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
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) |
February 24, 2021 |
GREEN PLAINS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Iowa
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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001-32924 |
84-1652107 |
(Commission file number) |
(IRS employer identification no.) |
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1811 Aksarben Drive, Omaha, Nebraska |
68106 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip code) |
(402) 884-8700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class |
Trading Symbol |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share |
GPRE |
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
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))
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.
Public Offering of Common Stock
On March 1, 2021, Green Plains Inc. (the “Company”) completed the public offering of 8,751,500 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) at a public offering price of $23.00 per share (the “Common Stock Offering”). This includes the purchase of 1,141,500 shares of common stock by the underwriters pursuant to the full exercise of their overallotment option. The Common Stock Offering resulted in estimated net proceeds to the Company of approximately $191.1 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the Company’s estimated offering expenses.
In connection with the Common Stock Offering, on February 24, 2021, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Common Stock Underwriting Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, relating to the issuance and sale of the Shares. Under the terms of the Common Stock Underwriting Agreement, the underwriters agreed to purchase the Shares from the Company at a price of $23.00 per share. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the Common Stock Offering for general corporate purposes and to repay the outstanding balance of the 2022 notes (as defined below) at their maturity date.
Public Offering of Convertible Senior Notes
On March 1, 2021, the Company completed the public offering of $230.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.25% convertible notes due 2027 (the “Notes”, and such offering the “Convertible Notes Offering”). This includes the purchase of $30.0 million Notes by the underwriters pursuant to the full exercise of their overallotment option. The Convertible Notes Offering resulted in estimated net proceeds to the Company of approximately $222.5 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and the Company’s estimated offering expenses.
In connection with the Convertible Notes Offering, on February 24, 2021, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Jefferies LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Convertible Notes Underwriting Agreement” and together with the Common Stock Underwriting Agreement, the “Underwriting Agreements”).
The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of March 1, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”) between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by that certain first supplemental indenture, dated as of March 1, 2021, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture the “Indenture”) in connection with the closing of the Convertible Notes Offering. The Notes were priced to investors in the offering at 100% of par, resulting in estimated net proceeds to the Company of approximately $222.5 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and the Company’s estimated offering expenses.
The Company used approximately $156.5 million of the net proceeds of the Convertible Notes Offering to repurchase approximately $135.7 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.125% convertible notes due 2022 (the “2022 notes”), in privately negotiated transactions concurrently with the Convertible Notes Offering. The Company intends to use the balance of the net proceeds from the Convertible Notes Offering to repay the 2022 notes remaining outstanding at their maturity date and for general corporate purposes.
The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 2.25% per year, payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning September 15, 2021, and mature on March 15, 2027. The Notes will be general senior, unsecured obligations of the Company. On and after March 15, 2024, and prior to the maturity date, the Company may redeem, for cash, all, but not less than all, of the Notes if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds 140% of the applicable conversion price on (i) at least 20 trading days during a 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date the Company delivers notice of the redemption; and (ii) the trading day immediately before the date of the redemption notice. The redemption price will equal 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture for the Notes), holders of the Notes will have the right, at their option, to require the Company to repurchase their Notes for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.
The Notes will be convertible, at the option of the holders, into consideration consisting of, at the Company’s election, cash, shares of the Company’s common stock, or a combination of cash and stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares). However, before September 15, 2026, the Notes will not be convertible unless certain conditions are
satisfied. The initial conversion rate will be 31.6206 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $31.62 per share of the Company’s common stock), representing an approximately 37.5% premium over the offering price of the Company’s common stock. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. In addition, the Company may be obligated to increase the conversion rate for any conversion that occurs in connection with certain corporate events, including the Company’s calling the Notes for redemption.
The Indenture provides for customary events of default which include (subject in certain cases to customary grace and cure periods), among others, the following: nonpayment of principal or interest; breach of covenants or other agreements in the Indenture; defaults in failure to pay certain other indebtedness; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency. Generally, if an event of default occurs and is continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may declare the principal and accrued interest on all the Notes immediately due and payable.
General
The Common Stock Offering and the Convertible Notes Offering are being made pursuant to the Company’s effective registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-253148), initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 16, 2021, and prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectus filed with the SEC.
The Underwriting Agreements contain customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and the underwriters, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Underwriting Agreements were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties.
The foregoing descriptions of the Common Stock Underwriting Agreement, Convertible Notes Underwriting Agreement, the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Common Stock Underwriting Agreement, Convertible Notes Underwriting Agreement, the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the form of the certificate representing the Notes, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 1.1, 1.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3, respectively, to this report and are incorporated by reference herein. Copies of the opinion of Husch Blackwell LLP relating to the legality of the issuance and sale of Common Stock in the Common Stock Offering and of Notes in the Convertible Notes Offering are attached as Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2, respectively, to this report.
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information disclosed in Item 1.01 under the heading “Public Offering of Convertible Senior Notes” is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On March 1, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the sale of the Common Stock and Notes. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed as part of this report.
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Exhibit No. |
Description of Exhibit |
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1.1 |
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1.2 |
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4.1 |
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4.2 |
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4.3 |
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5.1 |
Opinion of Husch Blackwell LLP, related to the Common Stock. |
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5.2 |
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23.1 |
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23.2 |
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99.1 |
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104 |
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within Inline XBRL document) |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Date: March 1, 2021 |
Green Plains Inc. |
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By: /s/ G. Patrich Simpkins Jr. . |
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G. Patrich Simpkins Jr. |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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(Principal Financial Officer) |
Exhibit 1.1
Green Plains Inc.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
February 24, 2021
JEFFERIES LLC
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o JEFFERIES LLC
520 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
c/o BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
Introductory. Green Plains Inc., a Iowa corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of 7,610,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”). The 7,610,000 Shares to be sold by the Company are called the “Firm Shares.” In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 1,141,500 Shares as provided in Section 2. The additional 1,141,500 Shares to be sold by the Company pursuant to such option are collectively called the “Optional Shares.” The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Optional Shares are collectively called the “Offered Shares.” Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”) and BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA”) have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares. To the extent there are no additional underwriters listed on Schedule A, the term “Representatives” as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the term “Underwriters” shall mean either the singular or the plural, as the context requires.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a shelf registration statement on Form S-3, File No. 333‑253148, including a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”) to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Offered Shares. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it became effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and any information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or 430B under the Securities Act, is called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Shares is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of any such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The preliminary prospectus supplement dated February 24, 2021 describing the Offered Shares
and the offering thereof (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), together with the Base Prospectus, is called the “Preliminary Prospectus,” and the Preliminary Prospectus and any other prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus in preliminary form that describes the Offered Shares and the offering thereof and is used prior to the filing of the Prospectus (as defined below), together with the Base Prospectus, is called a “preliminary prospectus.” As used herein, the term “Prospectus” shall mean the final prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus that describes the Offered Shares and the offering thereof (the “Final Prospectus Supplement”), together with the Base Prospectus, in the form first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Offered Shares or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act. References herein to the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus shall refer to both the prospectus supplement and the Base Prospectus components of such prospectus. As used herein, “Applicable Time” is 7:30 p.m. (New York City time) on February 24, 2021. As used herein, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the Preliminary Prospectus, as amended or supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule B hereto. As used herein, “Road Show” means a “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) relating to the offering of the Offered Shares contemplated hereby that is a “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus shall include the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which are “contained,” “included” or “stated” in, or “part of” the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, and all other references of like import, shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. All references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, or the Prospectus, as the case may be. All references in this Agreement to (i) the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, or any free writing prospectus, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) and (ii) the Prospectus shall be deemed to include any “electronic Prospectus” provided for use in connection with the offering of the Offered Shares as contemplated by Section #(n) of this Agreement.
In the event that the Company has only one subsidiary, then all references herein to “subsidiaries” of the Company shall be deemed to refer to such single subsidiary, mutatis mutandis.
