liens to secure any extension, renewal, refinancing or refunding (or successive extensions, renewals, refinancings or refundings), in whole or in part, of any indebtedness secured by Liens referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) or Liens created in connection with any amendment, consent or waiver relating to such indebtedness, so long as such Lien does not extend to any other property and the amount of Debt secured is not increased (other than by the amount equal to any costs and expenses incurred in connection with any extension, renewal, refinancing or refunding);
(v) Liens on property incurred in Permitted Sale and Leaseback Transactions;
(vi) Liens in favor of only the Parent Guarantor, the Company or one or more Subsidiaries of the Parent Guarantor granted by the Company or a Subsidiary to secure any obligations owed to the Parent Guarantor, the Company or a Subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor;
(vii) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, repairmens, laborers, landlords and similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business securing obligations that are not overdue for a period of more than 90 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(viii) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time;
7
(ix) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases, statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(x) Liens arising out of a judgment, decree or order of court being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Parent Guarantor, the Company or the books of their Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity with GAAP;
(xi) Liens for taxes not yet due and payable, or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Parent Guarantor, the Company or the books of their Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity with GAAP;
(xii) easements, rights of way, restrictions and similar Liens affecting real property incurred in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Parent Guarantor, the Company or of such Subsidiary;
(xiii) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit related to trade payables and issued in the ordinary course of business, which Liens encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and the products and proceeds thereof;
(xiv) Liens encumbering customary initial deposits and margin deposits and other Liens in the ordinary course of business, in each case securing indebtedness under any interest swap obligations and currency agreements and forward contract, option, futures contracts, futures options or similar agreements or arrangements designed to protect the Parent Guarantor, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries from fluctuations in interest rates or currencies;
(xv) Liens in the nature of voting, equity transfer, redemptive rights or similar terms under any such agreement or other term customarily found in such agreements, in each case, encumbering the Companys or such Subsidiarys equity interests or other investments in such Subsidiary or other Person;
(xvi) Liens consisting of or relating to the sale, transfer, distribution, or financing of motion pictures, video, television, interactive or multi-media programming, audio-visual works, sound recordings, books and other literary or written material, any software, copyright or other intellectual property related thereto or with groups who may receive tax benefits or other third-party investors in connection with the financing and/or distribution of such motion pictures, video and television programming, sound recordings
8
or books in the ordinary course of business and the granting to the Company or any subsidiary rights to distribute such motion pictures, video and television programming, sound recordings or books, including liens created in favor of a producer or supplier of television programming or films over distribution revenues and/or distribution rights which are allocable to such producer or supplier under related distribution arrangements;
(xvii) Liens on Securitization Assets securing or transferred pursuant to any Permitted Securitization Financing;
(xviii) liens on motion pictures, video, television, interactive or multi-media programming, audio-visual works, sound recordings, books and other literary or written material, any software, copyright or other intellectual property related thereto, acquired directly or indirectly by purchase, business combination, production, creation or otherwise, any component of the foregoing or rights with respect thereto, and all improvements thereon, products and proceeds thereof and revenues derived therefrom (collectively, Works) which either (1) existed on such Works before the time of their acquisition and were not created in anticipation thereof, or (2) were created solely for the purpose of securing obligations to financiers, producers, distributors, exhibitors, completion guarantors, inventors, copyright holders, financial institutions or other participants incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the acquisition, financing, production, completion, distribution or exhibition of Works;
(xix) any Liens on the office building and hotel complex located in Atlanta, Georgia known as the CNN Center Complex, including the parking decks for such complex (to the extent such parking decks are owned or leased by the Parent Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries), or any portion thereof and all property rights therein and the products, revenues and proceeds therefrom created as part of any mortgage financing or sale-leaseback of the CNN Center Complex;
(xx) Liens on satellite transponders and all property rights therein and the products, revenues and proceeds therefrom which secure obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition, utilization or operation of such satellite transponders or the refinancing of any such obligations;
(xxi) Liens resulting from progress payments or partial payments under United States government contracts or subcontracts; or
(xxii) Liens otherwise prohibited by this Section 3.01, securing indebtedness which, together with the value of Attributable Debt incurred in Sale and Leaseback Transactions prohibited by Section 3.02(a) below, do not at any time exceed 10% of the Parent Guarantors Total Consolidated Assets.
Section 3.02. Limitation on Sale and Leasebacks. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction (other than a Permitted Sale and Leaseback Transaction), unless the Company or such Subsidiary would be entitled to secure the property to be leased (without equally and ratably securing the outstanding Notes) in a principal amount equal to the amount of Attributable Debt incurred in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction.
9
Section 3.03. Consolidation, Sale, Merger or Conveyance. (a) In addition to complying with the provisions of Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture, the Company agrees that if, as a result of any consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease to which such Section 9.01 applies, properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary would become subject to any lien that would not be permitted by Section 3.01 hereof without equally and ratably securing the Notes, (i) the Company or the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety, as the case may be, shall take the steps as are necessary to effectively secure the Notes equally and ratably with, or prior to, all indebtedness secured by those liens as provided for in Section 3.01 and (ii) the Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.01(c) of the Base Indenture shall also state that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Section 3.03(a).
(b) In addition to complying with the provisions of Section 9.03 of the Base Indenture, the Parent Guarantor agrees that if, as a result of any consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease to which such Section 9.03 applies, properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary would become subject to any lien that would not be permitted by Section 3.01 hereof without equally and ratably securing the Notes, (i) the Parent Guarantor or the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Parent Guarantor is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, the properties and assets of the Parent Guarantor substantially as an entirety, as the case may be, shall take the steps as are necessary to effectively secure the Notes equally and ratably with, or prior to, all indebtedness secured by those liens as provided for in Section 3.01 and (ii) the Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.03(c) of the Base Indenture shall also state that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Section 3.03(b).
(c) Nothing contained in the last paragraph of each of Sections 9.01 and 9.03 of the Base Indenture shall limit the application of Section 3.01 hereof to any consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company or the Parent Guarantor where the Company or the Parent Guarantor is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company or the Parent Guarantor, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company or the Parent Guarantor).
Section 3.04. Guarantee by Subsidiaries of the Parent Guarantor.
(a) The Parent Guarantor will cause (1) each wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary (other than the Company) that is a borrower or that guarantees the payment of any Debt under the Senior Credit Facilities and (2) each wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary (other than the Company) that is a borrower or issuer or that guarantees the payment of any Material Debt, to execute and deliver to the Trustee within 30 days a supplemental indenture substantially in the form attached to this Supplemental Indenture as Exhibit B (which the Company and the Trustee shall countersign), pursuant to which such wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary will guarantee payment of the Notes, whereupon such Domestic Subsidiary will become a Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes under the Indenture.
