false 0001094831 0001094831 2023-05-25 2023-05-25

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 25, 2023

 

 

BGC Partners, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   0-28191   13-4063515

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

499 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 610-2200

 

 

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

Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value   BGCP   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§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.

The information required by this Item 1.01 is set forth under Item 8.01 below and is hereby incorporated by reference in response to this Item.

 

Item 2.03.

Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information required by this Item 2.03 is set forth under Item 8.01 below and is hereby incorporated by reference in response to this Item.

 

Item 8.01.

Other Events.

On May 25, 2023, BGC Partners, Inc. (the “Registrant,” “BGC Partners,” “BGC” or the “Company”) closed an offering of $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.000% senior notes due 2028 (the “8.000% Notes”). The initial purchasers in the offering were Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., PNC Capital Markets LLC, Regions Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Capital One Securities, Inc., Fifth Third Securities, Inc., ICBC Standard Bank Plc, BMO Capital Markets Corp., Santander Investment Securities Inc., UMB Financial Services, Inc., Citizens Capital Markets, Inc., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., CastleOak Securities, L.P., and Piper Sandler & Co. The Company received net proceeds from the offering of the 8.000% Notes of approximately $346.8 million after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

The 8.000% Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2019 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 25, 2023 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The 8.000% Notes bear interest at a rate of 8.000% per year, payable in cash on May 25 and November 25 of each year, commencing November 25, 2023. The 8.000% Notes will mature on May 25, 2028. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the 8.000% Notes, along with cash on hand and the proceeds of other indebtedness, if any, to repurchase, redeem and/or repay at maturity all $450.0 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 5.375% Senior Notes due 2023, including to pay any applicable redemption premium.

The Company may redeem some or all of the 8.000% Notes at any time or from time to time for cash (i) prior to April 25, 2028 at certain “make-whole” redemption prices (as set forth in the Indenture) and (ii) on or after April 25, 2028, at 100% of the principal amount of such notes. If a “Change of Control Triggering Event” (as defined in the Indenture) occurs, holders may require the Company to purchase all or a portion of their 8.000% Notes for cash at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes to be purchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the purchase date.

The 8.000% Notes are general senior unsecured obligations of the Company.

The Indenture contains customary covenants, such as reporting of annual and quarterly financial results, and restrictions on certain mergers and consolidations. The 8.000% Notes and the Indenture do not contain any financial covenants.

The 8.000% Notes and the Indenture contain customary events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest, breach of covenants, cross-acceleration to other debt in excess of $100 million and bankruptcy events, all subject to terms, including notice and cure periods, set forth in the Indenture.

The 8.000% Notes were offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) and to non-U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) pursuant to Regulation S. The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any other securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.


The Company has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2023 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company is obligated to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to an offer to exchange the 8.000% Notes for a new issue of notes registered under the Securities Act and to complete such exchange offer prior to 365 days after May 25, 2023. In certain circumstances, the Company may be required to file a shelf registration statement covering resales of the 8.000% Notes.

The foregoing descriptions of the Indenture, the 8.000% Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Base Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the form of the 8.000% Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement, which are filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 10.1, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

A copy of the Company’s press release announcing the closing of the offering is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements About BGC Partners

Statements in this report and in the attached press release regarding BGC that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include statements about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, results, financial position, liquidity and outlook, which may constitute forward-looking statements and are subject to the risk that the actual impact may differ, possibly materially, from what is currently expected. Except as required by law, BGC undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see BGC’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information set forth in these filings and any updates to such risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information contained in subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The exhibit index set forth below is incorporated by reference in response to this Item 9.01.


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  4.1    Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2019, between BGC Partners, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 30, 2019) 
  4.2    Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 25, 2023, between BGC Partners, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee 
  4.3    Form of BGC Partners, Inc. 8.000% Senior Notes due 2028 (included in Exhibit 4.2) 
10.1    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2023, between BGC Partners, Inc. and the parties named therein 
99.1    BGC Partners, Inc. press release dated May 25, 2023 
104    The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K formatted in Inline XBRL


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    BGC Partners, Inc.
Date: May 25, 2023     By:  

/S/ HOWARD W. LUTNICK

    Name:   Howard W. Lutnick
    Title:   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Form 8-K, dated May 25, 2023, regarding entry into Third Supplemental Indenture, and press release announcing the closing of the Company’s senior notes offering.]

Exhibit 4.2

Execution Version

THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of May 25, 2023

Supplementing that Certain

INDENTURE

Dated as of September 27, 2019

Among

BGC PARTNERS, INC., as Issuer

And

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Successor to

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

8.000% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2028


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

 

ARTICLE I.  
DEFINITIONS  

SECTION 1.1.

  Certain Terms Defined in the Indenture      2  

SECTION 1.2.

  Definitions      2  
ARTICLE II.  
FORM AND TERMS OF THE NOTES  

SECTION 2.1.

  Form and Dating      6  

SECTION 2.2.

  Certain Terms of the Notes      10  

SECTION 2.3.

  Optional Redemption      11  

SECTION 2.4.

  Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event      13  

SECTION 2.5.

  Limitation on Liens on Capital Stock of Designated Subsidiaries      14  

SECTION 2.6.

  Use of Net Proceeds      15  

SECTION 2.7.

  Interest Rate Adjustments Based on Ratings Events      15  

SECTION 2.8.

  Reports to Holders      16  

SECTION 2.9.

  Events of Default      17  
ARTICLE III.  
MISCELLANEOUS  

SECTION 3.1.

  Relationship with Indenture      17  

SECTION 3.2.

  References to Interest      18  

SECTION 3.3.

  Trust Indenture Act Controls      18  

SECTION 3.4.

  Governing Law      18  

SECTION 3.5.

  Multiple Counterparts      18  

SECTION 3.6.

  Severability      19  

SECTION 3.7.

  Amendment to Section 901(6)      19  

SECTION 3.8.

  Ratification      19  

SECTION 3.9.

  Headings      19  

SECTION 3.10.