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
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The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter, as of the date of this Agreement, as of the First Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) and as of each Option Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), if any, as follows:
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(b) Free Writing Prospectuses; Road Show. As of the determination date referenced in Rule 164(h) under the Securities Act, the Company was not, is not or will not be (as applicable) an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering of the Offered Shares pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Each free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the
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requirements of the Securities Act. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act, including timely filing with the Commission, retention and legending, as applicable, and each such free writing prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Shares did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus unless such information has been superseded or modified as of such time. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule D, and electronic road shows, if any, furnished to you before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior written consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus. Each Road Show, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, did not, as of the Applicable Time, 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. |
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(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. |
(iii), a “Material Adverse Change”). To the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, there is no event that is reasonably likely to occur, which if it were to occur, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. |
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(j) [Omitted] |
reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The principle executive officers (or their equivalents) and principal financial officers (or their equivalents) of the Company have made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the statements contained in each such certification are complete and correct. |
Prospectus and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights. |
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(p) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments. Neither the execution, delivery, issuance or performance of this Agreement nor the consummation of any transactions contemplated therein will conflict with, violate, constitute a breach of or a default (with the giving of notice or passage of time or otherwise) under, require the consent of any person (other than consents already obtained and in full force and effect) under, result in the imposition of a Lien on any assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or result in a Debt Repayment Triggering Event under or pursuant to (i) the Charter Documents, (ii) any Applicable Agreement, (iii) any Applicable Law or (iv) any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award binding upon or affecting the Company, except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) for such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or events that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company, such subsidiary or such officer or director, and, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) any such action, suit or proceeding is or would be material in the context of the sale of the Shares. |
third parties). On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. |
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(aa) No Restrictions on Dividends. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying dividends to the Company, or from making any other distribution with respect to such subsidiary’s equity securities or from repaying to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company any amounts that may from time to time become due under any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any property or assets to the Company or to any other subsidiary. |
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(cc) No Downgrades in Ratings. No “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as that term is used in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) (i) has imposed (or has informed the Company that it is considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on the Company retaining any rating assigned to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) has indicated to the Company that it is considering (A) the downgrading, suspension, or withdrawal of, or any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change in, any rating so assigned, or (B) any change in the outlook for any rating of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. |
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(ff) FINRA Matters. All of the information provided to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters by the Company, its counsel, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in connection with the offering of the Offered Shares is true, complete, correct and compliant with FINRA’s rules and any letters, filings or other supplemental information provided by the Company to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters to provide to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rules or NASD Conduct Rules is true, complete and correct. |
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(gg) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the SEC, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus as of the Applicable Time and the Prospectus as of any Closing Date, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in such incorporated documents or to be filed as exhibits to such incorporated documents which have not been described or filed as required. |
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(jj) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; (ii) have been evaluated by management of the Company for effectiveness as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter; and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. The Company is not aware of (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company is not aware of any change in its internal control over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. |
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(kk) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is, and has been, no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications. |
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(mm) Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director, officer, or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken any act in furtherance of an offer, promise, or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or public international organization, or any political party, party official, or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), the UK Bribery Act 2010, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, authorized, requested, or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment or benefit . The Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s affiliates have conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith. |
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(nn) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are, and have been conducted at all times, in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened. |
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(oo) Sanctions. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, directors, officers, or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, any agent, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”); nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of this offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, or any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of such financing, is the subject or the target of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the
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transaction whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of applicable Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country. |
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(pp) Officer Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters covered thereby. |
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(rr) Employment Matters. (i) The Company is not party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement with any labor organization; (ii) there is no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of the Company, and, to the knowledge of the Company after due inquiry, no union organizing activities are taking place that, could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, no union organizing or decertification efforts are underway or threatened against the Company; (iv) no labor strike, work stoppage, slowdown, or other material labor dispute is pending against the Company, or, to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, threatened against the Company; (iv) there is no worker’s compensation liability, experience or matter that could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (v) to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, there is no threatened or pending liability against the Company pursuant to the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act of 1988, as amended (“WARN”), or any similar state or local law; (vi) there is no employment-related charge, complaint, grievance, investigation, unfair labor practice claim, or inquiry of any kind, pending against the Company that could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (vii) to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, no employee or agent of the Company has committed any act or omission giving rise to liability for any violation identified in subsection (v) and (vi) above, other than such acts or omissions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (viii) no term or condition of employment exists through arbitration awards, settlement agreements, or side agreement that is contrary to the express terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement. |
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(ss) Forward-Looking Statements. Each “forward-looking statement” (as defined by Section 27A of the Securities Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (i) was so included by the Company in good faith and with reasonable basis after due consideration by the Company of the underlying assumptions, estimates and other applicable facts and circumstances and (ii) is accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying those factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward‑looking statement. No such statement was made with the knowledge of an executive officer or director of the Company that it was false or misleading. |
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(tt) No Outstanding Loans or Other Extensions of Credit. The Company does not have any outstanding extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer (or equivalent thereof) of the Company except for such extensions of credit as are expressly permitted by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act. |
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(uu) Exchange Act Compliance. The Company is subject to and is in compliance in all material respects with the reporting requirements of Section 13 and Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Exchange Act. |
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(vv) Stock Options. With respect to the stock options (the "Stock Options") granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Company Stock Plans"), (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an "incentive stock option" under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the "Grant Date") by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of NASDAQ and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, (iv) the per share exercise price of each Stock Option was equal to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the applicable Grant Date and (v) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company's filings with the SEC in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinate the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects. |
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(ww) Cybersecurity. The Company and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable physical, technical and administrative controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data, including “Personal Data,” used in connection with their businesses. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number or tax identification number, driver’s license number, passport number, credit card number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; (iv) any information which would qualify as “protected health information” under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (collectively, “HIPAA”); and (v) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation. There have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification. |
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(xx) Compliance with Data Privacy Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries are, and at all prior times were, in material compliance with all applicable state and federal data privacy and security laws and regulations, including without limitation HIPAA, and the Company and its subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions to prepare to comply with, and since May 25, 2018, have been and currently are in compliance with, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”). To ensure compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company and its subsidiaries have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling, and analysis of Personal Data (the “Policies”). The Company and its subsidiaries have at all times made all disclosures to users or customers required by applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and none of such disclosures made or contained in any Policy have, to the knowledge of the Company, been inaccurate or in violation of any applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements in any material respect. The Company further certifies that neither it nor any subsidiary: (i) has received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law. |
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to any Underwriter or to counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering, or the purchase and sale, of the Offered Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
The Company has a reasonable basis for making each of the representations set forth in this Section 1. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 6 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriters, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
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Jefferies so elects, the certificates for the Offered Shares shall be registered in such names and denominations as the Representatives shall have requested at least two full business days prior to the First Closing Date (or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be) and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the First Closing Date (or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be) at a location in New York City as the Representatives may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters. |
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(b) Delivery of Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus. The Company shall furnish to you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period when a prospectus relating to the Offered Shares is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with sales of the Offered Shares, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request. |
Offered Shares (but in any event if at any time through and including the First Closing Date) there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such time, not misleading, the Company shall promptly amend or supplement such free writing prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict or so that the statements in such free writing prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such time, not misleading, as the case may be; provided, however, that prior to amending or supplementing any such free writing prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of such proposed amended or supplemented free writing prospectus, and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any such amended or supplemented free writing prospectus without the Representatives’ prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed . |
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(e) Filing of Underwriter Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall not take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that such Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder. |
or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Shares from any securities exchange upon which they are listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 424(b), Rule 433 and Rule 430B under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission. If, after the date of this Agreement and during any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule), the Company receives notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act from the Commission or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration form, the Company shall promptly advise the Representative in writing of such notice or ineligibility and will (i) promptly filed a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Offered Shares, (ii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable and (iii) promptly notify the Representative in writing of such effectiveness. |
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(k) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Shares. |
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(n) Listing. The Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Offered Shares on the NASDAQ. |
“put equivalent position” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) or liquidate or decrease any “call equivalent position” (as defined in Rule 16a‑1(b) under the Exchange Act) of any Shares or Related Securities; (iii) pledge, hypothecate or grant any security interest in any Shares or Related Securities; (iv) in any other way transfer or dispose of any Shares or Related Securities; (v) enter into any swap, hedge or similar arrangement or agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic risk of ownership of any Shares or Related Securities, regardless of whether any such transaction is to be settled in securities, in cash or otherwise; (vi) announce the offering of any Shares or Related Securities; (vii) submit or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of any Shares or Related Securities (other than as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Offered Shares); (viii) effect a reverse stock split, recapitalization, share consolidation, reclassification or similar transaction affecting the outstanding Shares; or (ix) publicly announce the intention to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that the Company may (A) effect the transactions contemplated hereby, (B) issue Shares or options to purchase Shares, or issue Shares upon exercise of options pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, but only if the holders of such Shares or options agree in writing with the Underwriters not to sell, offer, dispose of or otherwise transfer any such Shares or options during such Lock-up Period without the prior written consent of Jefferies and BofA (which consent may be withheld in their sole discretion) or (C) issue Shares pursuant to the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants, which securities or warrants are outstanding on the date hereof and described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. For purposes of the foregoing, “Related Securities” shall mean any options or warrants or other rights to acquire Shares or any securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Shares, or to acquire other securities or rights ultimately exchangeable or exercisable for, or convertible into, Shares. |
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(u) Company to Provide Interim Financial Statements. Prior to the First Closing Date and each applicable Option Closing Date, the Company will furnish the Underwriters, as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the Company, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial statements appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. |
The Representatives, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in their sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.
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(iii) If a filing has been made with FINRA, FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements. |
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(i) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change; and |
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(i) for the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including such date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change; |
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(iii) the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such date. |
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(j) [Omitted.] |
Offered Shares as contemplated herein and in connection with the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters. |
If any condition specified in this Section 6 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice from Jefferies to the Company at any time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, at any time on or prior to the applicable Option Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 7, Section 9 and Section 10 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
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Section 8. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto. |
notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party to the extent the indemnifying party is not materially prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure and shall not in any event relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election to so assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), which counsel (together with any local counsel) for the indemnified parties shall be selected jointly by Jefferies and BofA (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred to in Section 9(a) above) or by the Company (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred to in Section 9(b) above)) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party and shall be paid as they are incurred. |
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The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 9(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 10; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 9(c) for purposes of indemnification.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 10.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Offered Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public. 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 Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 10 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 10, each affiliate, director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
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As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 11. Any action taken under this Section 11 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
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Section 14. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement. |
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Section 15. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows: |
If to the Representatives:Jefferies LLC
520 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Facsimile: (646) 619-4437
Attention: General Counsel
BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
Facsimile:
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:Latham & Watkins LLP
650 Town Center Drive, 20th Floor
Costa Mesa, California 92625
Facsimile: (714) 755-8290
Attention: Shayne Kennedy
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If to the Company:Green Plains Inc.
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, Nebraska 68106
Facsimile: 402-952-4916
Attention: Chief Legal & Administration Officer
with a copy to:Husch Blackwell LLP
736 Georgia Avenue
Suite 300
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Facsimile: 423.266.5499
Attention: Rebecca Taylor
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.
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(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. |
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(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. |
For purposes of this Agreement, (A) “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); (B) “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); (C) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (D) “U.S. Special Resolution
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Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 9 and the contribution provisions of Section 10, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Section 9 and Section 10 hereof fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, each free writing prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements to the foregoing), as contemplated by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
Electronic signatures complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Agreement. Transmission by telecopy, electronic mail or other transmission method of an executed counterpart of this Agreement will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Title: Chief Legal & Administration Officer
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representatives in New York, New York as of the date first above written.
Acting individually and as Representatives
of the several Underwriters named in
Name: Colyer Curtis
Title: Managing Director
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
By:/s/ Michael Wise
Name: Michael Wise
Title: Global Vice Chairman Equity Capital Markets
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Exhibit 1.2
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027
Green Plains Inc.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
February 24, 2021
JEFFERIES LLC
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o JEFFERIES LLC
520 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
c/o BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
Introductory. Green Plains Inc., a Iowa corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate principal amount, as set forth on a term sheet substantially in the form of Schedule C hereto (the “Pricing Term Sheet”) of its 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Firm Securities”). In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional aggregate principal amount, as set forth on the Pricing Term Sheet, of its 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Option Securities).” The Firm Securities and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Option Securities are collectively called the “Securities.” Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”) and BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA”) have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities. To the extent there are no additional underwriters listed on Schedule A, the term “Representatives” as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the term “Underwriters” shall mean either the singular or the plural, as the context requires.