10
(b) All payments on the Notes, including principal and interest (and premium, if any), and all other amounts due under the Indenture relating to the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis by each Subsidiary Guarantor.
(c) The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor are limited to the maximum amount, as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its subsidiary guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under the Indenture, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the subsidiary guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law, or being void or unenforceable under any law relating to insolvency of debtors.
(d) Each such subsidiary guarantee will be a continuing guarantee and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until payment in full of the principal amount of all outstanding Notes (whether by payment at maturity, purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition) and all other subsidiary guaranteed obligations of the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor then due and owing, unless earlier terminated as described below, (ii) be binding upon such Subsidiary Guarantor and (iii) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Trustee, the Holders and their permitted successors, transferees and assigns.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04, any Subsidiary Guarantor will automatically and unconditionally be released from all obligations under its subsidiary guarantee, and such subsidiary guarantee shall thereupon terminate and be discharged and of no further force or effect, (i) concurrently with any direct or indirect sale or disposition (by merger or otherwise) of such Subsidiary Guarantor or any interest therein, or any other transaction, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, if as a result of such transaction such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Guarantor Subsidiary, (ii) at any time that such Subsidiary Guarantor is (or, substantially concurrently with the release of the subsidiary guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor or if as a result of the release of the subsidiary guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, will be) released from all of its obligations as borrower or its obligations under its guarantee of payment by the Company of any Debt of the Company or the Parent Guarantor under the Senior Credit Facilities or any Material Debt (it being understood that a release subject to contingent reinstatement is still a release, and that if any such guarantee is so reinstated, such subsidiary guarantee shall also be reinstated to the extent that such Subsidiary Guarantor would then be required to provide a subsidiary guarantee pursuant to this Section 3.04), (iii) upon the merger or consolidation of such Subsidiary Guarantor with and into the Company or the Parent Guarantor or another Subsidiary Guarantor that is the surviving person in such merger or consolidation, or upon the liquidation of such Subsidiary Guarantor following the transfer of all of its assets to the Company or the Parent Guarantor or another Subsidiary Guarantor, (iv) concurrently with such Subsidiary Guarantor ceasing to constitute a Domestic Subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor, (v) upon legal or covenant defeasance of the Companys obligations, or satisfaction and discharge of
11
the Notes, or (vi) upon payment in full of the aggregate principal amount of all of the Notes then outstanding and all other subsidiary guaranteed obligations then due and owing (provided that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall be reinstated if at any time any payment which would otherwise have reduced or terminated the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder and under its subsidiary guarantee (whether such payment shall have been made by or on behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of a Subsidiary Guarantor) is rescinded or reclaimed from any of the Holders upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made). Upon any such occurrence specified in this Section 3.04 and delivery of an Officers Certificate to the Trustee, the Trustee shall execute any documents reasonably requested by the Company in order to evidence such release, discharge and termination in respect of such subsidiary guarantee.
(e) For purposes of this Section 3.04, the following definitions are applicable:
Domestic Subsidiary means any Guarantor Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.
Foreign Subsidiary means any Guarantor Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States, a state thereof or the District of Columbia or that is a Foreign Subsidiary Holdco. For the avoidance of doubt, any Guarantor Subsidiary that is organized and existing under the laws of Puerto Rico or any other territory of the United States of America shall be a Foreign Subsidiary.
Foreign Subsidiary Holdco means any Guarantor Subsidiary designated as a Foreign Subsidiary Holdco by the Company, so long as such Subsidiary has no material assets other than securities, indebtedness or receivables of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries (or Guarantor Subsidiaries thereof), intellectual property relating solely to such Foreign Subsidiaries (or Guarantor Subsidiaries thereof) and/or other assets (including cash and cash equivalents) relating to an ownership interest in any such securities, indebtedness, intellectual property or Guarantor Subsidiaries.
Guarantor Subsidiary means a corporation or other business entity of which equity interests having a majority of the voting power under ordinary circumstances is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Parent Guarantor or by one of more subsidiaries of the Parent Guarantor, or by the Parent Guarantor and one or more subsidiaries of the Parent Guarantor.
Material Debt means any Debt of the Company, the Parent Guarantor or any Subsidiary Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount equal to or greater than $400 million.
Revolving Credit Facility means the multicurrency revolving credit agreement, dated as of June 9, 2021, among DCL, the borrowers and guarantors from time to time parties thereto, the lenders from time to time parties thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer, as amended on July 30, 2021 and as further amended, restated, supplemented, replaced, waived or otherwise modified from time to time.
12
Senior Credit Facilities means the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan Facility.
Subsidiary Guarantor means any Guarantor Subsidiary that enters into a subsidiary guarantee, in each case, unless and until such Guarantor Subsidiary is released from such subsidiary guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.04.
Term Loan Facility means the term loan facility created pursuant to the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 4, 2021, among the Company, the lenders from time to time parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, restated, supplemented, replaced, waived or otherwise modified from time to time.
Section 3.05. Certain Subsidiaries. If any Subsidiary Guarantor is a subsidiary of the Parent Guarantor but not a Subsidiary of the Company, then, unless and until such Subsidiary Guarantor is released from such subsidiary guarantee of the Notes, such Subsidiary Guarantor and its subsidiaries shall be treated as if they were Subsidiaries of the Company for all purposes under the Indenture, including for purposes of the provisions described in Section 3.01 and Section 3.02 of this Supplemental Indenture.
ARTICLE 4
REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES
Section 4.01. Optional Redemption.
(a) Prior to the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points less (b) interest accrued to, but excluding, the redemption date, and
(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed, but excluding, to the redemption date.
13
In addition to complying with the provisions of Section 12.02 under the Base Indenture, any notice of redemption may, at the Companys discretion, be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of one or more conditions precedent and such notice shall state the nature of such conditions precedent. Interest on the Notes or portions of Notes so called for redemption shall cease to accrue on and after the date of redemption together with interest accrued to said date, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions precedent specified in such notice of redemption, unless the Company defaults in the payment of such Notes at the redemption price.
The Companys actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Section 4.02. Purchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event. (a) If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes in full, pursuant to Section 4.01, Holders of Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of such Holders Notes, as applicable, pursuant to the offer described in 4.02(b) below (such offer, the Change of Control Offer), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.
(b) Within 30 days following the date upon which the Change of Control Triggering Event occurred, or at the Companys option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the pending Change of Control, the Company shall be required to send, by first class mail, or otherwise deliver in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, a notice to Holders of Notes not previously redeemed, with a copy to the Trustee. Such notice shall set forth the terms of the Change of Control Offer and state, among other things, the repurchase date, which must be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, or otherwise delivered to each Holder in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, other than as may be required by law (the Change of Control Payment Date). The notice, if mailed or otherwise delivered to each Holder in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, may state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control being consummated on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. Holders of Notes not previously redeemed electing to have their Notes repurchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer shall be required to surrender their Notes, with the form entitled Option of Holder to Elect Purchase on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice, or transfer their Notes to the Paying Agent by book-entry transfer pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Paying Agent, prior to the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.