  Effectiveness      19  

EXHIBIT A - Form of the 8.000% Senior Notes due 2028

  

 

i


THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

This Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 25, 2023 (this “Third Supplemental Indenture”), by and between BGC PARTNERS, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), having its principal executive office located at 499 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022; and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as successor to WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a duly organized and existing national banking association under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the “Trustee”), supplements that certain Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2019, by and between the Company and the Trustee (the “Indenture”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of the Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series as provided for in the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that the Securities of a series shall be in the form and shall have such terms and provisions as may be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate or as may be established in one or more supplemental indentures thereto;

WHEREAS, the Company has determined to issue a series of senior Securities under the Indenture designated as the Company’s “8.000% Senior Notes due 2028” (hereinafter called the “Notes”) pursuant to the terms of this Third Supplemental Indenture and substantially in the form as herein set forth, with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Indenture and this Third Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company has also determined to amend Section 901(6) of the Indenture to conform the terms of the Indenture to the description thereof contained in the prospectus or other offering document or memorandum with respect to Securities issued under the Indenture as provided for in Section 901(12) Indenture; and

WHEREAS, the Company, by action duly taken, has authorized the execution of this Supplemental Indenture and the issuance of the Notes;

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises stated herein and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the parties hereto hereby enter into this Third Supplemental Indenture, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:


ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1. Certain Terms Defined in the Indenture.

For purposes of this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, all capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture, as amended and supplemented hereby (and in the case of the term “Indebtedness,” with respect to the Notes, the definition set forth below shall supersede and replace the definition set forth in the Indenture).

SECTION 1.2. Definitions.

For the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, Section 101 of the Indenture shall be amended by adding or substituting, as applicable, the following new definitions:

Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the Notes cease to be rated at or above an Investment Grade Rating by both Rating Agencies on any date during the period (the “Trigger Period”) commencing 60 days prior to the first public announcement by the Company of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control) and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which Trigger Period will be extended following consummation of a Change of Control for so long as either of the Rating Agencies has publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings change). If a Rating Agency is not providing a rating for the Notes at the commencement of any Trigger Period, the Notes will be deemed to have ceased to be rated an Investment Grade Rating by such Rating Agency during that Trigger Period.

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act other than the Company, its subsidiaries and their respective employee benefit plans and any Permitted Holder, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Company’s capital stock representing, in the aggregate, more than 50% of the voting power of all classes of such capital stock; or

(2) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the stockholders of the Company approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

2


(3) any conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to another Person, other than:

(A) any transaction:

(i) that does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of the outstanding equity interests of the Company; or

(ii) pursuant to which holders of the outstanding equity interests of the Company, immediately prior to the transaction, have the entitlement to exercise, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total voting power of all equity interests entitled to vote generally in elections of directors or managers of the continuing or surviving or successor entity immediately after giving effect to such issuance; or

(B) any transfer of assets or similar transaction solely for the purpose of changing the Company’s jurisdiction of organization and resulting in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of the outstanding equity interests of the Company, if at all, solely into outstanding equity interests of the surviving entity or a direct or indirect parent of the surviving entity; or

(C) any conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition with or into any of the subsidiaries of the Company, so long as such conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition is not part of a plan or a series of transactions designed to or having the effect of merging or consolidating with, or conveying, transferring, selling, leasing or disposing all or substantially all its properties and assets to, any other Person.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control will be deemed to have occurred in the event any successor issuer of the Notes shall be a corporation so long as one or more Permitted Holders shall maintain the beneficial ownership of shares of the capital stock of such successor possessing the voting power under normal circumstances to elect, or one or more Permitted Holders shall have the contractual right to elect, a majority of the directors of such successor corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to result in a Change of Control if (a) Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company and (b) the holders of the voting capital stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.’s voting partnership interests immediately prior to that transaction.

Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

Corporate Trust Office” means the corporate trust office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business with respect to this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date of execution of this Indenture is located at Computershare Trust Company, N.A., 1505 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, Attn: Corporate Trust Services – BGC Partners, Inc. Administrator, and for Agent services such office shall also mean the office or agency of the Trustee located as of the date hereof at Computershare Trust Company, N.A., 1505 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108, Attention: Corporate Trust Services – Bondholder Communications.

 

3


Designated Subsidiary” means each of (i) BGC Holdings, L.P., (ii) BGC Global Holdings, L.P., (iii) BGC Partners, L.P. and (iv) any other direct or indirect subsidiary now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company for which (a) the Net Assets of such subsidiary constitute, as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter, 5% or more of the Total Stockholders’ Equity of the Company or (b) the net revenues of such subsidiary constitute, as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter, 10% or more of the consolidated net revenues of the Company during the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters; provided, however, that none of the following shall be a Designated Subsidiary:

(1) any Person in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not own sufficient equity or voting interests to elect a majority of the directors (or persons performing similar functions);

(2) any Person whose financial results would not be consolidated with those of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP;

(3) any Person which is a subsidiary of a Company subsidiary the common equity of which is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act; or

(4) any subsidiary of any Person described in clauses (1), (2) or (3) above.

Downgrade Event” shall have the meaning ascribed to in Section 2.7(b) below.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings.

GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Notes in the form of global Securities (including any Rule 144A Security or Regulation S Security) registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

Indebtedness” means, without duplication and solely for the purposes of Section 2.5 herein, with respect to any Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) the principal of and any premium and interest on (a) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed or (b) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable;

(2) all capitalized lease obligations of such Person;

(3) all obligations of such Person incurred or assumed as the deferred purchased price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business);

 

4


(4) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any banker’s acceptance, bank guarantees, surety bonds or similar credit transaction; and

(5) any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described as “Indebtedness” in clauses (1) through (4) above;

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, the term “Indebtedness” includes all of the following items, whether or not any such items would appear as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP:

(i) all Indebtedness of others secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person);

(ii) to the extent not otherwise included, any guarantee by such Person of Indebtedness of any other Person; and

(iii) preferred stock or other equity interests providing for mandatory redemption or sinking fund or similar payments issued by any subsidiary of such Person.

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.

Net Assets” means, with respect to any Person, the excess (if positive) of (a) such Person’s consolidated assets over (b) such Person’s consolidated liabilities, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

Permitted Holder” means Howard W. Lutnick, any Person controlled by him or any trust established for Mr. Lutnick’s benefit or for the benefit of his spouse, any of his descendants or any of his relatives, in each case, so long as he is alive and, upon his death or incapacity, any person who shall, as a result of Mr. Lutnick’s death or incapacity, become a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the Company’s capital stock by operation of a trust, by will or the laws of descent and distribution or by operation of law.

Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch and S&P; and (2) if either of Fitch or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a Board Resolution) as a replacement agency for Fitch or S&P, or both of them, as the case may be.