The Securities will be convertible into cash, shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock (any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities are referred to as the “Conversion Shares”). The Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of the First Closing Date (as defined in Section 2) (the “Indenture”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a shelf registration statement on Form S-3, File No. 333‑253148, including a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”) to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Securities. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it became effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), including all
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and any information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or 430B under the Securities Act, is called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of any such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The preliminary prospectus supplement dated, February 24, 2021 describing the Securities and the offering thereof (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), together with the Base Prospectus, is called the “Preliminary Prospectus,” and the Preliminary Prospectus and any other prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus in preliminary form that describes the Securities and the offering thereof and is used prior to the filing of the Prospectus (as defined below), together with the Base Prospectus, is called a “preliminary prospectus.” As used herein, the term “Prospectus” shall mean the final prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus that describes the Securities and the offering thereof (the “Final Prospectus Supplement”), together with the Base Prospectus, in the form first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Securities or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act. References herein to the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus shall refer to both the prospectus supplement and the Base Prospectus components of such prospectus.
As used herein, “Applicable Time” is 7:30 p.m. (New York City time) on February 24, 2021. As used herein, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the Preliminary Prospectus, as amended or supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule B hereto. As used herein, “Road Show” means a “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) relating to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby that is a “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act). This Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents” and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are collectively referred to herein as the “Transactions.”
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus shall include the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which are “contained,” “included” or “stated” in, or “part of” the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, and all other references of like import, shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. All references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, or the Prospectus, as the case may be. All references in this Agreement to (i) the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, or any free writing prospectus, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) and (ii) the Prospectus shall be deemed to include any “electronic Prospectus” provided for use in connection with the offering of the Securities as contemplated by Section #(n) of this Agreement.
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In the event that the Company has only one subsidiary, then all references herein to “subsidiaries” of the Company shall be deemed to refer to such single subsidiary, mutatis mutandis.
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter, as of the date of this Agreement, as of the First Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) and as of each Option Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), if any, as follows:
documents required to be described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required. |
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(b) Free Writing Prospectuses; Road Show. As of the determination date referenced in Rule 164(h) under the Securities Act, the Company was not, is not or will not be (as applicable) an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Each free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act, including timely filing with the Commission, retention and legending, as applicable, and each such free writing prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus unless such information has been superseded or modified as of such time. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule B, and electronic road shows, if any, furnished to you before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior written consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus. Each Road Show, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, did not, as of the Applicable Time, 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. |
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(e) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. |
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(g) Authorization of the Conversion Shares. The shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon conversion of the Securities (assuming, for these purposes, that (x) all the Securities are converted by a single holder thereof; and (y) such conversion is settled solely by the delivery of shares of Common Stock at the Maximum Conversion Rate (as defined below)) have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon conversion of the Securities, and, when such shares are issued and delivered upon conversion in accordance with the Indenture, such shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from pre-emptive rights under the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the laws of the state of Iowa or any agreement to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party. “Maximum Conversion Rate” means the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) plus the maximum increase thereto in connection with a “Make-Whole Fundamental Change” (as defined in the Indenture). |
security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, equity, claim or restriction on transferability or other encumbrance of any kind (collectively, “Liens”), other than (i) Green Plains Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership, in which the Company owns a 48.9% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest, (ii) FluidQuip Technologies, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, in which the Company owns a 70% interest and (iii) the interests in Green Plains Obion LLC and Green Plains Mount Vernon LLC, which have been pledged pursuant to certain financing arrangements. As of the date of this Agreement, the only subsidiaries of the Company are (A) the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and (B) the additional subsidiaries listed on Schedule D hereto. |
Agreements are in full force and effect and are legal, valid and binding obligations, other than as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus. There exists no condition that, with the passage of time or otherwise, would constitute (a) a violation of such Charter Documents or Applicable Laws, (b) a breach of or default under any Applicable Agreement or (c) result in the imposition of any penalty or the acceleration of any indebtedness (a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event”). |
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(q) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents, consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Conversion Shares upon conversation thereof and including the use of proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) will not, violate, constitute a breach of or a default (with the giving of notice or passage of time or otherwise) under, require the consent of any person (other than consents already obtained and in full force and effect) under, result in the imposition of a Lien on any assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or result in a Debt Repayment Triggering Event under or pursuant to (i) the Charter Documents, (ii) any Applicable Agreement, (iii) any Applicable Law or (iv) any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award binding upon or affecting the Company, except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) for such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults or events that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
its subsidiaries’ officers, directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons, except to the extent that such violation would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. |
any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither of the Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied. |
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(bb) No Restrictions on Dividends. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying dividends to the Company, or from making any other distribution with respect to such subsidiary’s equity securities or from repaying to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company any amounts that may from time to time become due under any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any property or assets to the Company or to any other subsidiary. |
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(dd) No Downgrades in Ratings. No “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as that term is used in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) (i) has imposed (or has informed the Company that it is considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on the Company retaining any rating assigned to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) has indicated to the Company that it is considering (A) the downgrading, suspension, or withdrawal of, or any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change in, any rating so assigned, or (B) any change in the outlook for any rating of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. |
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(gg) FINRA Matters. All of the information provided to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters by the Company, its counsel, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities is true, complete, correct and compliant with FINRA’s rules and any letters, filings or other supplemental information provided by the Company to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters to provide to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rules or NASD Conduct Rules is true, complete and correct. |
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(hh) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the SEC, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus as of the Applicable Time and the Prospectus as of any Closing Date, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
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statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in such incorporated documents or to be filed as exhibits to such incorporated documents which have not been described or filed as required. |
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(kk) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; (ii) have been evaluated by management of the Company for effectiveness as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter; and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. The Company is not aware of (i) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company is not aware of any change in its internal control over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. |
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(ll) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is, and has been, no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications. |
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(nn) Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director, officer, or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken any act in furtherance of an offer, promise, or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or
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employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or public international organization, or any political party, party official, or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), the UK Bribery Act 2010, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, authorized, requested, or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment or benefit . The Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s affiliates have conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith. |
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(oo) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are, and have been conducted at all times, in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened. |
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(pp) Sanctions. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, directors, officers, or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, any agent, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”); nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of this offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, or any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of such financing, is the subject or the target of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of applicable Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country. |
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(qq) Officer Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Initial Purchaser as to the matters covered thereby. |
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(ss) Employment Matters. (i) The Company is not party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement with any labor organization; (ii) there is no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of the Company, and, to the knowledge of the Company after due inquiry,
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no union organizing activities are taking place that, could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, no union organizing or decertification efforts are underway or threatened against the Company; (iv) no labor strike, work stoppage, slowdown, or other material labor dispute is pending against the Company, or, to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, threatened against the Company; (iv) there is no worker’s compensation liability, experience or matter that could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (v) to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, there is no threatened or pending liability against the Company pursuant to the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act of 1988, as amended (“WARN”), or any similar state or local law; (vi) there is no employment-related charge, complaint, grievance, investigation, unfair labor practice claim, or inquiry of any kind, pending against the Company that could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (vii) to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, no employee or agent of the Company has committed any act or omission giving rise to liability for any violation identified in subsection (v) and (vi) above, other than such acts or omissions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (viii) no term or condition of employment exists through arbitration awards, settlement agreements, or side agreement that is contrary to the express terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement. |
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(tt) Forward-Looking Statements. Each “forward-looking statement” (as defined by Section 27A of the Securities Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (i) was so included by the Company in good faith and with reasonable basis after due consideration by the Company of the underlying assumptions, estimates and other applicable facts and circumstances and (ii) is accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying those factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward‑looking statement. No such statement was made with the knowledge of an executive officer or director of the Company that it was false or misleading. |
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(uu) No Outstanding Loans or Other Extensions of Credit. The Company does not have any outstanding extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer (or equivalent thereof) of the Company except for such extensions of credit as are expressly permitted by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act. |
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(vv) Exchange Act Compliance. The Company is subject to and is in compliance in all material respects with the reporting requirements of Section 13 and Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Exchange Act. |
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(ww) Stock Options. With respect to the stock options (the "Stock Options") granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Company Stock Plans"), (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an "incentive stock option" under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the "Grant Date") by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of NASDAQ and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, (iv) the per share exercise price of each Stock Option was equal to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the applicable Grant Date and (v) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company's filings with the SEC in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options prior to, or
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otherwise coordinate the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects. |
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(xx) Cybersecurity. The Company and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable physical, technical and administrative controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data, including “Personal Data,” used in connection with their businesses. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number or tax identification number, driver’s license number, passport number, credit card number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; (iv) any information which would qualify as “protected health information” under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (collectively, “HIPAA”); and (v) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation. There have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification. |
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(yy) Compliance with Data Privacy Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries are, and at all prior times were, in material compliance with all applicable state and federal data privacy and security laws and regulations, including without limitation HIPAA, and the Company and its subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions to prepare to comply with, and since May 25, 2018, have been and currently are in compliance with, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”). To ensure compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company and its subsidiaries have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling, and analysis of Personal Data (the “Policies”). The Company and its subsidiaries have at all times made all disclosures to users or customers required by applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and none of such disclosures made or contained in any Policy have, to the knowledge of the Company, been inaccurate or in violation of any applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements in any material respect. The Company further certifies that neither it nor any subsidiary: (i) has received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law. |
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Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to any Underwriter or to counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering, or the purchase and sale, of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
The Company has a reasonable basis for making each of the representations set forth in this Section 1. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 6 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriters, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
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(b) Delivery of Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus. The Company shall furnish to you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with sales of the Securities, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request. |
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(c) Final Term Sheet. The Company shall prepare a final term sheet or sheets, as the case may be (in either such case, the “Final Term Sheet”) reflecting the final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form of Schedule C hereto (and containing such other information as the Company and the Underwriter may agree), and file such Final Term Sheet as an “issuer free writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 prior to the close of business two business days after the date hereof; provided that the Company shall furnish the Underwriter with copies of such Final Term Sheet a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not use or file any such document without the Underwriter’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. |
such free writing prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict or so that the statements in such free writing prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such time, not misleading, as the case may be; provided, however, that prior to amending or supplementing any such free writing prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of such proposed amended or supplemented free writing prospectus, and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any such amended or supplemented free writing prospectus without the Representatives’ prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed . |
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(f) Filing of Underwriter Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall not take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that such Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder. |
efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission. If, after the date of this Agreement and during any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule), the Company receives notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act from the Commission or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration form, the Company shall promptly advise the Representative in writing of such notice or ineligibility and will (i) promptly filed a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Securities, (ii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable and (iii) promptly notify the Representative in writing of such effectiveness. |
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(l) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock, including the Conversion Shares. |
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Related Securities, regardless of whether any such transaction is to be settled in securities, in cash or otherwise; (vi) announce the offering of any Common Stock or Related Securities; (vii) submit or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of any Common Stock or Related Securities (other than as contemplated by the Transaction Documents); (viii) effect a reverse stock split, recapitalization, share consolidation, reclassification or similar transaction affecting the outstanding Common Stock; or (ix) publicly announce the intention to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that the Company may (A) effect the transactions contemplated hereby (including the issuance, in accordance with the Indenture, of any Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Securities), (B) issue Common Stock or options to purchase Common Stock, or issue Common Stock upon exercise of options pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, but only if the holders of such Common Stock or options agree in writing with the Underwriters not to sell, offer, dispose of or otherwise transfer any such Common Stock or options during such Lock-up Period without the prior written consent of Jefferies and BofA (which consent may be withheld in their sole discretion) or (C) issue Common Stock pursuant to the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants, which securities or warrants are outstanding on the date hereof and described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. For purposes of the foregoing, “Related Securities” shall mean any options or warrants or other rights to acquire Common Stock or any securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock, or to acquire other securities or rights ultimately exchangeable or exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock. |
bound by such “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated in such agreements, including, without limitation, “lock-up” agreements entered into by the Company’s officers and directors pursuant to Section 6(h) hereof. |
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(v) Company to Provide Interim Financial Statements. Prior to the First Closing Date and each applicable Option Closing Date, the Company will furnish the Underwriters, as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the Company, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial statements appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. |
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(w) Conversion Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of the Maximum Conversion Rate and the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of the Securities then outstanding for the purpose of enabling the Company to satisfy all obligations to issue the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Securities. |
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(x) DTC. The Company will cooperate with the Underwriter to cause the Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC. |
The Representatives, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in their sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.