(c) The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for such an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.
(d) The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes, the Company shall comply with those securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the provisions in the Indenture governing the Change of Control Offer by virtue of any such conflict.
14
(e) For purposes of this Section 4.02, the following definitions are applicable:
Below Investment Grade Rating Event with respect to the Notes means that such Notes become rated below Investment Grade by each Rating Agency on any date from the date of the public notice by the Parent Guarantor or the Company of an arrangement that results in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice by the Parent Guarantor or the Company of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided, however, that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event), if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).
Change of Control means the occurrence of any one of the following:
(i) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Parent Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, or the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than to the Parent Guarantor or one of its Subsidiaries;
(ii) the consummation of any transaction (including without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than any Significant Shareholder (as defined below) or any combination of Significant Shareholders, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Parent Guarantor or the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares;
(iii) the consummation of a so-called going private/Rule 13e-3 Transaction that results in any of the effects described in paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision) with respect to each class of the Parent Guarantors common stock, following which any Significant Shareholder or any combination of Significant Shareholders beneficially own (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Parent Guarantor, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or
15
(iv) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Parent Guarantor.
Change of Control Triggering Event means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control Triggering Event shall be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.
Fitch means Fitch Ratings Ltd., and its successors.
Investment Grade means a rating of BBB or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P), a rating of Baa3 or better by Moodys (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moodys) and a rating of BBB or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Fitch).
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.
Rating Agency means (i) each of S&P, Moodys and Fitch; and (ii) if any of S&P, Moodys or Fitch ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Companys control, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Parent Guarantor and reasonably acceptable to the Trustee) as a replacement agency for S&P, Moodys or Fitch, or all of them, as the case may be.
S&P means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and its successors.
Significant Shareholder means each of (i) the Parent Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) any other person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) if 50% or more of the Voting Stock of such person is beneficially owned (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, by the Parent Guarantor or one of its Subsidiaries or any combination thereof.
Voting Stock of any specified Person as of any date means any and all shares or equity interests (however designated) of such Person that are at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person, as applicable.
Section 4.03. No Redemption at the Option of Holders; No Sinking Fund. The Notes shall not be redeemable at the option of any Holder thereof. The Notes will not be entitled to any sinking fund or analogous requirement. The Company may acquire Notes, from time to time and at any time, by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws, so long as such acquisition does not otherwise violate the terms of the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture.
16
ARTICLE 5
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Section 5.01. Events of Default. Solely with respect to the Notes, the first paragraph of Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended as follows:
(a) Clause (a) shall be amended by replacing the phrase 60 days (or such other period as may be established for the Securities as contemplated by Section 2.04) with 30 days therein;
(b) Clause (b) shall be amended by deleting the phrase , and the continuance of such default for five days (or such other period as may be established for the Securities as contemplated by Section 2.04) therein; and
(c) Clause (g) shall be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(g) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Parent Guarantor, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Parent Guarantor, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries), whether such indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the date hereof, if that default (i) is caused by a failure to pay principal on such indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods provided in such indebtedness) (a Payment Default) or (ii) results in the acceleration of such indebtedness prior to its express maturity (an Acceleration Event) and (A) in each case, the principal amount of any such indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or an Acceleration Event, aggregates $400 million or more and (B) in the case of a Payment Default, such indebtedness is not discharged and, in the case of an Acceleration Event, such acceleration is not rescinded or annulled, within ten days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company and the Parent Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Parent Guarantor and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a Notice of Default hereunder.
Section 5.02. Collection of Debt by Trustee; Trustee May Prove Debt. Solely with respect to the Notes, the first sentence of the first paragraph of Section 5.02 of the Base Indenture shall be amended as follows:
(a) Clause (a) shall be amended by replacing the phrase 60 days with 30 days therein; and
(b) Clause (b) shall be amended by deleting the phrase , and such default shall have continued for a period of five days therein.
17
ARTICLE 6
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 6.01. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders. Solely with respect to the Notes, the first paragraph of Section 8.02 of the Base Indenture shall be amended as follows:
(a) the following clauses shall be added immediately following clause (j) in the proviso of that paragraph (but before the word or immediately preceding clause (k)): (k) reduce the amount payable upon repurchase of the Notes, or change the time at which any Notes may be so purchased pursuant to Section 4.02(a) whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise; and
(b) clause (k) in the proviso of that paragraph shall become clause (l).
ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.01. Covenant Defeasance. Article 10 of the Base Indenture shall be applicable to the Notes. If the Company effects covenant defeasance (as defined in Section 10.05 of the Base Indenture) pursuant to Article 10 of the Base Indenture, then the Company shall be released from its obligations under Article Three and Section 4.02 of this Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Notes as provided for in Article 10 of the Base Indenture.
Section 7.02. Form of Notes. (a) The Notes and the Trustees certificate of authentication to be endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, which form is hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Supplemental Indenture.
(b) The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Supplemental Indenture, and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.
Section 7.03. Ratification of Base Indenture. The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.
Section 7.04. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 310 through Section 317 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the imposed duties shall control.
Section 7.05. Conflict with Indenture. To the extent not expressly amended or modified by this Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture shall remain in full force and effect. If any provision of this Supplemental Indenture relating to the Notes is inconsistent with any provision of the Base Indenture, the provision of this Supplemental Indenture shall control.
18
Section 7.06. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE, EXCEPT AS MAY OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED BY MANDATORY PROVISIONS OF LAW.
Section 7.07. Successors. All agreements of the Company and the Parent Guarantor in the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.
Section 7.08. Counterparts. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The words execution, signed, signature, and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, pdf, tif or jpg) and other electronic signatures (including without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign or any other similar platform identified by the Company and reasonably available at no undue burden or expense to the Trustee). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code. Without limitation to the foregoing, and anything in this Supplemental Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) any Officers Certificate, company order, Opinion of Counsel, Note, amendment, notice, direction, certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Note, supplemental indenture or other certificate, opinion of counsel, instrument, agreement or other document delivered pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture may be executed, attested and transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means and formats and (b) all references in this Supplemental Indenture to the execution, attestation or authentication of any Note or any certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Note by means of a manual or facsimile signature shall be deemed to include signatures that are made or transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means or formats. The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the authenticity or authorization of any such electronic signature and shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any such electronic signature without any liability with respect thereto. The Company, Parent Guarantor and any Subsidiary Guarantor each assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic signatures and electronic methods to send any communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting in good faith on an unauthorized notice and the risk of interception or misuse by third parties.