Regulation S Security” means any Security sold pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

5


Rule 144A Security” means any Security sold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.

Total Stockholders’ Equity” means, at any date of determination, without duplication, all items which, in conformity with GAAP, would be included under total stockholders’ equity on a consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company. For purposes of determining Total Stockholders’ Equity, the Company may include the amount of any capital to be returned pursuant to the terms of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of BGC Holdings, L.P., as amended from time to time, to any limited or general partner who has been terminated or withdrawn until such time as the amount of such partner’s capital has been paid to such limited or general partner pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Partnership Agreement plus, without duplication, redeemable partnership interest representing former partner’s equity in the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, Total Stockholders’ Equity is inclusive of noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries on the Company’s consolidated statement of financial condition.

ARTICLE II.

FORM AND TERMS OF THE NOTES

SECTION 2.1. Form and Dating.

The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by an officer of the Company as specified in Section 303 of the Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes and any beneficial interest in the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The terms and notations contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of the Indenture as supplemented by this Third Supplemental Indenture; and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby; provided that, to the extent of any inconsistency between the terms and provisions in the Indenture, as supplemented by this Third Supplemental Indenture, and those contained in the Notes, the Indenture, as supplemented by this Third Supplemental Indenture, shall govern.

(a) Global Notes. The Notes designated herein shall be issued initially in the form of one or more fully-registered permanent global Securities, which shall be held by the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (the “Depositary”), and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the Depositary’s nominee, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

 

6


Unless and until the Global Notes are exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Notes represented thereby pursuant to Section 305 of the Indenture, such Global Notes may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to its nominee or by its nominee to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any of its nominees to a successor depositary or any nominee of such successor depositary. Upon the occurrence of the events specified in Section 305 of the Indenture in relation thereto, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order for authentication, authenticate and deliver, Notes in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Notes in exchange for such Global Note.

(b) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to the Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver the Global Notes that shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary and shall be held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary.

Participants of the Depositary shall have no rights either under the Indenture or with respect to any Global Notes. The Depositary shall be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes under the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its participants, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in the Global Notes.

(c) Definitive Notes. Definitive Notes issued in physical, certificated form, registered in the name of the beneficial owner thereof, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, but without including the text referred to therein as applying only to Global Notes. Except as provided above in subsection (a), owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Notes.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of the Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the Indenture and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Global Notes.

(e) Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company appoints the Trustee as the initial Paying Agent of the Company for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Notes, and the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee be, and hereby is, designated as the office or agency where the Notes may be presented for payment and where notices to or demands upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Third Supplemental Indenture and the Indenture pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued may be made. The Company appoints the Trustee as the initial Security Registrar with respect to the Notes.

 

7


(f) (i) Rule 144A Securities. Except as permitted by the following paragraph, any Security that is a Rule 144A Security (including any Rule 144A Securities represented in whole or in part by a global Securities) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

(1) REPRESENTS THAT IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BGC PARTNERS, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT:

(A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF, OR

(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(C) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S) ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S;

(D) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

8


PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

Upon any sale or other transfer of a Rule 144A Security (including any Rule 144A Securities represented in whole or in part by a Global Note) after the one-year period referred to in the legend above or satisfying the conditions set forth in clause (B), (i) in the case of any definitive Rule 144A Security, the Security Registrar for such Security shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such restricted Security for a definitive Security that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Security and (ii) any such restricted Securities in whole or in part represented by a global Security shall not be subject to any restriction on transfer set forth above.

(ii) Regulation S Securities. Except as permitted by the following paragraph, any Security that is a Regulation S Security (including any Regulation S Securities represented in whole or in part by a global Securities) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

(1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS A NON-U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S) ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S, AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BGC PARTNERS, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF FORTY DAYS FROM THE LATER OF (1) THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY WAS FIRST OFFERED AND (2) THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY, EXCEPT:

(A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF, OR

 

9


(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(C) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S) ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S, OR

(D) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

Upon any sale or other transfer of a Regulation S Security (including any Regulation S Securities represented in whole or in part by a Global Note) after the period referred to in the legend above or satisfying the conditions set forth in clause (B), (i) in the case of any definitive Regulation S Security, the Security Registrar for such Security shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such restricted Security for a definitive Security that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Security and (ii) any such restricted Securities in whole or in part represented by a global Security shall not be subject to any restriction on transfer set forth above.

SECTION 2.2. Certain Terms of the Notes.

The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:

(a) Title. The Notes shall constitute a series of senior Securities having the title “8.000% Senior Notes due 2028.”

(b) Principal Amount. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be initially authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 905 or 1107 of the Indenture) shall be THREE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($350,000,000). The Company may, from time to time, without notice to,

 

10


or the consent of, the Holders of the Notes, issue and sell additional Securities (“Additional Securities”) ranking equally and ratably with the Notes in all respects (other than the issue date, and to the extent applicable, issue price, initial date of interest accrual and initial Interest Payment Date of such Additional Securities), provided that such Additional Securities are fungible with the previously issued Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any such Additional Securities shall be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting.

(c) Maturity Date. The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on May 25, 2028 (the “Maturity Date”).

(d) Interest Rate. Subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 2.7 below, the rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 8.000% per annum, computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months; the date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be May 25, 2023, or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be the twenty-fifth day of May and November of each year, commencing on November 25, 2023; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will be paid, in immediately available funds, to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the tenth day of May and November (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the respective Holders on such Regular Record Date, and such defaulted interest may be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or such other office or agency of the Company as may be designated for such purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that each installment of interest, premium, if any, and principal on the Notes may at the Company’s option be paid in immediately available funds by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee located in the United States.

(e) Currency. The currency of denomination of the Notes is United States dollars. Payment of principal of and interest on the Notes will be made in United States dollars.

SECTION 2.3. Optional Redemption.

(a) Applicability of Article Eleven. The provisions of Article Eleven of the Indenture shall apply to the Notes, as supplemented by Sections 2.3(b) and (c) below.

 

11


(b) Redemption Price. At any time prior to April 25, 2028 (the “Par Call Date”), the Company will be entitled at its option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed or (ii) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of the Notes to be redeemed 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 50 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

On and after the Par Call Date, the Company will be entitled at its option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

For purposes of the foregoing:

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

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 securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (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.