the NASDAQ, and (x) all other fees, costs and expenses of the nature referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement; provided however that the costs, fees, and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters in clauses (vi) and (vii) shall in no event exceed $15,000 in the aggregate. Except as provided in this Section 4 or in Section 7, Section 9 or Section 10 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel. |
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(iii) If a filing has been made with FINRA, FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements. |
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(i) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change; and |
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(i) for the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including such date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change; |
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(iii) the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such date. |
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(j) [Omitted] |
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(l) Indenture. The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by each party thereto. |
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(m) No Conversion Rate Adjustment Event. No event has occurred that would, if the Securities were outstanding, require an adjustment to the Conversion Rate for the Securities pursuant to the Indenture. |
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(n) DTC. The Securities shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC. |
If any condition specified in this Section 6 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice from Jefferies to the Company at any time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option Securities, at any time on or prior to the applicable Option Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 7, Section 9 and Section 10 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
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Section 8. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto. |
counsel) as such expenses are incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Representatives have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing) are the statements set forth in the third and fifth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the Final Prospectus Supplement. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 9(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 9(c) hereof, the indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and does not include an admission of fault or culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of such indemnified party. |
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 9(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 10; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 9(c) for purposes of indemnification.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 10.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public. 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 Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 10 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 10, each affiliate, director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 11. Any action taken under this Section 11 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of Jefferies and BofA is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Securities in the manner and on the terms described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the judgment of Jefferies and BofA there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment of Jefferies and BofA may interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured. Any termination pursuant to this Section 12 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 4 or Section 7 hereof or (b) any Underwriter to the Company; provided, however, that the provisions of Section 9 and Section 10 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. |
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Section 14. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement. |
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Section 15. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows: |
If to the Representatives:Jefferies LLC
520 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Facsimile: (646) 619-4437
Attention: General Counsel
BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036
Facsimile:
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:Latham & Watkins LLP
650 Town Center Drive, 20th Floor
Costa Mesa, California 92625
Facsimile: (714) 755-8290
Attention: Shayne Kennedy
If to the Company:Green Plains Inc.
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, Nebraska 68106
Facsimile: 402-952-4916
Attention: Chief Legal & Administration Officer
with a copy to:Husch Blackwell LLP
736 Georgia Avenue
Suite 300
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Facsimile: 423.266.5499
Attention: Rebecca Taylor
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.
reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable. |
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(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. |
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(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. |
For purposes of this Agreement, (A) “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); (B) “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); (C) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (D) “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. |
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 9 and the contribution provisions of Section 10, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Section 9 and Section 10 hereof fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, each free writing prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements to the foregoing), as contemplated by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
Electronic signatures complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Agreement. Transmission by telecopy, electronic mail or other transmission method of an executed counterpart of this Agreement will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Title: Chief Legal & Administration Officer
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representatives in New York, New York as of the date first above written.
Acting individually and as Representatives
of the several Underwriters named in
Name: Colyer Curtis
Title: Managing Director
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
By:/s/ Michael Wise
Name: Michael Wise
Title: Global Vice Chairman Equity Capital Markets
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GREEN PLAINS INC.
Issuer
AND
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of March 1, 2021
Table of Contents
SECTION 1.1DEFINITIONS OF TERMS..........................................................1
Article II ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES5
SECTION 2.1DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF SECURITIES................................5
SECTION 2.2FORM OF SECURITIES AND TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE..................7
SECTION 2.3DENOMINATIONS: PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENT..........................7
SECTION 2.4EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATIONS........................................9
SECTION 2.5REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE......................10
SECTION 2.6TEMPORARY SECURITIES........................................................11
SECTION 2.7MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN SECURITIES........12
SECTION 2.8CANCELLATION....................................................................12
SECTION 2.9BENEFITS OF INDENTURE......................................................12
SECTION 2.10AUTHENTICATING AGENT......................................................12
SECTION 2.11GLOBAL SECURITIES..............................................................13
Article III REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS14
SECTION 3.1REDEMPTION........................................................................14
SECTION 3.2NOTICE OF REDEMPTION......................................................14
SECTION 3.3PAYMENT UPON REDEMPTION..............................................15
SECTION 3.4SINKING FUND....................................................................16
SECTION 3.5SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.16
SECTION 3.6REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND..................16
SECTION 4.1PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST................17
SECTION 4.2MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY..................................17
SECTION 4.3PAYING AGENTS....................................................................17
SECTION 4.4APPOINTMENT TO FILL VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE......19
SECTION 4.5COMPLIANCE WITH CONSOLIDATION PROVISIONS................19
Article V SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE19
SECTION 5.1COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS.19
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SECTION 5.2PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS WITH SECURITYHOLDERS.19
SECTION 5.3REPORTS BY THE COMPANY..................................................20
SECTION 5.4REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE....................................................20
Article VI REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT20
SECTION 6.1EVENTS OF DEFAULT............................................................20
SECTION 6.2COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.22
SECTION 6.3APPLICATION OF MONEYS COLLECTED..................................23
SECTION 6.4LIMITATION ON SUITS..........................................................24
SECTION 6.5RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.24
SECTION 6.6CONTROL BY SECURITYHOLDERS..........................................25
SECTION 6.7UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS................................................25
Article VII CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE26
SECTION 7.1CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE............26
SECTION 7.2CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE................................................27
SECTION 7.3TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OR SECURITIES.28
SECTION 7.4MAY HOLD SECURITIES..........................................................28
SECTION 7.5MONEYS HELD IN TRUST......................................................28
SECTION 7.6COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT................................28
SECTION 7.7RELIANCE ON OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE..................................29
SECTION 7.8DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING INTERESTS......................29
SECTION 7.9CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY........................29
SECTION 7.10RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR..30
SECTION 7.11ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR....................31
SECTION 7.12MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.32
SECTION 7.13PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY.33
SECTION 7.14NOTICE OF DEFAULT............................................................33
Article VIII CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS33
SECTION 8.1EVIDENCE OF ACTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS........................33
SECTION 8.2PROOF OF EXECUTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS......................34
SECTION 8.3WHO MAY BE DEEMED OWNERS............................................34
SECTION 8.4CERTAIN SECURITIES OWNED BY COMPANY DISREGARDED....34
SECTION 8.5ACTIONS BINDING ON FUTURE SECURITYHOLDERS................35
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Article IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES35
SECTION 9.1SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.35
SECTION 9.2SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.36
SECTION 9.3EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES..............................37
SECTION 9.4SECURITIES AFFECTED BY SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES........37
SECTION 9.5EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES........................37
SECTION 10.1COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC......................................38
SECTION 10.2SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED........................................38
SECTION 10.3EVIDENCE OF CONSOLIDATION, ETC. TO TRUSTEE..................39
Article XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE39
SECTION 11.1SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE....................39
SECTION 11.2DISCHARGE OF OBLIGATIONS................................................39
SECTION 11.3DEPOSITED MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST............................40
SECTION 11.4PAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENTS....................40
SECTION 11.5REPAYMENT TO COMPANY....................................................40
Article XII IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS41
SECTION 12.1NO RECOURSE......................................................................41
Article XIII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS41
SECTION 13.1EFFECT ON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS................................41
SECTION 13.2ACTIONS BY SUCCESSOR......................................................41
SECTION 13.3SURRENDER OF COMPANY POWERS......................................41
SECTION 13.4NOTICES..............................................................................42
SECTION 13.5GOVERNING LAW..................................................................42
SECTION 13.6TREATMENT OF SECURITIES AS DEBT......................................42
SECTION 13.7COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS..........................42
SECTION 13.8PAYMENTS ON BUSINESS DAYS............................................43
SECTION 13.9CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT................................43
SECTION 13.10COUNTERPARTS....................................................................43
SECTION 13.11SEPARABILITY......................................................................43
SECTION 13.12COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES..................................................43
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INDENTURE
INDENTURE, dated as of March 1, 2021, among GREEN PLAINS INC., an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”):
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:
The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
“Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such Board.
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“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which federal or state banking institutions in New York, New York, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“Certificate” means a certificate signed by the chairman of the Board of Directors, any principal executive officer, any chief executive officer, any president, any senior vice president, any vice president, any principal financial officer or any principal accounting officer, any treasurer or any assistant treasurer, any controller or any assistant controller, any secretary or any assistant secretary of the Company. The Certificate need not comply with the provisions of Section 13.7.
“Company” means GREEN PLAINS INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Iowa, and, subject to the provisions of Article Ten, shall also include its successors and assigns.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, MN, 55402; Attention: Green Plains Inc. Administrator.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Sections 2.1 or 2.11.
“Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series, any event specified in Section 6.1, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.
“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
“Governmental Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation
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by the United States of America that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“Herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and other words of similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by a chief executive officer, a president, a senior vice president or a vice president and by the chief financial officer or the treasurer or an assistant treasurer or the controller or an assistant controller or the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.7, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing subject to customary exceptions of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.7, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.4, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying a agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article Three provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been
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made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.7.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.7 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any officer in the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Securities” means the debt Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securityholder,” “holder of Securities,” “registered holder,” or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.
“Trustee” means Wilmington Trust, National Association, and, subject to the provisions of Article Seven, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
“Voting Stock,” as applied to stock of any Person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
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(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto: |
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(i) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that series from all other Securities); |
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(ii) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series); |
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(iii) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable, any original issue discount that may apply to the Securities of that series upon their issuance, the principal amount due at maturity, and the place(s) of payment; |
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(iv) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any; |
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(v) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates, the place(s) of payment, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates or the manner of determination of such record dates; |
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(vi) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension; |
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(vii) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company; |
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(viii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, mandatory redemption, or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in satisfaction of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
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(ix) the form of the Securities of the series including the form of the Certificate of Authentication for such series; |
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(x) if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable; |
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(xi) any and all other terms (including terms, to the extent applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the Securities of that series and any security for the obligations of the Company with respect to such Securities) with respect to such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture, as amended by any supplemental indenture) including any terms which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series; |
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(xii) whether the Securities are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the terms and the identity of the Depositary for such series; |
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(xiii) whether the Securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock or other securities of the Company or any other Person and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at the Company’s option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, and the applicable conversion or exchange period; |
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(xiv) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1; |
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(xv) any additional or different Events of Default or restrictive covenants (which may include, among other restrictions, restrictions on the Company’s ability or the ability of the Company’s Subsidiaries to: incur additional indebtedness; issue additional securities; create liens; pay dividends or make distributions in respect of their capital stock; redeem capital stock; place restrictions on such Subsidiaries placing restrictions on their ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets; make investments or other restricted payments; sell or otherwise dispose of assets; enter into sale-leaseback transactions; engage in transactions with stockholders and affiliates; issue or sell stock of their Subsidiaries; or effect a consolidation or merger) or financial covenants (which may include, among other financial covenants, financial covenants that require the Company and its Subsidiaries to maintain specified interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based or asset-based ratios) provided for with respect to the Securities of the series; |
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(xvi) if other than dollars, the coin or currency in which the Securities of the series are denominated (including, but not limited to, foreign currency); |
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(xvii) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Company shall pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the
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Securities of the series to any Securityholder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes; and |
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(xviii) any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities of the series. |
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.
Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.
The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, and they may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.1(10). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. The principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose (which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office). Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.
The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of
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a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.3.
Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
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(i) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefore to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefore having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date. |
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(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee. |
Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities and any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the last
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day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its chief executive officer, or one of its presidents, or one of its senior vice presidents, or one of its vice presidents, or its chief financial officer, or its chief legal officer, or its treasurer, or one of its assistant treasurers, or its controller or one of its assistant controllers, or its secretary, or one of its assistant secretaries, under its corporate seal attested by its secretary or one of its assistant secretaries. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature.
The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been a chief executive officer, president, senior vice president or vice president thereof, chief financial officer, chief legal officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer, controller or assistant controller, secretary or assistant secretary thereof, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be such an officer of the Company. The seal of the Company may be in the form of a facsimile of such seal and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by a chief executive officer, president, senior vice president or any vice president, chief financial officer, chief legal officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer, controller or assistant controller, and its secretary or any assistant secretary, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.
In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities
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under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
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(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office, or such other location designated by the Company, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefore the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding. |
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(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose at the Corporate Trust Office, or such other location designated by the Company, a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed as authorized by Board Resolution (the “Security Registrar”). |
Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.
All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
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(c) Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.1 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, no service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.6, Section 3.3(b) and Section 9.4 not involving any transfer. |
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(d) The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or
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exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption, other than the unredeemed portion of any such Securities being redeemed in part. The provisions of this Section 2.5 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof. |
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefore (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office, or such other location designated by the Company, and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such
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security or indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.
Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities.
So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be
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acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.
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(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.1 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.4, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.” |
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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.5, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.5, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary. |
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(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Company has received a request from the Depositary, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.4, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no
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longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and, subject to Section 2.4, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered. |
The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
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(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with any right the Company reserved for itself to do so pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction. |
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office, or such other location designated by the Company, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date
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interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed.
In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
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(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 45 days’ notice in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by its chief executive officer, president or any senior vice president or vice president, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section. |
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(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an interest payment date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.3). |
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(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new
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Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented. |
The provisions of Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.5. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.5 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.2. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.3.
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The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities. Payments of principal on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account (such a wire transfer to be made only to a Securityholder of an aggregate principal amount of Securities of the applicable series in excess of two million U.S. dollars ($2,000,000) and only if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions to the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date). Payments of interest on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account (such a wire transfer to be made only to a Securityholder of an aggregate principal amount of Securities of the applicable series in excess of two million U.S. dollars ($2,000,000) and only if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions in writing to the Security Registrar and the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date).
So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency, with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.2, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as herein above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by any officer authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. The Corporate Trust Office shall be such office or agency of the Company unless the Company shall designate and maintain some other office or agency for one or more of such purposes. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, notices and demands. The Company initially appoints the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as its paying agent with respect to the Securities.
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(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and
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deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section: |
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(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto; |
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(ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable; |
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(iii) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and |
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(iv) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture. |
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(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act. |
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The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
The Company will not, while any of the Securities remain Outstanding, consolidate with or merge into any other Person, in either case where the Company is not the survivor of such transaction, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article Ten hereof are complied with.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) on each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.3) a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
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(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.1 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity). |
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(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. |
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(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and, in connection with any such communications, the Trustee shall satisfy its obligations under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the provisions of Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. |
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The Company covenants and agrees to provide a copy to the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Securities and Exchange Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
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(a) On or before March 1 in each year in which any of the Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding May 1, if and to the extent required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. |
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(b) The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. |
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(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any securities exchange. |
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(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing: |
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(i) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; |
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(ii) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any; |
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(iii) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding; |
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(iv) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or |
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(v) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days. |
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(b) In each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above), unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the holders of the Securities. |
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(c) At any time after the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the
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nonpayment of principal on (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on Securities of that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.6. |
No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
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(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken. |
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(a) The Company covenants that (i) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series, and such default shall have continued for a period of 90 Business Days, or (ii) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series as and when the same shall have become due and payable, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6. |
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(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law or equity out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated. |
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(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided
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by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.6. |
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(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.6, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series. |
In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of reasonable costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6;
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of
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which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person lawfully entitled thereto.
No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; (iv) the Trustee for 90 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (v) during such 90 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or any other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
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(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.7, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the
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holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities. |
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(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders. |
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.4, shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed, subject to the Trustee’s duties under the Trust Indenture Act, would involve the Trustee in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the Securityholders not involved in the proceeding. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.4, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.1 with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.1(c)). Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit
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instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
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(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. |
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(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: |
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(i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred: |
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(A) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and |
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(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirement of this Indenture; |
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(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; |
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(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series; and |
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(iv) None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it. |
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:
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(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; |
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(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument signed in the name of the Company by any authorized officer of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein); |
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(c) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon; |
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(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived), to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs; |
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(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; |
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(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent,
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order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby (determined as provided in Section 8.4); provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such examination shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand; and |
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(g) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder. |
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(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. |
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(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. |
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(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.1, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee. |
The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Security Registrar.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.5, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
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(a) The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in
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regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as the Company and the Trustee may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith and except as the Company and Trustee may from time to time agree in writing. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises. |
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(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Securities. |
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it reasonably necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Securities and Exchange Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having (or, in the case of a subsidiary of a bank holding company, its bank holding company parent shall have) a combined capital and surplus of
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at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority.
If such corporation or other Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or other Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
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(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee. |
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(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur: |
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(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or |
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(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.9 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or |
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(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation; |
then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of
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Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
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(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company. |
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(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11. |
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(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series. |
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(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder. |
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(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates, (ii) shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute
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such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates. |
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(c) Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be. |
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(d) No successor trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article. |
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(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company. |
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including the administration of the trust created by this Indenture), shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.8 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.9, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
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The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
If any Default or any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if such Default or Event of Default is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act notice of the Default or Event of Default within 45 days after it occurs, unless such Default or Event of Default has been cured; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Securityholders.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.
If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless
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it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
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(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee. |
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(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof. |
The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.3) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
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At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.
In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
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(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series; |
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(b) to comply with Article Ten; |
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(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; |
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(d) to add to the covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions relating to the Company for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; |
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(e) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth; |
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(f) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect; |
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(g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.1, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities; |
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(h) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee; or |
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(i) to comply with any requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. |
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.1) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.1 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby, (a) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
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Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.1, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.1, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any securities exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, may receive an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution thereof; provided, however, that such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
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Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.1 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other corporation (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company is not the survivor of such transaction), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of (premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.1 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect) reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property and (b) in the event that the Securities of any series then Outstanding are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock or other securities of the Company, such entity shall, by such supplemental indenture, make provision so that the Securityholders of Securities of that series shall thereafter be entitled to receive upon conversion or exchange of such Securities the number of securities or property to which a holder of the number of shares of common stock or other securities of the Company deliverable upon conversion or exchange of those Securities would have been entitled had such conversion or exchange occurred immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition.
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(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the obligations set forth under Section 10.1 on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities. |
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(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate. |
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(c) Nothing contained in this Article shall require any action by the Company in the case of a consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company where the Company is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company). |
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, may receive an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with the provisions of this Article.
If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated and not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (other than any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.7 and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.5); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 7.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.6 and 11.5, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.
If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.1 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds moneys or an
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amount of Governmental Obligations sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 7.6, 7.10 and 11.5 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid.
Thereafter, Sections 7.6 and 11.5 shall survive.
All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.1 or 11.2 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.
Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, or such other shorter period set forth in applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or upon the Company’s request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as a general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.
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No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture made by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any successor corporation.