Section 7.09. Trustee Disclaimer. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture other than as to the validity of its execution and delivery by the Trustee. The recitals and statements herein are deemed to be those of the Company and the Parent Guarantor and not the Trustee.
19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused the Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Fraser Woodford | |
Name: Fraser Woodford | ||
Title: Executive Vice President, Treasury, Investments, and Real Estate | ||
WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Fraser Woodford | |
Name: Fraser Woodford | ||
Title: Executive Vice President, Treasury, Investments, and Real Estate | ||
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Fraser Woodford | |
Name: Fraser Woodford | ||
Title: Executive Vice President, Treasury, Investments, and Real Estate | ||
SCRIPPS NETWORKS INTERACTIVE, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Fraser Woodford | |
Name: Fraser Woodford | ||
Title: Executive Vice President, Treasury, Investments, and Real Estate | ||
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: | /s/ Karen R. Beard | |
Name: Karen R. Beard | ||
Title: Vice President |
[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTE
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (DTC), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
1
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.
6.412% Senior Note Due 2026
No. | CUSIP No.: 55903V BG7
ISIN No.: US55903VBG77 |
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company, which term includes any successor corporation), for value received promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of $ (the Principal) on March 15, 2026.
Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15 (each, an Interest Payment Date), commencing on September 15, 2023.
Interest Record Dates: March 1 and September 1 (each, an Interest Record Date).
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Security contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Security to be duly executed.
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Trustee | ||
By: |
||
Authorized Officer |
(REVERSE OF SECURITY)
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC.
6.412% Senior Note Due 2026
1. Interest.
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the Company), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. Cash interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from March 10, 2023. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, commencing September 15, 2023. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If any Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, then the related payment of interest for such Interest Payment Date shall be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date and no further interest shall accrue as a result of such delay.
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal from time to time on demand at the rate borne by the Securities and on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) to the extent lawful.
2. Method of Payment.
The Company shall pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the persons who are the registered Holders at the close of business on the Interest Record Date immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Security subsequent to such Interest Record Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date. Holders must surrender Securities to the Trustee to collect principal payments. The Company shall pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts (U.S. Legal Tender). Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or at any other office or agency designated by the Company for such purpose; provided that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Holder entitled thereto as such address appears in the Security register. However, the payments of interest, and any portion of the principal (other than interest payable at maturity or on any redemption or repayment date or the final payment of principal) shall be made by the Paying Agent, upon receipt from the Company of immediately available funds by 12:30 p.m., New York City time (or such other time as may be agreed to between the Company and the Paying Agent or the Company), directly to a Holder (by Federal funds wire transfer or otherwise) if the Holder has delivered written instructions to the Trustee 15 days prior to such payment date requesting that such payment will be so made and designating the bank account to which such payments shall be so made and in the case of payments of principal surrenders the same to the Trustee in exchange for a Security or Securities aggregating the same principal amount as the unredeemed principal amount of the Securities surrendered.
3. Paying Agent.
Initially, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (the Trustee) will act as Paying Agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent without notice to the Holders.
4. Indenture.
The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023 (the Indenture), among the Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Parent Guarantor), and the Trustee. Capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) (the TIA), as in effect on the date of the Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Securities are subject to all such terms, and Holders of Securities are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them. To the extent the terms of the Indenture and this Security are inconsistent, the terms of the Indenture shall govern.
The Company, the Parent Guarantor, Discovery Communications, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (DCL), Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., an Ohio corporation (Scripps and, together with DCL, the Subsidiary Guarantors and, the Subsidiary Guarantors together with the Parent Guarantor, the Guarantors, which term includes any successor thereto under the Indenture) and the Trustee entered into a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023 setting forth certain terms of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Indenture (the Supplemental Indenture). The Supplemental Indenture imposes certain limitations on the incurrence of liens and certain sale and leaseback transactions and limits the Companys ability to consolidate, merge, convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety. To the extent the terms of the Supplemental Indenture are inconsistent with the Indenture or this Security, the terms of the Supplemental Indenture shall govern.
5. Guarantee.
The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium and interest on, the Securities is irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by the Guarantors.
6. Optional Redemption.
The Securities are redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, at any time and from time to time, at the redemption price described in the Supplemental Indenture.
7. Change of Control Offer to Repurchase.
If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Securities, Holders of the Securities will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their Securities pursuant to the offer described in the Supplemental Indenture at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase, subject to the rights of Holders of Securities on the relevant Interest Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.
8. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Securities are in registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder shall register the transfer of or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Company may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not issue, authenticate, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities or portions thereof for a period of 15 days before such Securities are selected for redemption, nor need the Company register the transfer or exchange of any Security selected for redemption in whole or in part.
9. Persons Deemed Owners.
The registered Holder of a Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
10. Unclaimed Funds.
If funds for the payment of principal or interest remain unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will repay the funds to the Company or the Parent Guarantor at its written request. After that, all liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent with respect to such funds shall cease.
11. Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may be discharged from its obligations under the Securities and under the Indenture with respect to the Securities except for certain provisions thereof, and may be discharged from obligations to comply with certain covenants contained in the Securities and in the Indenture with respect to the Securities, in each case upon satisfaction of certain conditions specified in the Indenture.
12. Amendment; Supplement; Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Securities and the provisions of the Indenture relating to the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding affected by such amendment or supplement (voting as one class), and any existing default or Event of Default or compliance with certain provisions may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities of such series, each series voting as a separate class, then outstanding. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the parties thereto may amend or supplement the Indenture and the Securities to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities, or make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of a Security.
13. Defaults and Remedies.
If an Event of Default (other than certain bankruptcy Events of Default with respect to the Company or the Parent Guarantor) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of Securities then outstanding (voting as a separate class) may declare all of the Securities to be due and payable immediately in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. If a bankruptcy Event of Default with respect to the Company or the Parent Guarantor occurs and is continuing, the entire principal amount of the Securities then outstanding and interest accrued thereon, if any, shall immediately become due and payable. Holders of Securities may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee is not obligated to enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it has received indemnity satisfactory to it. The Indenture permits, subject to certain limitations therein provided, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding to direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of Securities notice of certain continuing Defaults or Events of Default if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.
14. Trustee Dealings with Company.
The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No Recourse Against Others.
No stockholder, director, officer, employee, member or incorporator, as such, of the Company, any Guarantor or any successor Person thereof shall have any liability for any obligation under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of a Security by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities and the Guarantees.
16. Authentication.
This Security shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on this Security.
17. Abbreviations and Defined Terms.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Security or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
18. CUSIP Numbers.
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities as a convenience to the Holders of the Securities. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Securities and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.
19. Governing Law.
The laws of the State of New York shall govern the Indenture and this Security thereof.