 

12


If on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM is no longer published, or, if published, no longer contains the yields for nominal Treasury constant maturities, 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 as follows:

(1) the Company shall select (a) the United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date, subject to clause (3) below, or (b) if there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date, then the United States Treasury security with the maturity date that is closest to the Par Call Date, subject to clauses (2) and (3) below, as applicable; or

(2) if there is no United States Treasury security described in clause (1), but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with maturity dates equally distant from the Par Call Date, one or more with maturity dates preceding the Par Call Date and one or more with maturity dates following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding and closest to the Par Call Date, subject to clause (3) below; or

(3) if there are two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding clauses (1) or (2), 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 of such United States Treasury security (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time.

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(c) Interest Payable. On and after any Redemption Date for the Notes, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion thereof called for redemption, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price.

(d) Conditions Precedent. Any redemption notice given in respect of a redemption made pursuant to this Section 2.3 may be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent set forth in the notice.

SECTION 2.4. Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described above, holders of the Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (in integral multiples of $2,000 original principal amount and $1,000 in excess thereof) of their Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will be required to

 

13


offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the then-outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to, but not including, the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company will be required to mail a notice to holders of the Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures described herein and in such notice. The Company must 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 securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions herein, the Company will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions herein by virtue of such conflicts.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and the third party repurchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company will not repurchase any Notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an event of default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will be required, to the extent lawful, to (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit with the Trustee, acting as paying agent, an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof Notes properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased.

SECTION 2.5. Limitation on Liens on Capital Stock of Designated Subsidiaries.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes that, for so long as any of the Notes are Outstanding, the Company will not, and the Company will not permit any Designated Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur, guarantee or otherwise permit to exist any Indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance (a “lien”) upon any shares of Capital Stock of any Designated Subsidiary directly or indirectly held by the Company (whether such Capital Stock are now owned or hereafter acquired) without effectively providing concurrently that the Notes (and, if the Company so elects, any other Indebtedness of the Company that is not subordinate to the Notes and with respect to which the governing instruments of such Indebtedness require the Company, or pursuant to which the Company is otherwise obligated, to provide such security) will be secured equally and ratably with, or prior to, such Indebtedness for at least the time period such other Indebtedness is so secured. This covenant shall not apply to liens on the Capital Stock of any Person existing at the time it becomes a Designated Subsidiary (and any extensions, renewals or replacements thereof).

 

14


SECTION 2.6. Use of Net Proceeds.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes that the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes (after deducting the initial purchasers’ discount and expenses payable by the Company in connection with the offering of the Notes) to lend to its subsidiaries pursuant to one or more promissory notes. So long as any of the Notes are Outstanding, (1) the aggregate principal amount of all such promissory notes shall not be less than the amount of the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes (or, if less, the aggregate principal amount of Notes then Outstanding), (2) such promissory notes shall bear interest at rates that shall not be less than that borne by the Notes and (3) such promissory notes shall have terms not later than the Maturity Date; provided that any transfer of such obligation from one subsidiary to another or any refinancing of any such obligation by another subsidiary shall be permitted from time to time.

(b) The Company covenants and agrees that so long as any of the Notes are Outstanding, any Indebtedness for borrowed money the Company incurs after the date hereof in one transaction, or in a series of related transactions, that is in excess of $50,000,000.00 will be subject to a similar covenant.

SECTION 2.7. Interest Rate Adjustments Based on Ratings Events.

(a) The interest rate payable on the Notes will be subject to adjustments from time to time if each of the Rating Agencies (as defined above) downgrades (or subsequently upgrades) the debt rating assigned to the Notes, in the manner described below.

(b) If the rating from each of the Rating Agencies of the Notes is downgraded to a rating set forth in the immediately following table (a “Downgrade Event”), the interest rate on the Notes will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on the Notes on the date of the initial issuance of Notes plus the percentage set forth opposite the applicable rating from the table below:

 

Debt Rating (each Rating Agency)

   Percentage  

BBB- or higher

     —    

BB+

     0.50

BB or lower

     1.00

For the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the interest payable on the Notes shall require a decrease in the rating of the Notes by each of the Rating Agencies to the relevant threshold ratings set forth above.

 

15


(c) If, subsequent to a Downgrade Event, either of the Rating Agencies upgrades its respective rating of the Notes to any of the threshold ratings set forth above, the interest rate on the Notes will be decreased such that the interest rate for the Notes equals the interest rate payable on the Notes on the date of the initial issuance of the Notes plus the percentage set forth opposite the applicable rating from the table above. For the avoidance of doubt, any decrease in the interest payable on the Notes shall require an upgrade in the rating of the Notes by only one of the Rating Agencies to relevant threshold ratings set forth above.

(d) For so long as (i) only one of the Rating Agencies provides a rating of the Notes or (ii) the Notes are not rated by either of the Rating Agencies, the interest rate on the Notes will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on the Notes on the date of the initial issuance of the Notes plus 1.00% per annum.

(e) Any interest rate increase or decrease described above will take effect from the first day of the interest period during which a rating change requires an adjustment in the interest rate. If either Rating Agency changes its rating of the Notes more than once during any particular interest period, the last change by such Rating Agency will control for purposes of any interest rate increase or decrease with respect to the Notes described above relating to such Rating Agency’s action.

(f) The Company will promptly communicate an increase or decrease in the interest rate applicable to the Notes pursuant to this Section 2.7 to the Trustee in the form of an Officer’s Certificate that will include the new interest rate and the effective date of such interest rate increase or decrease. The Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the Company’s rating status, making any request upon any Rating Agency, or determining whether any rating event has occurred.

(g) The term “interest,” as used in the Indenture with respect to the Notes, shall be deemed to include any such additional interest applicable pursuant to this Section 2.7, unless the context otherwise requires.

SECTION 2.8. Reports to Holders.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes that, for so long as any of the Notes are Outstanding, during any period in which the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will (i) make available to all Holders of Notes (including by posting on the Company’s website), without cost to such Holders, copies of annual reports and quarterly reports containing information that is substantially similar to the information that is required to be contained in such reports that the Company would have been required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act if it were subject thereto (other than exhibits or any information that would have been required by Items 402 and 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act) and (ii) promptly, upon request, supply copies of such reports to any prospective Holder of Notes. The Company will make available such information to the Holders of Notes within 15 days after the respective dates by which a periodic report on Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as the case may be, in respect of such information would have been required to be filed with the Commission if the Company were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as a non-accelerated filer, as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act.