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Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice, request or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc., 9420 Underwood Ave., Suite 100, Omaha, Nebraska 68114, Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
It is intended that the Securities will be treated as indebtedness and not as equity for federal income tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention.
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(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished. |
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(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (i) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is reasonably necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with. |
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Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.1 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year during which any Securities of any series were outstanding, an Officers’ Certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during such fiscal year. Such certificate shall contain a certification from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company that a review has been conducted of the activities of the Company and the Company’s performance under this Indenture and that the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 13.12, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture. If any of the officers of the Company signing such certificate has knowledge of such a Default or Event of Default, the certificate shall describe any such Default or Event of Default and its status.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
GREEN PLAINS INC.
By:/s/ Todd Becker
Name:Todd Becker
Title:President and Chief Executive Officer
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:/s/ Barry D. Somrock
Name:Barry D. Somrock
Title:Vice President
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Green Plains Inc.
as Issuer
2.25% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of March 1, 2021
Wilmington trust, National Association
as Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE; SCOPE AND INTERPRETATION OF BASE INDENTURE1
Interpretation; Scope of Supplemental Indenture; Supersession of Base Indenture.11
Designation, Amount and Issuance of Notes13
Execution and Authentication18
Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent19
Money and Securities Held in Trust20
REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER27
Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require the Company to Repurchase the Notes27
Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice29
Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice30
Effect of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice31
Covenant to Comply With Securities laws Upon Repurchase of Notes32
Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price32
Covenant Not to Repurchase Notes Upon Certain Events of Default32
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Restriction on Purchases by the Company and by Affiliates of the Company34
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws35
Further Instruments and Acts35
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS35
Company May Consolidate, Merge or Sell Its Assets Only on Certain Terms35
Sole Remedy for Failure to Report39
Rights of Holders To Receive Payment41
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim41
Individual Rights of Trustee44
Successor Trustee by Merger47
Eligibility; Disqualification47
Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company47
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE48
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Discharge of Liability on Notes48
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS48
Execution of Supplemental Indentures50
Notices of Supplemental Indentures50
Effect of Supplemental Indentures51
Revocation and Effect of Consents, Waivers and Actions51
Notation on, or Exchange of, Notes51
Settlement Upon Conversion.56
Common Stock Issued Upon Conversion.58
Adjustment of Conversion Rate59
Adjustments Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change69
Effect of Recapitalization, Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale70
No Responsibility of Trustee or Conversion Agent73
REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY73
Effect of Redemption Notice75
Deposit of Redemption Price75
Covenant Not to Redeem Notes Upon Certain Events of Default76
Trust Indenture Act Controls76
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent77
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion78
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.78
Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial78
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Table of Contents; Headings79
No Security Interest Created80
Form of Note.............................................................................................................................A-1
Form of Transfer Certificate.............................................................................................................B-1
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FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 1, 2021, between Green Plains Inc., an Iowa corporation (“Company”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (“Trustee”), to the Base Indenture (as defined below).
This Supplemental Indenture (as defined below) is being executed and delivered pursuant to Article II of the Base Indenture to establish the terms, and provide for the issuance, of a new series of Securities (as defined in the Base Indenture) constituting the Company’s 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Notes:
Section 1.01 Definitions.
Subject to the last paragraph of Section 1.03, capitalized terms used in this Supplemental Indenture without definition have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Base Indenture. For purposes of the Notes, the following additional definitions will apply and supersede any conflicting definitions in the Base Indenture.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or any beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Note, in each case to the extent applicable to such transfer or transaction and as in effect from time to time.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar U.S. federal, state or non-U.S. law for the relief of debtors.
“Base Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2021, between the Company and the Trustee.
“Bid Solicitation Agent” means the Person who shall solicit and obtain bids for the Trading Price in accordance with Section 10.01(b)(ii) and the definition of Trading Price set forth herein. The initial Bid Solicitation Agent shall be the Company, and the Company shall have the right to thereafter appoint any other Person to be the Bid Solicitation Agent without prior notice.
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“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or a committee of such board duly authorized to act for it.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the place of payment is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed.
“Capital Stock” means, for any Person, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of, or interests in (however designated), the equity of such Person, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.
“Close of Business” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.
“Common Stock” means the shares of the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, or any other shares of Capital Stock of the Company into which such shares of common stock will be reclassified or changed.
“Company” means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture until a successor or assignee replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, thereafter, means the successor or assignee.
“Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any Officer.
“Conversion Price” means, at any time, (i) $1,000 divided by (ii) the Conversion Rate in effect at such time.
“Conversion Rate” means, initially, 31.6206 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the corporate trust office of the Trustee at which the trust created by this Indenture will be administered, which office, as of the Issue Date, is located at Wilmington Trust, National Association, Global Capital Markets, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: Green Plains Inc. Administrator, and may later be located at such other address as the Trustee, upon delivering notice to the Holders, the Paying Agent, the Conversion Agent, the Registrar and the Company, designates.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Daily Conversion Value” means, for any Trading Day, (1) the product (x) the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on such Trading Day and (y) the Daily VWAP on such Trading Day, divided by (2) twenty five (25).
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“Daily Settlement Amount” means, with respect to each of the 25 consecutive Trading Days during an Observation Period for a conversion of any Notes, (i) cash equal to the lesser of (x) the Specified Dollar Amount applicable to such conversion, divided by twenty five (25) (such quotient, the “Daily Measurement Value”); and (y) the Daily Conversion Value on such Trading Day (the lesser of such preceding clauses (x) and (y), the “Daily Cash Amount”); and (ii) if such Daily Conversion Value exceeds such Daily Measurement Value, a number of shares of Common Stock (such number, the “Daily Share Amount”) equal to (x) the difference between such Daily Conversion Value and such Daily Measurement Value, divided by (y) the Daily VWAP for such Trading Day.
“Daily VWAP” means, for any Trading Day, the per share volume-weighted average price per share of Common Stock as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “GPRE <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of Common Stock on such Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company). The Daily VWAP will be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Default Settlement Method” will initially be Combination Settlement with a specified dollar amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes equal to $1,000; provided, however, that the Company may, from time to time, change the Default Settlement Method by sending written notice of the new Default Settlement Method to Holders, with a copy to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent.
“Deferral Exception” means the provisions set forth in Section 10.05(l).
“Definitive Notes” means Notes that are in registered definitive form.
“Depositary” means DTC; provided that the Company may at any time, upon delivering notice to the Holders, the Company, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent, appoint a successor Depositary.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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1 “Fundamental Change” means an event that will be deemed to occur if any of the following occurs: |
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(i) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act other than the Company, its Subsidiaries, and the Company and its Subsidiaries’ employee benefit plans, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined below) of shares of
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the Company’s common equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s common equity; |
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(ii) the consummation of: |
any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person; or
any transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which (whether by means of exchange, liquidation, consolidation, merger, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, acquisition or otherwise) all of the Common Stock is exchanged for, converted into, acquired for, or constitutes solely the right to receive, other securities, other property, assets or cash; provided, however, that any merger, consolidation, share exchange or combination of the Company pursuant to which the persons that “beneficially owned” (as defined below), directly or indirectly, the shares of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, immediately after such transaction, shares of the Voting Stock of the surviving, continuing or acquiring corporation, or the parent thereof, representing more than 50% of the total outstanding voting power of all outstanding classes of Voting Stock of the surviving, continuing or acquiring corporation, or the parent thereof, as applicable, in substantially the same proportions vis-à-vis each other as immediately prior to such transaction, will not constitute a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (ii);
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(iii) the Company’s stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or |
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(iv) the Common Stock ceases to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Global Select Market (or any of their respective successors). |
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2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, a transaction or event described in clause (ii) above will not constitute a Fundamental Change if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by the holders of the Common Stock, excluding cash payments for fractional shares or dissenters rights in connection with the transaction or transactions, consists of shares of common stock traded on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Global Select Market (or any of their respective successors) or which will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or event and as a result of such transaction or event, the Notes become convertible or exchangeable (assuming Physical Settlement) solely into such consideration (excluding cash payable in lieu of any fractional share) in accordance with Section 10.08 hereof. |
a person is a “beneficial owner” or whether shares are “beneficially owned” will be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. |
“Global Note” means a permanent global note that is in the form of the Note attached hereto as Exhibit A and that is registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary and deposited with the Depositary, the nominee of the Depositary or a custodian appointed by the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary.
“Global Notes Legend” means the legend identified as such in Exhibit A hereto.
“Holder” or “Holders” means a Person or Persons in whose name a Note is registered in the Register.
“Indenture” means the Base Indenture, as amended by this Supplemental Indenture, and as the same may be further amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Issue Date” means March 1, 2021.
“Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock on any date means the closing sale or trading price (or, if no closing sale or trading price is reported, the average of the last bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average last bid and the average last ask prices) per share of the Common Stock on such date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded. If the Common Stock is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on such date, the “Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock will be the last quoted bid price per share for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on such date as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If the Common Stock is not so quoted, the “Last Reported Sale Price” will be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices per share for the Common Stock on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Company for this purpose.
“Market Disruption Event” means, (i) for purposes of determining whether the Notes will be convertible pursuant to Section 10.01(b), the occurrence or existence during the one-half hour period ending on the scheduled close of trading on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed for trading of any material suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or future contracts relating to the Common Stock; and (ii) for purposes of determining any Observation Period, (A) a failure by the primary U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading to open for trading during its regular trading session or (B) the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Scheduled Trading Day for the Common Stock for more than one half-hour period in the aggregate during regular trading hours of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options, contracts or future contracts relating to the Common Stock.
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“Notes” means any of the Company’s 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 issued under the Indenture.
“Observation Period” means, with respect to any Note surrendered for conversion, (i) subject to clause (ii) below, if the Conversion Date for such conversion is before the twenty eighth (28th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Maturity Date, the twenty five (25) consecutive Trading Days beginning on, and including, the second Trading Day after such Conversion Date; (ii) if such Conversion Date occurs on or after the date the Company has sent a Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 11.03 and before the related Redemption Date, the twenty five (25) consecutive Trading Days beginning on, and including, the twenty sixth (26th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date; and (iii) subject to clause (ii) above, if such Conversion Date occurs on or after the twenty eighth (28th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Maturity Date, the twenty five (25) consecutive Trading Days beginning on, and including, the twenty sixth (26th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Chief Legal Officer, the Administration Officer, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a written certificate containing the information specified in Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof, signed in the name of the Company by any two Officers, and delivered to the Trustee; provided, that, if such certificate is given pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof, (i) one of the Officers signing such certificate must be the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and (ii) such certificate need not contain the information specified in Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof.