ASSIGNMENT FORM
I or we assign and transfer this Security to
(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee or transferee) |
(Insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee or transferee) |
and irrevocably appoint ____________ agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Dated:
Signed: |
(Signed exactly as name appears on the other side of this Security) |
Signature | ||
Guarantee: | ||
Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee) |
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Supplemental Indenture, check the box ☐.
If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Supplemental Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased (must be integral multiples of $1,000):
$
Dated:
Signed: |
(Signed exactly as name appears on the other side of this Security) |
Signature | ||
Guarantee: | ||
Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee) |
1
EXHIBIT B
Form of Supplemental Indenture in Respect of Guarantees
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of [_________] (this Supplemental Indenture), among [name of Guarantor(s)] (the Subsidiary Guarantor), WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc. (the Company), and each other then-existing Subsidiary Guarantor under the Indenture referred to below (the Existing Guarantors), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the Trustee).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., as Parent Guarantor, and the Trustee have heretofore become parties to an Indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the Indenture), providing for the issuance of Notes;
WHEREAS, Section 13.03(a) of the Indenture provides that the Company is required to cause the Subsidiary Guarantors to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Subsidiary Guarantors shall guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Note, when and as the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of such Note and the Indenture pursuant to a Guarantee on the terms and conditions set forth herein and in Article 13 of the Indenture;
WHEREAS, each Subsidiary Guarantor desires to enter into such supplemental indenture for good and valuable consideration, including substantial economic benefit in that the financial performance and condition of such Subsidiary Guarantor is dependent on the financial performance and condition of the Company, and the obligations hereunder of which such Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8.01 of the Indenture, the parties hereto are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to amend the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Company, the Existing Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:
1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recitals hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words herein, hereof and hereby and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.
1
2. Agreement to Guarantee. [The][Each] Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with [all] [any] other Subsidiary Guarantors and fully and unconditionally, to guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the Notes, when and as the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of such Note and the Indenture on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 13 of the Indenture and to be bound by (and shall be entitled to the benefits of) all other applicable provisions of the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor.
3. Termination, Release and Discharge. [The][Each] Subsidiary Guarantors Guarantee shall terminate and be of no further force or effect, and [the][each] Subsidiary Guarantor shall be released and discharged from all obligations in respect of such Subsidiary Guarantee, as and when provided in Section 3.04(d) of the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023, by and among the Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee.
4. Parties. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture is intended or shall be construed to give any Person, other than the Holders and the Trustee, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of [the][each] Subsidiary Guarantors Guarantee or any provision contained herein or in Article 3 of the Indenture.
5. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE, EXCEPT AS MAY OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED BY MANDATORY PROVISIONS OF LAW.
6. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby. The Trustee makes no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or as to the accuracy of the recitals to this Supplemental Indenture.
7. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Subsidiary Guarantor.
8. Counterparts. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The words execution, signed, signature, and words of like import in this Supplemental Indenture shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without
limitation, pdf, tif or jpg) and other electronic signatures (including without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign or any other similar platform identified by the Company and reasonably available at no undue burden or expense to the Trustee). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code. The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the authenticity or authorization of any such electronic signature and shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any such electronic signature without any liability with respect thereto. The Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor each assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic signatures and electronic methods to send any communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting in good faith on an unauthorized notice and the risk of interception or misuse by third parties.
9. Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the meaning or interpretation of any provisions hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
[NAME OF GUARANTOR(S)], as Subsidiary Guarantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
WARNERMEDIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
as Trustee | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 5.1
March 10, 2023
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.
230 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
230 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
Discovery Communications, LLC
230 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
Scripps Network Interactive, Inc.
230 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-264453) (the Registration Statement) and the Prospectus Supplement, dated March 6, 2023 (the Prospectus Supplement), to the Prospectus, dated April 22, 2022, of WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission), relating to the issuance and sale by the Company of $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.412% Senior Notes due 2026 (the Senior Notes), issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023 (the Base Indenture), among the Company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Parent Guarantor), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the Trustee), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023, among the Company, the Parent Guarantor, Discovery Communications, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (DCL), and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., an Ohio corporation (Scripps, and together with DCL and the Parent Guarantor, the Guarantors), and the Trustee (the Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture). The Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured unsubordinated basis (the Guarantee) by the Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture.
In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have (a) examined and relied on the originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Indenture, (b) examined and relied on such corporate or other organizational documents and records of the
To the Addresses Listed on Page One | 2 | March 10, 2023 |
Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries and such certificates of public officials, and officers and representatives of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries and other persons as we have deemed appropriate for the purposes of such opinions, (c) examined and relied as to factual matters upon, and assumed the accuracy of, the statements made in the certificates of public officials, officers and representatives of the Parent Guarantor and its subsidiaries and other persons delivered to us and (d) made such investigations of law as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for such opinions.
In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed, with your permission, without independent investigation or inquiry, (i) the authenticity and completeness of all documents that we examined, (ii) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents that we examined, (iii) the conformity to authentic originals and completeness of documents examined by us that are certified, conformed, reproduction, photostatic or other copies, (iv) the legal capacity of all natural persons executing documents, (v) the valid existence and good standing of each of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors, (vi) the corporate or other power and authority of all parties to enter into each of the Indenture and the Senior Notes and to perform their respective obligations thereunder, (vii) the due authorization of each of the Indenture and the Senior Notes by all parties thereto, (viii) the due execution and delivery of each of the Indenture and the Senior Notes by all parties thereto, except to the extent that due execution and delivery thereof by the Company and the Guarantors are governed by the laws of the State of New York, (ix) the enforceability of the Indenture against the Trustee and (x) the due authentication of the Senior Notes on behalf of the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the assumptions, qualifications and limitations hereinafter set forth, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Senior Notes constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
2. The Guarantee by each Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture constitutes the valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against each Guarantor in accordance with its terms.
Our opinions set forth above are subject to the effects of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization and moratorium laws, and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors rights or remedies generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) concepts of good faith, diligence, reasonableness and fair dealing, and standards of materiality.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York, as currently in effect, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other laws. In rendering the opinions above, we have relied on, with respect to all matters relating to the laws of the State of Delaware and the laws of the State of Ohio, the opinions, delivered to you today, of Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, special Delaware counsel to the Company, the Parent Guarantor and DCL, and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP, special Ohio counsel to Scripps.
To the Addresses Listed on Page One | 3 | March 10, 2023 |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Parent Guarantors Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 10, 2023 incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the caption Legal Matters in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby concede that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ Debevoise & Plimpton LLP |
Exhibit 5.2
![]() |
1313 North Market Street P.O. Box 951 Wilmington, DE 19899-0951 302 984 6000 www.potteranderson.com |
Exhibit 5
March 10, 2023
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.