 

16


SECTION 2.9. Events of Default.

Section 501(3) of the Indenture shall not be applicable to the Notes.

Section 501(4) of the Indenture shall be superseded and replaced with respect to the Notes by the following:

(4) Default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture or any of the Securities of such series (other than a covenant or warranty for which the consequences of breach or nonperformance are addressed elsewhere in this Section 501 or a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in this Indenture, whether or not by means of a supplemental indenture, solely for the benefit of Securities of a series other than such series), and continuance of such default or breach (without such default or breach having been waived in accordance of the provisions of this Indenture) for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

The following additional Event of Default shall be applicable to the Notes pursuant to Section 501(7):

A default by the Company in the payment in respect of any Indebtedness for borrowed money, including obligations evidenced by any mortgage, indenture, bond, debenture, note, guarantee or similar instrument, in an aggregate principal amount of at least $100 million beyond any applicable grace period, or default in the performance or compliance with any term respecting such debt, if as a consequence such debt becomes due and payable before its date of maturity, and such default shall not have been rescinded or annulled or such Indebtedness shall not have been discharged and such default continues for period of thirty consecutive days after written notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

ARTICLE III.

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 3.1. Relationship with Indenture.

The terms and provisions contained in the Indenture will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Third Supplemental Indenture. However, to the extent any provision of the Indenture conflicts with the express provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture will govern and be controlling.

 

17


SECTION 3.2. References to Interest.

Any reference to interest on, or in respect of, the Notes in the Indenture shall be deemed to include any interest payable to Holders of the Notes pursuant to the terms of that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 25, 2023, among the Company and the several initial purchasers party thereto.

SECTION 3.3. Trust Indenture Act Controls.

If any provision of this Third Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Third Supplemental Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the required provision shall control. If any provision of this Third Supplemental Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Third Supplemental Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

SECTION 3.4. Governing Law.

This Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles of such State other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401.

SECTION 3.5. Multiple Counterparts.

The parties may sign multiple counterparts of this Third Supplemental Indenture. Each signed counterpart shall be deemed an original, but all of them together represent one and the same Third Supplemental Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Third Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Third Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. This Third Supplemental Indenture shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) an original manual signature; (ii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or (iii) any other electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including any relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (collectively, “Signature Law”), in each case to the extent applicable. Each faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any other party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute one and the same instrument. For the avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the Uniform Commercial Code or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings.

 

18


SECTION 3.6. Severability.

Each provision of this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be considered separable and if for any reason any provision which is not essential to the effectuation of the basic purpose of this Third Supplemental Indenture or the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and a Holder shall have no claim therefor against any party hereto.

SECTION 3.7. Amendment to Section 901(6).

Section 901(6) of the Indenture is hereby amended to read as follows: to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, or to make any change necessary to comply with any requirement of the Commission in connection with the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, in each case which shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series then Outstanding, in any material respect.

SECTION 3.8. Ratification.

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

SECTION 3.9. Headings.

The Section headings in this Third Supplemental Indenture are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.

SECTION 3.10. Effectiveness.

The provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

19


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

 

BGC PARTNERS, INC.
an Issuer
By:  

/s/ JASON W. HAUF

  Name:   Jason W. Hauf
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Signature Page to Third Supplemental Indenture


COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:  

/s/ JOCELYN STRONG

Name:   Jocelyn Strong
Title:   Vice President

Signature Page to Third Supplemental Indenture


EXHIBIT A

Form of 8.000% Senior Note due 2028

[Include the following legend on each Note

If a Rule 144A Security:

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

(1) REPRESENTS THAT IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BGC PARTNERS, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT:

(A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF, OR

(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(C) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S) ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S, OR

(D) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

A-1


PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

If a Regulation S Security:

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER:

(1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS A NON-U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S) ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S, AND

(2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF BGC PARTNERS, INC. (THE “COMPANY”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF FORTY DAYS FROM THE LATER OF (1) THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY WAS FIRST OFFERED AND (2) THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY, EXCEPT:

(A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF, OR

(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(C) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S) ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION PURSUANT TO REGULATION S, OR

(D) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR

(E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE

PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

A-2


If a Global Security:

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

 

A-3


BGC PARTNERS, INC.

8.000% Senior Note due 2028

[144A][REGULATION S]                                                                                                                                            PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $[•]

No. [•]

CUSIP: [•]

BGC PARTNERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [•] ($[•]) on May 25, 2028 (the “Maturity Date”) (except to the extent redeemed or repaid prior to the Maturity Date) and to pay interest thereon from May 25, 2023 (the “Original Issue Date”) or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for at the rate of 8.000% per annum, on the twenty-fifth day of May and November (of each year each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on November 25, 2023, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.

Payment of Interest. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date, will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid, in immediately available funds, to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the tenth day of May and November (whether or not a Business Day, as defined in the Indenture referred to herein), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date (the “Regular Record Date”). Any such interest not punctually paid or duly provided for (“Defaulted Interest”) will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date (the “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

Place of Payment. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on this Note will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or such other office or agency of the Company as may be designated for such purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that each installment of interest, premium, if any, and principal on this Note may at the Company’s option be paid in immediately available funds by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee located in the United States.

 

A-4


Time of Payment. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, the Maturity Date or any date fixed for redemption of the Notes shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture or this Note), payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, 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 such Interest Payment Date, the Maturity Date or the date so fixed for redemption or repayment, as the case may be, and no interest shall accrue in respect of the delay.

General. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities of the Company, issued and to be issued in one or more series under an indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of September 27, 2019, among the Company, Computershare Trust Company, National Association, as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture with respect to the series of which this Note is a part), as supplemented by a Third Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of May 25, 2023 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company and Trustee. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered; provided that to the extent of any inconsistency between the terms and provisions in the Indenture and those contained in this Note, the Indenture shall govern. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities designated as “8.000% Senior Notes due 2028” (collectively, the “Notes”), initially limited in aggregate principal amount to THREE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($350,000,000).

Further Issuance. The Company may, from time to time, without notice to, or the consent of, the Holders of the Notes, issue and sell additional Securities (“Additional Securities”) ranking equally and ratably with the Notes in all respects (other than the issue date, and to the extent applicable, issue price, initial date of interest accrual and initial Interest Payment Date of such Additional Securities), provided that such Additional Securities are fungible with the previously issued Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any such Additional Securities shall be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting.