“Open of Business” means 9:00 a.m., New York City time.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion containing the information specified in Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof, from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of, or counsel to, the Company who is reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.
“Option” means the option of the Underwriters, pursuant to Section 3(b) of the Underwriting Agreement, to purchase up to $30,000,000 aggregate principal amount of additional Notes from the Company.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Preliminary Prospectus Supplement” means the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering of the Notes dated February 24, 2021.
“Pricing Term Sheet” means the Pricing Term Sheet attached to the Underwriting Agreement as Schedule II thereto.
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“Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.
“Scheduled Trading Day” means a day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading; provided, however, that if the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, then “Scheduled Trading day” means a Business Day.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Settlement Method” means Cash Settlement, Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is a “significant subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Exchange Act.
“Specified Dollar Amount” means, with respect to the conversion of any Note with respect to which Combination Settlement applies, the maximum cash amount per $1,000 principal amount of such Note being converted to be received upon such conversion (excluding cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock), as specified in the notice specifying the Company’s elected Settlement Method for such conversion or as deemed to be so specified pursuant to Section 10.03(a)(i).
“Stock Price” means, for any Make-Whole Fundamental Change, (i) if the holders of the Common Stock receive only cash in consideration for their shares of Common Stock in such Make-Whole Fundamental Change and such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is of the type described in clause (ii) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the amount of cash paid per share of the Common Stock in such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, and (ii) otherwise, the average of the Last Reported Sales Price of the Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Make-Whole Fundamental Change Effective Date for such Make-Whole Fundamental Change.
“Subsidiary” means a Person more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company.
“Supplemental Indenture” means this First Supplemental Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in effect on the Issue Date; provided, however, that if the TIA is amended after such date, TIA means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the TIA as so amended.
“Trading Day” means a day on which (i) trading in the Common Stock (or other security for which a closing sale price must be determined) generally occurs on The Nasdaq Global Select
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Market or, if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not then listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock (or such other security) is then listed or, if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock (or such other security) is then listed or admitted for trading; (ii) there is no Market Disruption Event; and (iii) a closing price for the Common Stock (or such other security) is available on such securities exchange; provided, however, that if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not so listed or traded, then “Trading Day” means a Business Day; provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Consideration due upon any conversion of a Note, (x) “Trading Day” means a day on which (A) there is no Market Disruption Event and (B) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on The Nasdaq Global Select Market or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted for trading; and (y) if the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.
“Trading Price” means, with respect to the Notes on any date of determination, the average of the secondary market bid quotations obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent for $2.0 million principal amount of Notes at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such determination date from three independent nationally recognized securities dealers selected by the Company; provided, however, that if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent but two such bids are obtained, then the average of the two (2) bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent, that one bid shall be used. If the Bid Solicitation Agent cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for $2.0 million principal amount of the Notes from a nationally recognized securities dealer on any Trading Day, then the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes on such Trading Day will be deemed to be less than ninety eight percent (98%) of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on such Trading Day. If (x) the Company is not acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, and the Company does not, when the Company is required to, instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent in writing to obtain bids, or if the Company gives such written instruction to the Bid Solicitation Agent, and the Bid Solicitation Agent fails to make such determination or (y) the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, and the Company fails to make such determination, then, in either case, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes will be deemed to be less than ninety eight percent (98%) of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on each Trading Day of such failure.
“Transfer Agent” means, initially, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity as the transfer agent for the transfer agent for the Common Stock, and any successor entity acting in such capacity.
“Trust Officer” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter hereunder, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
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“Trustee” means the party named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture and, thereafter, means such successor. The foregoing sentence will likewise apply to any such subsequent successor or successors.
“Underwriters” means Jefferies LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Truist Securities, Inc.
“Underwriting Agreement” means the underwriting agreement, dated February 24, 2021, between the Company and the Underwriters.
“Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the Issue Date.
“Voting Stock” of a Person means Capital Stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Capital Stock of any other class or classes will have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
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Term Section: |
Defined in: |
“Act” |
1.05 |
“Additional Shares” |
10.07(a) |
“Agent Members” |
2.02(c) |
“Averaging Period” |
10.05(e) |
“Cash Settlement” |
10.03(a) |
“Combination Settlement” |
10.03(a) |
“Common Stock Change Event” |
10.08(a) |
“Conversion Agent” |
2.06(a) |
“Conversion Consideration” |
10.03(a)(ii) |
“Conversion Date” |
10.02(a) |
“Conversion Notice” |
10.02(a) |
“Defaulted Amount” |
2.04(d) |
“Default Interest” |
2.04(d) |
“Effective Date” |
10.05(m) |
“Event of Default” |
6.01(a) |
“Ex-Dividend Date” |
10.05(m) |
“Expiration Time” |
10.05(e) |
“Extension Fee” |
6.04(a) |
“Fundamental Change Notice” |
3.02(a) |
“Fundamental Change Notice Date” |
3.02(a) |
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” |
3.01(c) |
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” |
3.03(a)(A) |
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” |
3.01(b) |
“Interest Payment Date” |
2.04(a) |
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.
(1)a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2)an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it and will be construed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles;
(3)“or” is not exclusive;
(4)“including” means including, without limitation;
(5)words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular, unless the context requires otherwise;
(6)all references to $, dollars, cash payments or money refer to United States currency;
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(7)each Article, Section, clause or paragraph reference in this Supplemental Indenture refers to the referenced Article, Section, clause or paragraph, as applicable, of this Supplemental Indenture;
(8)unless the context requires otherwise, all references to interest on the Notes (a) will include any Extension Fee payable pursuant to Section 6.04 hereof, (b) but, for the avoidance of doubt, will not include any Default Interest payable on a Defaulted Amount pursuant to the terms of Section 2.04 hereof; and
(9)unless otherwise provided in this Indenture or in any Note, the words “execute”, “execution”, “signed”, and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture, any Note or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other modifications) will be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which will be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Trustee pursuant to reasonable procedures approved by the Trustee.
For purposes of the Indenture, the following terms of the Trust Indenture Act have the following meanings:
(i)“Commission” means the SEC;
(ii)“indenture securities” means the Notes;
(iii)“indenture security holder” means a Holder;
(iv)“indenture to be qualified” means the Indenture;
(v)“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and
(vi)“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company.
All other terms used in the Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act (including by reference to another statute) or the related rules of the SEC, and not defined in the Indenture, have the respective meanings so defined by the Trust Indenture Act or such rules.
Section 1.04 Interpretation; Scope of Supplemental Indenture; Supersession of Base Indenture.
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(A) Generally. The amendments to the Base Indenture made by this Supplemental
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Indenture will apply solely with respect to the Notes and not with respect to any other class or series of Securities. For purposes of the Notes, if any provision of this Supplemental Indenture conflicts with any provision of the Base Indenture, then this Supplemental Indenture will control to the extent of such conflict. |
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(i) Article II of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 2 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(ii) Section 5.3 of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Section 4.02 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(iii) Section 13.12 of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Section 4.03 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(iv) Article III of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 11 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(v) Article VI of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 6; |
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(vi) Article VII of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 7 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(vii) Article IX of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 9 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(viii) Article X of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 5 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(ix) Article XI of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 8 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(x) Article XIII of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 12 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
Each reference in the Base Indenture to any Articles or Sections (or part of any Articles or Sections) of the Base Indenture referred to in the preceding clauses of this Section 1.04(B) will, for purposes of the Notes, be deemed instead to be a reference to the respective Articles and Sections (or corresponding part of the respective Articles or Sections) referred to in the preceding clauses of this Section 1.04(B).
Section 1.05 Acts of Holders. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by
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such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action will become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent will be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to such officer the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than such signer’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit will also constitute sufficient proof of such signer’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Note will bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, the Company, the Paying Agent, the Conversion Agent or the Registrar in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.
If the Company will solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company will have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the Close of Business on such record date will be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and, for that purpose, the outstanding Notes will be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date will be deemed effective unless it will become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
Section 2.01 Designation, Amount and Issuance of Notes.
exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.09, 2.10, 2.11, 3.06 and 10.02 hereof. In addition, the Company may issue an unlimited aggregate principal amount of additional Notes in accordance with clause (b) of this Section 2.01. |
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(a) General. The Notes will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, but may include any notations, legends or endorsements required by any applicable law (or regulation promulgated thereunder), stock exchange rule or usage, or any insertions, omissions or other variations otherwise permitted or required by this Indenture. Whenever any such notation, legend or endorsement, or any such insertion, omission or other variation is applicable to a Note, the Company will provide such notation, legend or endorsement, or such insertion, omission or other variation to the Trustee in writing. |
Each Note will bear a Trustee’s certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
Notes that are Global Notes will bear the Global Notes Legend and the “Schedule of Increases and Decreases of Global Note” attached thereto.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent that any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture will govern and control.
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(c) Initial and Subsequent Notes. The Notes initially will be issued in global form, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary, and deposited with the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, as custodian for the Depositary. Except to the extent provided in Section 2.09(c) hereof, all Notes will be represented by one or more Global Notes. |
reduced or increased to reflect transfers, exchanges, conversions, redemptions or repurchases by the Company. |
Only the Trustee, or the custodian holding such Global Note for the Depositary, at the direction of the Trustee, may endorse a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes represented thereby, and whenever the Holder of a Global Note delivers instructions to the Trustee to increase or decrease the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes represented by a Global Note in accordance with Section 2.09 hereof, the Trustee, or the custodian holding such Global Note for the Depositary, at the direction of the Trustee, will endorse such Global Note to reflect such increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes represented thereby. None of the Trustee, the Company or any agent of the Trustee or the Company will have any responsibility or bear any liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, the ownership of any beneficial interest in a Global Note or with respect to maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interest.
Neither any member of, or participant in, the Depositary (collectively, the “Agent Members”) nor any other Person on whose behalf an Agent Member may act will have any rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note or under such Global Note, and the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee, may, for all purposes, treat the Depositary, or its nominee, if any, as the absolute owner and Holder of such Global Note.
The Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action that such Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes with respect to such Global Note, and, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein will prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or any agent of the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by such Holder or impair, as between the Depositary, its Agent Members and any other Person on whose behalf an Agent Member may act, the operation of their respective customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any interest in any Global Note.