230 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
RE: | WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc. |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as Delaware counsel for (i) WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation formerly known as Magallanes, Inc. (the Issuer), (ii) Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., a Delaware corporation formerly known as Discovery, Inc. and as Discovery Communications, Inc. (WBD; the Issuer and WBD, each, a Corporation, and collectively, the Corporations), and (iii) Discovery Communications, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (DCL, and together with each Corporation, a Delaware Party, and collectively, the Delaware Parties), in connection with that certain Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-264453) (the Registration Statement) and the Prospectus Supplement, dated March 6, 2023 (the Prospectus Supplement), to the Prospectus, dated April 22, 2022, of the Issuer, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) relating to the issuance and sale by the Issuer of $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.412% Senior Notes due 2026 (the Notes), to be issued under that certain Indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023 (the Base Indenture), by and among the Issuer, WBD, as parent guarantor, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the Trustee), as supplemented by that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023, among the Issuer, WBD, as parent guarantor, DCL and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (Scripps), as subsidiary guarantors (Scripps, DCL, and WBD, together, the Guarantors), and the Trustee (the Supplemental Indenture, and together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture). The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured unsubordinated basis by the Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture. This opinion is being provided to you at your request. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination of documents has been limited to the examination of executed or conformed counterparts, or copies or forms otherwise proved to our satisfaction, of the following:
(a) certain organizational documents for each of the Delaware Parties as set forth on Schedule A hereto;
(b) the Base Indenture;
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.
March 10, 2023
Page 2
(c) the Supplemental Indenture;
(d) the Proposed Resolutions of the Board of Directors of WBD, adopted on February 28, 2023 (the WBD Resolutions);
(e) the Written Consent of the Management Committee of DCL, dated March 2, 2023 (the DCL Consent);
(f) the Written Consent of the Management Committee of DCL, dated March 2, 2023 (the DCL Ratifying Consent);
(g) the Unanimous Written Consent of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, dated March 2, 2023 (the Issuer Consent; the WBD Resolutions, the DCL Consent, DCL Ratifying Consent and the Issuer Consent, collectively, the Resolutions);
(h) one or more certificates of one or more officers and/or directors and/or managers and/or members of each of the Delaware Parties, dated as of the date hereof, regarding certain matters and documents (the Officers Certificates); and
(i) a certificate of good standing for each of the Delaware Parties obtained from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the Secretary of State) as of a recent date.
For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (i) above. In particular, we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (i) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by reference into any document reviewed by us. We have assumed that there exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that bears upon or is inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein, and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be true, complete, and accurate in all material respects.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed that (i) all signatures on documents examined by us are genuine, (ii) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, and (iii) all documents submitted to us as copies or drafts conform to the originals of those documents.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) the legal capacity of all natural persons who are signatories to the documents examined by us, (ii) except to the extent set forth in opinion paragraphs 1 and 2 below, the due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence and good standing of each party to the documents examined by us, (iii) except to the extent set forth in opinion paragraphs 3 and 4 below, that each party to the documents examined by us has all necessary power and authority to enter into and deliver such documents and to perform its respective obligations thereunder, (iv) except to the extent set forth in opinion paragraphs 5 and 6 below, the due authorization, execution, and delivery by all parties
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.
March 10, 2023
Page 3
thereto of all documents examined by us (including, without limitation, the execution of the Certificate of Formation and each Certificate of Merger by an authorized person (within the meaning of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. § 18-101 et seq. (the LLC Act))), (v) that each of the documents reviewed by us constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation of each of the parties thereto, and is enforceable against each of the parties thereto in accordance with its terms, (vi) that the documents examined by us set forth the entire understanding among the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof, are in full force and effect, and have not been amended, revoked, or modified (except as herein referenced), (vii) that any amendment or restatement of any document examined by us has been accomplished in accordance with, and was permitted by, the relevant provisions of such document prior to such amendment or restatement, (viii) that no steps have been taken to dissolve or terminate DCL and no event of dissolution has occurred with respect to DCL, (ix) that the Indenture and each Delaware Partys performance thereunder, including the execution and delivery thereof, are necessary and convenient to the conduct, promotion and attainment of the business of such Delaware Party, and that WBD directly or indirectly owns all of the outstanding stock or limited liability company interests, as applicable, of the Issuer and DCL; and (x) that prior to the filing of the Certificate of Conversion, (A) Discovery Communications, Inc. was duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing, and (B) the conversion of Discovery Communications, Inc. into DCL and the LLC Agreement were approved in the manner provided for by (X) the document, instrument, agreement or other writing, as the case may be, governing the internal affairs of Discovery Communications, Inc. and the conduct of its business, and (Y) applicable law (including the laws of the State of Delaware), each as in effect immediately prior to such filing.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding tax, insurance, antitrust, emergency, securities and blue sky laws of the State of Delaware and rules, regulations, orders and decisions related thereto), and we have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including, without limitation, federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations, and orders thereunder that are currently in effect. Our opinions are rendered only as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update such opinions with regard to changes in law or events occurring after the date hereof. We have not participated in the preparation of any offering material relating to the Delaware Parties, and we assume no responsibility for the contents of any such material.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations, and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that, under Delaware law:
1. Each of the Corporations is duly incorporated, validly existing, and in good standing as a corporation under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL).
2. DCL is duly formed, validly existing, and in good standing as a limited liability company under the LLC Act.
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.
March 10, 2023
Page 4
3. Under the DGCL, and the applicable Organizational Documents, each of the Corporations has the necessary corporate power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under the Indenture.
4. Under the LLC Act, and the applicable Organizational Documents, DCL has the necessary limited liability company power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under the Indenture.
5. Each of the Corporations (a) has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution and delivery of, and performance of its obligations under, the Indenture, and (b) has duly executed and delivered the Indenture.
6. DCL (a) has taken all necessary limited liability company action to authorize execution and delivery of, and performance of its obligations under, the Indenture, and (b) has duly executed and delivered the Indenture.
7. The execution and delivery by each Delaware Party of the Indenture, as applicable, and the performance of its obligations thereunder, do not (a) result in a breach or violation of the Organizational Documents of such Delaware Party, (b) violate the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to such Delaware Party, or (c) require any consents (other than the Resolutions) under the DGCL or the LLC Act, as applicable.
The opinions in this letter are subject to the following assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions, in addition to those above:
We express no opinion (a) as to the Uniform Commercial Code or as to whether any filings may be required thereunder in connection with any of the documents examined by us; (b) as to any persons or entitys ownership of, title to, or interests in any property, (c) with respect to principles of equity, including applicable law relating to fiduciary duties (regardless of whether considered and applied in a proceeding in equity or at law), or (d) as to any document that is referred to or incorporated by reference into any document reviewed by us. Our opinions in numbered paragraphs 5 and 6 above regarding execution and delivery are based solely on the Officers Certificates.