Events of Default. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

Sinking Fund. The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund.

(a) Optional Redemption. At any time prior to April 25, 2028 (the “Par Call Date”), the Company will be entitled at its option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed or (ii) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of the Notes to be redeemed 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 50 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

 

A-5


On and after the Par Call Date, the Company will be entitled at its option to redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

Any redemption notice given in respect of a redemption may be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent set forth in the notice of redemption.

For purposes of the foregoing:

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

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 securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (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.

 

A-6


If on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM is no longer published, or, if published, no longer contains the yields for nominal Treasury constant maturities, 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 as follows:

(1) the Company shall select (a) the United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date, subject to clause (3) below, or (b) if there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date, then the United States Treasury security with the maturity date that is closest to the Par Call Date, subject to clauses (2) and (3) below, as applicable; or

(2) if there is no United States Treasury security described in clause (1), but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with maturity dates equally distant from the Par Call Date, one or more with maturity dates preceding the Par Call Date and one or more with maturity dates following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding and closest to the Par Call Date, subject to clause (3) below; or

(3) if there are two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding clauses (1) or (2), 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 of such United States Treasury security (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time.

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

Interest Rate Adjustments Based on Ratings Events.

(a) The interest rate payable on the Notes will be subject to adjustments from time to time if each of the Rating Agencies downgrades (or subsequently upgrades) the debt rating assigned to the Notes, in the manner described below.

(b) If the rating from each of the Rating Agencies of the Notes is downgraded to a rating set forth in the immediately following table (a “Downgrade Event”), the interest rate on the Notes will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on the Notes on the date of the initial issuance of Notes plus the percentage set forth opposite the applicable rating from the table below:

 

Debt Rating (each Rating Agency)

   Percentage  

BBB- or higher

     —    

BB+

     0.50

BB or lower

     1.00

For the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the interest payable on the Notes shall require a decrease in the rating of the Notes by each of the Rating Agencies to the relevant threshold ratings set forth above.

 

A-7


(c) If, subsequent to a Downgrade Event, either of the Rating Agencies upgrades its respective rating of the Notes to any of the threshold ratings set forth above, the interest rate on the Notes will be decreased such that the interest rate for the Notes equals the interest rate payable on the Notes on the date of the initial issuance of the Notes plus the percentage set forth opposite the applicable rating from the table above. For the avoidance of doubt, any decrease in the interest payable on the Notes shall require an upgrade in the rating of the Notes by only one of the Rating Agencies to relevant threshold ratings set forth above.

(d) For so long as (i) only one of the Rating Agencies provides a rating of the Notes or (ii) the Notes are not rated by either of the Rating Agencies, the interest rate on the Notes will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on the Notes on the date of the initial issuance of the Notes plus 1.00% per annum.

(e) Any interest rate increase or decrease described above will take effect from the first day of the interest period during which a rating change requires an adjustment in the interest rate. If either Rating Agency changes its rating of the Notes more than once during any particular interest period, the last change by such Rating Agency will control for purposes of any interest rate increase or decrease with respect to the Notes described above relating to such Rating Agency’s action.

(f) The Company will promptly communicate an increase or decrease in the interest rate applicable to the Notes pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Third Supplemental Indenture to the Trustee in the form of an Officer’s Certificate that will include the new interest rate and the effective date of such interest rate increase or decrease. The Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the Company’s rating status, making any request upon any Rating Agency, or determining whether any rating event has occurred.

(g) The term “interest,” as used in the Indenture with respect to the Notes, shall be deemed to include any such additional interest applicable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Third Supplemental Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires.

Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event. If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described above under “Optional Redemption,” holders of the Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (in integral multiples of $2,000 original principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of their Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the then-outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to, but not including, the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company will be required to mail a notice to holders of the Notes describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures described herein and in such notice. The Company must comply with the

 

A-8


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 securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions herein, the Company will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions herein by virtue of such conflicts.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and the third party repurchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company will not repurchase any Notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an event of default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will be required, to the extent lawful, to (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit with the Trustee, acting as paying agent, an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Company on this Note and (b) certain restrictive covenants and the related Events of Default, in each case which provisions shall apply to this Note.

Modification and Waivers; Obligations of the Company Absolute. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities. Such amendment may be effected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all outstanding Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture. Furthermore, provisions in the Indenture permit the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of individual series to waive on behalf of all of the Holders of Securities of such individual series certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver shall be conclusive and binding upon the Holder of this Note and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

 

A-9


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

Limitation on Suits. As set forth in, and subject to, the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any Note will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceedings as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days; provided, however, that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, this Note on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

Authorized Denominations. The Notes are issuable only in registered form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

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

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of different authorized denominations, as requested by the Holders surrendering the same.

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

Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Holder as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Defined Terms. All terms used in this Note, which are defined in the Indenture and are not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

A-10


References to Interest. Any reference to interest on, or in respect of, the Notes in the Indenture shall be deemed to include any interest payable to Holders of the Notes pursuant to the terms of that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 25, 2023, among the Company and the several initial purchasers party thereto.

Governing Law. The Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles of such State other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401.

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

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

A-11


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

Dated: May 25, 2023

 

BGC PARTNERS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jason W. Hauf

  Name:   Jason W. Hauf
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

A-12


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:

 

             

Dated: May 25, 2023

 

A-13


ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 

 

 

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

     
 
       

 

 

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address,

including postal zip code, of assignee)

the within Note and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints

 

 

 

 

 

 

to transfer said Note on the books of the Trustee, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:                                                     

         

   NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
                                                                                      

Signature Guarantee

 

A-14

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated May 25, 2023 (the “Agreement”), is entered into by and among BGC Partners, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., PNC Capital Markets LLC, Regions Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the initial purchasers listed in Exhibit A to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (the “Initial Purchasers”).

The Company and the Representatives are parties to the Purchase Agreement, dated May 22, 2023 (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 8.000% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Securities”). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.

In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Business Day” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors and any successor issuer of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.

Depositary” shall mean the Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

Exchange Dates” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.


Exchange Securities” shall mean senior notes issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders in exchange for Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

Free Writing Prospectus” means each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.

Holders” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that, for purposes of Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.

Indemnified Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

Indemnifying Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.

Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of September 27, 2019 between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, including the Third Supplemental Indenture relating to the Securities, dated May 25, 2023.

Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.

Inspector” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiv) hereof.