In connection with the foregoing, we hereby consent to your reliance upon this opinion as to matters of Delaware law. We also consent to the reliance upon this opinion as to matters of Delaware law of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (Debevoise) in connection with any opinions rendered by Debevoise on or about the date hereof in connection with the Prospectus Supplement and the Indenture and the transactions contemplated thereby. Without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other person or entity for any purpose. Furthermore, we consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC as an exhibit to WBDs Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 10, 2023 incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement,
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc.
March 10, 2023
Page 5
and to the use of our name in the Prospectus Supplement forming a part of the Registration Statement under the caption Legal Matters. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons or entities whose consent is required under Section 7 and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP |
TAM/AGF
Schedule A
1. | the Certificate of Incorporation of Issuer as filed with the Secretary of State on May 14, 2021; |
2. | the Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Issuer, as filed with the Secretary of State on May 28, 2021; |
3. | the Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of the Issuer, as filed with the Secretary of State on June 1, 2021; |
4. | the Amended and Restated Certificate of the Issuer, as filed with the Secretary of State on April 7, 2022; |
5. | the Certificate of Merger of Drake Subsidiary, Inc., (a Delaware corporation) with and into Magallanes, Inc., (a Delaware corporation), as filed with the Secretary of State on April 8, 2022 and effective at 5:02 p.m. Eastern Time on April 8, 2022 (including the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation attached as Exhibit A thereto, the Second A&R Issuer Certificate); |
6. | the Certificate of Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Issuer, as filed with the Secretary of State on April 14, 2022 (together with the Second A&R Issuer Certificate, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Issuer); |
7. | the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Issuer as adopted on April 8, 2022 (together with the Certificate of Incorporation of Issuer, the Organizational Documents of the Issuer); |
8. | the Certificate of Incorporation of WBD, as filed with the Secretary of State on April 28, 2008; |
9. | the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of WBD, as filed with the Secretary of State on September 17, 2008; |
10. | the State of Delaware Certificate of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office relating to WBD, as filed with the Secretary of State on June 3, 2014; |
11. | the Certificate of Designation of Series A-1 Convertible Participating Preferred Stock of WBD, as filed with the Secretary of State on August 7, 2017; |
12. | the Certificate of Designation of Series C-1 Convertible Participating Preferred Stock of WBD, as filed with the Secretary of State on August 7, 2017; |
13. | the Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of WBD, as filed with the Secretary of State on March 6, 2018; |
14. | the State of Delaware Certificate of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office relating to WBD, as filed with the Secretary of State on February 25, 2021; |
15. | the Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of WBD, as filed with the Secretary of State on April 8, 2022 effective as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 8, 2022 (including Exhibit A attached thereto, the Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of WBD); |
16. | the State of Delaware Certificate of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office relating to WBD, as filed with the Secretary of State on December 7, 2022 (together with the Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of WBD, the Certificate of Incorporation of WBD); |
17. | the Amended and Restated Bylaws of WBD, as amended and restated as of November 10, 2020; |
18. | the Amended and Restated Bylaws of WBD, as amended and restated as of April 8, 2022 (together with the Certificate of Incorporation of WBD, the Organizational Documents of WBD); |
19. | the Certificate of Incorporation of Discovery Communications, Inc., a Delaware Close Corporation, as filed with the Secretary of State on April 12, 1991; |
20. | the Certificate of Ownership and Merger Merging Cable Educational Network, Inc., a Maryland Corporation, with and into Discovery Communications, Inc., a Delaware Close Corporation, as filed with the Secretary of State on November 26, 1991; |
21. | the Certificate of Ownership and Merger Merging The Learning Channel, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, with and into Discovery Communications, Inc., a Delaware Close Corporation, as filed with the Secretary of State on December 15, 1993; |
22. | the Certificate of Ownership and Merger Merging Your Choice TV, Inc. into Discovery Communications, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State on December 19, 1997; |
23. | the Certificate of Change of Location of Registered Office and Registered Agent of Discovery Communications, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State on April 29, 1999; |
24. | the Certificate of Ownership and Merger Merging Discovery Health Media, Inc. into Discovery Communications, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State on April 20, 2000; |
25. | the Certificate of Ownership and Merger Merging Project Discovery, Inc. into Discovery Communications, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State on December 29, 2000; |
26. | the Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of Discovery Communications, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State on September 21, 2001; |
27. | the Certificate of Ownership and Merger Merging Discovery.com, Inc. into Discovery Communications, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State on December 31, 2001; |
28. | the Certificate of Change of Registered Agent and Registered Office relating to Discovery Communications, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State on July 26, 2002; |
29. | the Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Discovery Communications, Inc. (a Delaware Close Corporation), as filed with the Secretary of State on June 23, 2003; |
30. | the Certificate of Conversion to Limited Liability Company of Discovery Communications, Inc. to DCL, as filed with the Secretary of State on May 14, 2007 (the Certificate of Conversion); |
31. | the Certificate of Formation of DCL, as filed with the Secretary of State on May 14, 2007 (the Initial Certificate of Formation); |
32. | the State of Delaware Certificate of Amendment relating to DCL, as filed with the Secretary of State on February 4, 2008 (the First DCL Amendment); |
33. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery Europe, LLC with and into DCL, as filed with the Secretary of State on October 11, 2011 (the First DCL Merger); |
34. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery Kids North America, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on December 23, 2019 (the Second DCL Merger); |
35. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery New York, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on December 23, 2019 (the Third DCL Merger); |
36. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery 3D Holding, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on December 23, 2019 (the Fourth DCL Merger); |
37. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery World Television, Inc. (a Maryland corporation) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on September 14, 2020 (the Fifth DCL Merger); |
38. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery Publishing, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on September 14, 2020 (the Sixth DCL Merger); |
39. | the State of Delaware Certificate of Amendment Changing Only the Registered Office or Registered Agent of a Limited Liability Company relating to DCL, as filed with the Secretary of State on January 11, 2021 (the Second DCL Amendment; the Initial Certificate of Formation, the First DCL Amendment and the Second DCL Amendment, collectively, the Certificate of Formation); |
40. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery Communications Ventures, LLC (a Delaware limited liability company) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on September 28, 2021 and effective at 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 30, 2021 (the Seventh DCL Merger); |
41. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery Civilization North America, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on September 28, 2021 and effective at 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 30, 2021 (the Eighth DCL Merger); |
42. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery Patent Licensing, LLC (a Delaware limited liability company) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on September 28, 2021 and effective at 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 30, 2021 (the Ninth DCL Merger); |
43. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery Health North America, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on September 28, 2021 and effective at 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 30, 2021 (the Tenth DCL Merger); |
44. | the Certificate of Merger of Discovery SC Investment, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on September 28, 2021 and effective at 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 30, 2021 (the Eleventh DCL Merger); |
45. | the Certificate of Merger of Beacon Solutions, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) with and into DCL (a Delaware limited liability company), as filed with the Secretary of State on February 18, 2022 and effective as 12:01 a.m. EDT on February 28, 2022 (the Twelfth DCL Merger; the First DCL Merger, the Second DCL Merger, the Third DCL Merger, the Fourth DCL Merger, the Fifth DCL Merger, the Sixth DCL Merger, the Seventh DCL Merger, the Eighth DCL Merger, the Ninth DCL Merger, the Tenth DCL Merger, the Eleventh DCL Merger, and the Twelfth DCL Merger, each, a Certificate of Merger); and |
46. | the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of DCL, dated as of March 9, 2021 (including Exhibit A thereto, the LLC Agreement), by Discovery Communications Holding, LLC, as the sole member (the Certificate of Formation, each Certificate of Merger, and the LLC Agreement, collectively, the Organizational Documents of DCL). |
Exhibit 5.3
![]() |
![]() |
March 10, 2023
WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc. 230 Park Avenue South New York, New York 10003
Re: Notes Offering of WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc. |
![]() |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Ohio counsel to Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the Opinion Party), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-264453) (the Registration Statement) and the Prospectus Supplement, dated March 6, 2023 (the Prospectus Supplement), to the Prospectus, dated April 22, 2022, of WarnerMedia Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (WMH), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission), relating to the issuance and sale by WMH of $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.412% Senior Notes due 2026 (the Notes), issued under a base indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023, by and among WMH, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., as parent guarantor (the Parent Guarantor), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the Trustee) (the Base Indenture), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, dated as of March 10, 2023, by and among WMH, the Parent Guarantor, Discovery Communications, LLC (DCL) and the Opinion Party, as subsidiary guarantors (DCL, and together with Opinion Party and the Parent Guarantor, the Guarantors), and the Trustee (the Supplemental Indenture, together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture). The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured unsubordinated basis (the Guarantee) by the Guarantors, pursuant to the Indenture.
In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents, corporate records and other instruments: (i) the Articles of Incorporation of the Opinion Party, dated as of October 22, 2007, filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio (the Filing Office) on October 23, 2007, as amended by the Certificate of Amendment, dated as of December 26, 2007, filed in the Filing Office on December 28, 2007, as amended by the Certificate of Amendment, dated as of June 24, 2008, filed in the Filing Office on June 25, 2008, as amended by the Certificate of Merger, effective as of December 31, 2016, filed in the Filing Office on November 15, 2016, as amended by the Certificate of Merger, effective as of March 6, 2018, filed in the Filing Office on March 6, 2018, as amended by the Certificate of Merger, effective as March 31, 2019, filed in the Filing Office on March 28, 2019, as amended by the Certificate of Merger, effective as of December 21, 2020, filed in the Filing Office on December 21, 2020, as amended by the Statutory Agent Update, effective as of January 13, 2021, filed in the Filing Office on January 13, 2021, as amended by the Certificate of Merger, effective as of December 31, 2021, filed in the Filing Office on December 22, 2021 (the Articles of Incorporation); (ii) the Amended Code of Regulations of the Opinion Party, dated as of March 6, 2018 (the Code of Regulations); (iii) the unanimous written consent of the board of directors of the Opinion Party dated March 2, 2023; (iv) the
March 10, 2023 Page 2 |
![]() |
written consent of the sole shareholder of the Opinion Party dated March 2, 2023; and (v) the Certificate of Good Standing of the Opinion Party issued by the Filing Office on March 1, 2023 (the Certificate of Good Standing). As to any facts relevant to our opinions, we have relied upon a certificate from an officer of the Opinion Party.
Subject to the assumptions and other matters set forth below, it is our opinion that as of the date hereof:
1. | The Opinion Party is a corporation validly in existence and in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio with the corporate power to guarantee the obligations of others, and to execute and deliver the Supplemental Indenture and to perform its obligations thereunder. In rendering our opinion that the Opinion Party is a corporation in existence and in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio, we have relied solely upon the Certificate of Good Standing. |
2. | The execution and delivery of the Supplemental Indenture by the Opinion Party and the performance by the Opinion Party of its respective obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Opinion Party. |
3. | The Supplemental Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Opinion Party. |
In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the incumbency of all persons designated as officers, directors or similar representatives of legal persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, facsimile, electronic or photostatic copies. In addition, we have relied as to factual matters upon the representations, warranties, and certifications contained in the Indenture, and we have assumed that all such representations, warranties and certifications are accurate and complete.
The opinions set forth herein are limited to matters governed by the laws of the State of Ohio, excluding the following legal issues or the application of any such laws or regulations to the matters on which our opinions are referenced: (i) state securities laws; (ii) the local laws of the State of Ohio (i.e. the statutes, ordinances, the administrative decisions and the rules and regulations of counties and municipalities of the State of Ohio); (iii) state antitrust and unfair competition laws and regulations; (iv) state tax laws and regulations; (v) state regulatory laws and regulations applicable to any entity solely as a result of its nonprofit or public benefit status or solely because of the business in which it is engaged (including, without limitation, any business in a regulated industry); (vi) state environmental laws and regulations; (vii) state laws relating to health and safety; building construction; fair housing; and historic preservation; (viii) laws, rules, and regulations relating to racketeering, foreign assets control, sanctions, national security, money laundering, and terrorist groups; (ix) insurance, labor, employment, employee benefit, ERISA or tax laws, rules, regulations, or ordinances; and (x) patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other intellectual property or privacy law. No opinion is expressed herein as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. We express no opinion concerning any matter respecting or affected by any laws other than laws that a lawyer in Ohio exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably recognize as being directly applicable to the Opinion Party, the issuance of the Notes or Guarantees or both. Without limitation, we express no opinion regarding the enforceability of the Supplemental Indenture. Our opinions are subject to limitations imposed by the valid exercise of the police power and any emergency powers of the United States or the State of Ohio, or by the valid exercise of any federal or the State of Ohio criminal or civil forfeiture laws. Our opinions expressed herein are as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any other matters that may come to our attention after the date hereof that may affect our opinions expressed herein.
March 10, 2023 Page 3 |
![]() |
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Prospectus Supplement and in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). This opinion may not be relied upon for any other purpose, except that Debevoise & Plimpton LLP may rely upon it in connection with the filing of its own opinion as to the Notes and Guarantees as an exhibit to the Parent Guarantors Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 10, 2023 incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Parent Guarantors Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 10, 2023 incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the caption Legal Matters in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
Very truly yours, |
![]() |
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP |
SBDB
FRA
JSG