Issuer Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its affiliates shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount; and provided, further, that if the Company shall issue any additional Securities under the Indenture prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement, such additional Securities and the Registrable Securities to which this Agreement relates shall be treated together as one class for purposes of determining whether the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities has been obtained.

Notice and Questionnaire” shall mean a notice of registration statement and selling security holder questionnaire distributed to a Holder by the Company upon receipt of a Shelf Request from such Holder.

 

2


Participating Holders” shall mean the Holders participating in a given registration relating to Registrable Securities.

Participating Broker-Dealers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.

Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.

Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of the following: (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement; (ii) when such Securities are eligible to be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without compliance with any volume or manner of sale restrictions (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A); and (iii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding.

Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange and FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws and comparable non-U.S. laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Participating Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Participating Holders holding a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities held by such Participating Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers) and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.

 

3


Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

Representatives” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

Shelf Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.

Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the Participating Holders holding a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.

Shelf Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.

Staff” shall mean the staff of the SEC.

Suspension Actions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.

Target Registration Date” shall mean May 25, 2024.

Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.

Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.

Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) hereof.

Underwritten Offering” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.

 

4


2. Registration Under the Securities Act. To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) file an Exchange Offer Registration Statement covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (ii) have such Registration Statement become effective on or before the Target Registration Date and remain effective until 180 days after the last Exchange Date for use by one or more Participating Broker- Dealers. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date.

After the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, the Company shall commence the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities by mailing, or delivering in compliance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary and applicable law the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:

(i) that such Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange;

(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange of Securities (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days (or such longer period as required by applicable law) from the date such notice is disseminated) (each, an “Exchange Date”);

(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein;

(iv) that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary, in each case prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and

(v) that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary.

 

5


As a condition to participating in an Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Company that (i) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) at the time of the commencement of such Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company and (iv) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company shall:

(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and

(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities tendered by such Holder.

The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. No Exchange Offer shall be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff.

(b) In the event that (i) the Company determines that the Exchange Offer provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be completed as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer is not for any other reason completed by the Target Registration Date or (iii) the Company receives a written request (a “Shelf Request”) from any Holder representing that it holds Registrable Securities that are or were ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, date or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective; provided that (a) no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Securities included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Company as is contemplated by Section 3(b) hereof, and (b) the Company shall be under no obligation to file any such Shelf Registration Statement before the Target Registration Date.

In the event that the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file and have become effective both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Holders after completion of the Exchange Offer.

 

6


The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the Securities covered thereby cease to be Registrable Securities (the “Shelf Effectiveness Period”). The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder or if reasonably requested by a Participating Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Participating Holder, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus to become usable as soon as practicable thereafter. The Company agrees to furnish to the Participating Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC, as requested by the Participating Holders.

(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.

(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC. A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the Securities Act.

In the event that either the Exchange Offer is not completed or a Shelf Registration Statement, if required pursuant to Section 2(b)(i) or 2(b)(ii) hereof, does not become effective on or prior to the Target Registration Date, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period following the Target Registration Date and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum thereafter until the applicable Exchange Offer is completed, the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, becomes effective or the Securities become freely tradable under the Securities Act; provided that in no event should the interest rate be increased by an aggregate amount of more than 0.50% per annum.

If the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, has become effective and thereafter either ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable on more than two occasions, and such failures to remain effective or be usable continue for more than 30 consecutive days in any 12-month period, then the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by 0.25% per annum commencing on the day after the 30th day of the second such 30-consecutive-day period and ending on such date that the Shelf Registration Statement has again become effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable; provided that in no event shall the interest rate be increased by an aggregate amount of more than 0.50% per annum.

 

7


(e) The Company shall be entitled to suspend its obligation to file any amendment to a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish any supplement or amendment to a Prospectus included in a Shelf Registration Statement, make any other filing with the SEC that would be incorporated by reference into a Shelf Registration Statement, cause a Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective or the Prospectus usable or take any similar action (collectively, “Suspension Actions”) if there is a possible acquisition or business combination or other transaction, business development or event involving the Company or its subsidiaries that may require disclosure in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus and the Company determines that such disclosure is not in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders or obtaining any financial statements relating to any such acquisition or business combination required to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus would be impracticable. Upon the occurrence of any of the conditions described in the foregoing sentence, the Company shall give prompt notice of the delay or suspension (but not the basis thereof) to the Participating Holders. Upon the termination of such condition, the Company shall promptly proceed with all Suspension Actions that were delayed or suspended and, if required, shall give prompt notice to the Participating Holders of the cessation of the delay or suspension (but not the basis thereof).

(f) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.

3. Registration Procedures. In connection with its obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company shall:

(i) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Company, (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Participating Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include or, if permitted by applicable law, incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;

(ii) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(a)(3) of, and Rule 174 under, the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;

(iii) to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain a copy of any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed;

 

8


(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Participating Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus or preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Participating Holders and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;

(v) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities, blue sky laws or comparable non-U.S. laws of such jurisdictions as any Participating Holder shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; cooperate with such Participating Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Participating Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to (1) 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, (2) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject;

(vi) notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such notice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective and when any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed, (2) of any request by the SEC or any other securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (3) of the issuance by the SEC or any other securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any notification with

 

9


respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (5) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (6) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus would be appropriate;

(vii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement on the proper form, as soon as reasonably practicable and provide prompt notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;

(viii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, without charge, upon request, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested), if such documents are not available via the SEC’s EDGAR system;

(ix) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Participating Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and, in the case of certificated securities, registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Participating Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;

(x) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, subject to Section 2(e) hereof, use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company shall notify the Participating Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and the Initial Purchasers and any Participating Broker-Dealers known to the Company (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Participating Holders, Participating Broker-Dealers and Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission and expressly agree to maintain the information contained in such notice confidential (except that such information may be disclosed to its counsel) until it has been publicly disclosed by the Company;

 

10


(xi) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Representatives and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Participating Holders and their counsel) and make the representatives of the Company available for discussion of such document as reasonably requested by the Representatives or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel); and the Company shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, of which the Representatives and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Representatives or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object in writing on a timely basis, except for any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus (a copy of which has been previously furnished as provided in the preceding sentence) which counsel to the Company has advised in writing is required to be filed in order to comply with applicable law;

(xii) utilize the CUSIP numbers obtained and made eligible with the Depositary prior to the closing of the initial offering of the Securities and provided to the Company for the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be;

(xiii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;

(xiv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection upon written request by a representative of the Participating Holders (an “Inspector”), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants designated by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration and one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants designated by such Underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant, and

 

11


cause the respective officers and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement, subject to such confidentiality agreements as the Company may reasonably require and to any applicable privilege; provided that if any such information is identified by the Company as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any such Inspector, Participating Holder or Underwriter);

(xv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered thereby to be listed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system on which similar senior unconvertible debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company are then listed if requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;

(xvi) if reasonably requested by any Participating Holder, promptly include or, if permitted by applicable law, incorporate by reference, in a Prospectus supplement or post- effective amendment such information with respect to such Participating Holder as such Participating Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received notification of and relevant information regarding the matters to be so included in such filing; and

(xvii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (1) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and consistent with the applicable representations and warranties in the Purchase Agreement and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each Participating Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and consistent with the opinions delivered pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (3) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business

 

12


acquired or to be acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each Participating Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus or Prospectus and (4) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.

(b) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing and require such Holder to agree in writing to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder. The Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any Holder so long as such Holder fails to furnish such information or fails to agree in writing to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement within a reasonable time after receiving such request. No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to additional interest pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement unless and until such Holder shall have provided all such information and have agreed in writing to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement if requested by the Company. Each Holder of Registrable Securities as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed so that the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder is not materially misleading and does not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

(c) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Participating Holder of Registrable Securities covered in such Shelf Registration Statement agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(vi)(3) or 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, such Participating Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Participating Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(x) hereof and, if so directed by the Company, such Participating Holder will deliver to the Company all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Participating Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.

(d) If the Company shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions.

 

13


(e) The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “Underwriter”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering, subject in each case to consent by the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(f) No Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer. The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

The Company understands that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.

(a) In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to Section 3(d) of this Agreement), if requested by one or more Participating Broker-Dealer, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Company further agrees that Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.

(b) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Company or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) above.

 

14


5. Indemnification and Contribution. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending 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, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or 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, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“Issuer Information”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or 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 Initial Purchaser or information relating to any Participating Holder furnished to the Company in writing through the Representatives or any Participating Holder expressly for use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in writing in advance by a selling Holder in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.

(a) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder 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, liabilities or actions 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 Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement and any Prospectus.

(b) 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 this Section 5 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

 

15


Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 5. If any such suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, upon request of the Indemnified Person, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket 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 reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, (y) for any Holder, its directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. Upon receipt of notice from the Indemnifying Person to the Indemnified Person of the Indemnifying Person’s retention of counsel designated by the Indemnifying Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 and the approval by the Indemnified Person of such counsel, the Indemnifying Person shall not be liable to the Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Person in connection with the defense thereof unless the Indemnified Person shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with items (i)-(iv) set forth above in this Section 5(c). 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph unless the Indemnifying Person notifies the Indemnified Person that it disputes in good faith its obligation to provide such reimbursement, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person,

 

16


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 (A) 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 (B) 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.

(c) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (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 from the offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, 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 on the one hand and the Holders 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 fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders 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 by the Holders and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(d) The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders 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 documented out-of-pocket legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.

(e) The remedies provided for in this Section 5 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.

 

17


(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company or the officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Company, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.

6. General.

(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that (i) the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Company under any other agreement and (ii) the Company has not entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent other than any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its affiliates; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto. Each Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the time of any such amendment modification, supplement, waiver or consent thereafter shall be bound by any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section 6(b), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment, modification, supplement waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is delivered to such Holder. Each Holder may waive compliance with respect to any obligation of the Company under this Agreement as it may apply or be enforced by such particular Holder.

(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Representatives, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.

 

18


(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.

(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third-party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Initial Purchasers, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.

(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(h) 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, without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of laws to the extent the laws of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.

(i) Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

(j) Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Company and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.

 

19


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

BGC PARTNERS, INC.
By:  

/s/ JASON W. HAUF

  Name:   Jason W. Hauf
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement relating to the issuance and sale of BGC Partners, Inc.’s 8.000% Senior Notes due 2028


Confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above:

 

GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC
By  

/s/ ALI MALIK

  Name: Ali Malik
  Title:  Managing Director
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
By  

/s/ TIMOTHY STEPHENS

  Name: Timothy Stephens
  Title: Managing Director
CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
By  

/s/ JIM BUCCOLA

  Name: Jim Buccola
  Title: Head of Fixed Income
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC
By  

/s/ VALERIE SHADECK

  Name: Valerie Shadeck
  Title: Managing Director
REGIONS SECURITIES LLC
By  

/s/ THOMAS BOVE

  Name: Thomas Bove
  Title: Director

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement relating to the issuance and sale of BGC Partners, Inc.’s 8.000% Senior Notes due 2028


WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
By  

/s/ TOM ADELMAN

  Name: Tom Adelman
  Title: Director

For themselves and as Representatives of the Initial Purchasers

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement relating to the issuance and sale of BGC Partners, Inc.’s 8.000% Senior Notes due 2028

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

BGC Completes Offering of $350.0 Million of 8.000% Senior Notes

NEW YORK, NY – May 25, 2023 – BGC Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq: BGCP) (“BGC” or the “Company”) today announced the closing of its offering of $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 8.000% senior notes (the “notes”) on May 25, 2023.

The notes are general senior unsecured obligations of BGC. The notes will pay interest semi-annually at a rate of 8.000% per annum, on each May 25 and November 25, beginning on November 25, 2023, and will mature on May 25, 2028. BGC intends to use the net proceeds, along with cash on hand and the proceeds of other indebtedness, if any, to repurchase, redeem and/or repay its $450.0 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of 5.375% Senior Notes due 2023, including to pay any applicable redemption premium.

The notes were offered and sold in a private offering exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration. This notice is issued pursuant to Rule 135c under the Securities Act, and does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.

Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements about BGC

Statements in this document regarding BGC that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include statements about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, results, financial position, liquidity and outlook, which may constitute forward-looking statements and are subject to the risk that the actual impact may differ, possibly materially, from what is currently expected. Except as required by law, BGC undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see BGC’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information set forth in these filings and any updates to such risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information contained in subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K.

Media Contact:

Karen Laureano-Rikardsen

+1 212-829-4975

Investor Contact:

Jason Chryssicas

+1 212-610-2426