Section 2.03 Denomination of Notes. The Notes will be issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 principal amount and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Section 2.04 Payments.
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(ii) Payment of Interest. Each Note will accrue interest at a rate equal to 2.25% per annum from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, or, if no
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interest has been paid or duly provided for, the Issue Date (or such other date provided for in Section 2.01(b) with respect to Notes issued in accordance with such Section) until, subject to the provisions of clause (d) of this Section 2.04, the date the principal amount of such Note is paid or deemed paid, as the case may be, pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.04(a) or any of Sections 3.05, 10.03 or 11.06 hereof. |
Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), beginning September 15, 2021 (or such other date provided for in Section 2.01(b) with respect to Notes issued in accordance with such Section), to the Holder of each such Note as of the Close of Business on the March 1 and September 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date (each such date, a “Regular Record Date”), regardless of whether such Note is converted, repurchased or redeemed after such Regular Record Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
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(iii) Method of Payment. The Company will pay the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, and the interest on, any Global Note to the Depositary by wire transfer of immediately available funds on the relevant payment date. |
The Company will pay the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price for, and any interest due on the Maturity Date on, any Definitive Note in cash to the applicable Holder of such Note at the office of the Paying Agent on the relevant payment date.
The Company will pay interest due, on an Interest Payment Date, on any Definitive Note (except interest due on the Maturity Date) to the applicable Holder of such Note (i) if such Holder holds $5,000,000 or less aggregate principal amount of Notes, by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address, and (ii) if such Holder holds more than $5,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, (A) by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address or (B) if such Holder delivers, not later than the Regular Record Date relating to such Interest Payment Date, a written request to the Registrar that the Company make such payments by wire transfer to an account of such Holder within the United States, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account, which request shall remain in effect until such Holder notifies, in writing, the Registrar to the contrary.
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(e) Interest Rights Preserved. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.04(d) hereof, and, to the extent applicable, Sections 2.09 and 2.10 hereof, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, any other Note will carry any rights to the payment and accrual of interest that were carried by the relevant surrendered Note, Notes, or portion(s) thereof. |
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(f) Extension Fee. Pursuant to Section 6.04 hereof, in certain circumstances, the Company may, at its election, be obligated to pay Holders the Extension Fee. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this Indenture to interest on the Notes will include such Extension Fee, but will not include any Default Interest payable pursuant to Section 2.04(d) hereof. |
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(A) At least 30 days before the date on which the Company proposes to pay such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon, the Company will deliver to the Trustee written notice of (I) the proposed payment date for such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon and (II) the aggregate amount of such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon. |
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(B) Simultaneously with delivering such notice to the Trustee, the Company will either (I) deposit with the Trustee an amount of money, in immediately available funds, equal to the aggregate amount of such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon, or (II) take other actions that the Trustee deems reasonably satisfactory to ensure that an amount of money, in immediately available funds, equal to the aggregate of such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon will be deposited with the Trustee by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day that is five Business Days prior to the proposed payment date, and in either case, upon receipt of such money, the Trustee will hold such money in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest pursuant to this Section 2.04(d)(i). |
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(C) Upon (i) receipt of such notice and (ii) the Company’s depositing such money or taking such other actions reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the Company will promptly fix a Special Regular Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon, which Special Regular Record Date will be not more than 15 calendar days and not less than 10 days prior to the proposed payment date, and notify the Trustee of the Special Regular Record Date. The Trustee will then, in the name and at the expense of the Company, deliver notice to each Holder specifying such Special Regular Record Date and the date on which such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon will be paid by the Company. |
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(D) After such notice has been delivered by the Trustee, such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon will be paid to the Persons in whose names
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the Notes (or their respective predecessor Notes) are registered at the Close of Business on the Special Regular Record Date specified in such notice and such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon will no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii) of this Section 2.04(d)(i). |
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(a) In General. A Note will be valid only if executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee. |
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent. If the Trustee appoints an authenticating agent and such authenticating agent is reasonably acceptable to the Company, such authenticating agent may authenticate a Note whenever the Trustee may authenticate such Note. For purposes of this provision, each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee will be deemed to include authentication by an authenticating agent, and an authenticating agent will have the same rights to deal with the Company as the Trustee would have if it were performing the duties that the authentication agent was validly appointed to undertake.
Section 2.06 Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent.
“Paying Agent”), an office or agency where the Notes may be presented for conversion (the “Conversion Agent”) and an office or agency where notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served. |
The Registrar will keep a register for the recordation of, and will record, the names and addresses of Holders, the Notes held by each Holder and the transfer, exchange, repurchase, redemption and conversion of Notes (the “Register”). Absent manifest error, the entries in the Register will be conclusive and the parties may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Holder hereunder for all purposes of this Indenture. The Register will be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonably prompt period of time.
The Company may have one or more registrars, one or more paying agents, one or more conversion agents and one or more places where notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served. Before appointing any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent that is not otherwise a party to this agreement, the Company will enter into an appropriate agency agreement with such Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as the case may be, which agency agreement will implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such replacement or additional registrar, paying agent or conversion agent, as the case may be. The term Registrar includes any additional registrars named pursuant to this Indenture. The term Paying Agent includes any additional paying agent named pursuant to this Indenture. The term Conversion Agent includes any additional conversion agent named pursuant to this Indenture. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default under Section 6.01(a)(ix) or 6.01(a)(x) with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall be the Paying Agent.
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(j) Initial Designations. The Company initially appoints the Trustee as each of the Registrar, the Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, and the Notes initially may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange, payment, repurchase, redemption and conversion to the Trustee, in its capacity as the Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as the case may be, at the Corporate Trust Office. Notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served at the Corporate Trust Office; provided, however, that no office of the Trustee shall be an office or agency of the Company for purposes of service of legal process on the Company. |
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(k) Removal, Resignation and Replacement. The Company may remove any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent by delivering written notice to the Trustee and to such Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent; provided, however, that no such removal will become effective unless (i) after such removal, at least one Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent will remain; (ii) a successor has accepted appointment as Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as the case may be, the Company and such successor have entered into an agency agreement in accordance with Section 2.06(a) hereof, and the Company has delivered written notice of such appointment and a copy of such agency agreement to the Trustee, or (iii) the Company has delivered written notice to the Trustee that the Trustee will serve as the successor Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 2.06(d) hereof; and provided, further, that the right to effect any such change or removal in no way relieves the Company of its obligation to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent in the continental United States. The Company may also change the place where
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notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served, or reduce the number of such places; provided, however, that the right to effect any such change or reduction in no way relieves the Company of its obligation to maintain a place in the continental United States where notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served. |
In addition, the Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent may resign at any time by delivering written notice of such resignation to each of the Company and the Trustee; provided, however, that if the Trustee is serving as Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, the Trustee may resign from such capacity only if it also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.07 hereof. If, after any such resignation, at least one Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent does not remain, the Trustee will immediately be deemed to serve such empty office or agency in accordance with Section 2.06(d) hereof.
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(m) Notices. Promptly upon the effectiveness of any removal or appointment of a Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, or upon any change in the location of the office of any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, or of the place where notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served, the Company will deliver to each Holder notice of such removal, appointment or change in location, as the case may be, which notice will include a brief description of the removal, appointment or change in location, as the case may be, and list the name and address of each continuing (and newly appointed, if applicable) Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent and place where notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served. |
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Except as otherwise provided herein, by no later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each due date for a payment on any Note, the Company will deposit with the Paying Agent an amount of money in immediately available funds, if deposited on the due date sufficient to make such payment when due.
The Company will require that each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee, if the Trustee is a Paying Agent) agree in writing that it will (i) segregate all money and securities it holds for making payments with respect to the Notes; (ii) hold such money and securities in trust for the benefit of Holders; and (iii) notify the Trustee, in writing, as promptly as practicable, if the Company defaults in making any payment on the Notes.
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If any such default has occurred and is continuing, the Paying Agent will, upon receiving a written request from the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all of the money and securities it holds in trust. In addition, at any time, the Company may require a Paying Agent to pay all money and securities that it holds for making payments with respect to the Notes to the Trustee and to account for any money and securities it has disbursed. After delivering all of such money and securities to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 2.07, the Paying Agent (in its capacity as such) will have no further liability for such money and securities.
Section 2.08 Holder Lists.
The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee, (i) within five Business Days after each Regular Record Date, a list of the names and addresses of Holders as of such Regular Record Date, and (ii) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of such request, a list of the names and addresses of Holders as of no more than 15 days immediately prior to the date such list is furnished, in each case, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require.
Section 2.09 Transfer and Exchange.
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(a) Provisions Applicable to All Transfers and Exchanges. |
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(i) Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.09, Definitive Notes and beneficial interests in Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged from time to time as desired, and each such transfer or exchange will be noted by the Registrar in the Register. |
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(ii) All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange in accordance with this Indenture will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange. |
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(iii) No service charge will be imposed on any Holder of a Definitive Note or any owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note for any exchange or registration of transfer, but each of the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar may require such Holder or owner of a beneficial interest to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed in connection with such registration of transfer or exchange. |
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(iv) Unless the Company specifies otherwise, none of the Company, the Trustee, the Registrar or any co-registrar will be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Note (i) surrendered for conversion, except to the extent that any portion of such Note has not been surrendered for conversion, (ii) subject to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice validly delivered pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, except to the extent any portion of such Note is not subject to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or the Company fails to pay the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Price when due, or (iii) after the Company has delivered a Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 11.03 hereof, except to the extent the Company fails to pay the applicable Redemption Price when due. |
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(v) The Trustee will have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on Transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. |
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(n) In General; Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. So long as the Notes are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depositary (unless otherwise required by law and except to the extent required by Section 2.09(c) hereof): |
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(i) all Notes will be represented by one or more Global Notes; |
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(ii) every transfer and exchange of a beneficial interest in a Global Note will be effected through the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the provisions of this Indenture; and |
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(iii) each Global Note may be transferred only as a whole and only (A) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, (B) by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or (C) by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. |
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(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, each Global Note will be exchanged for Definitive Notes if the Depositary delivers notice to the Company that: |
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(I) the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary; or |
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(II) the Depositary is no longer registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, |
and, in each case, the Company promptly delivers a copy of such notice to the Trustee and the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days after receiving notice from the Depositary.
In each such case, (1) each Global Note will be deemed surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, (2) the Trustee will promptly cancel each such Global Note in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, (3) the Company, (x) in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly execute, for each beneficial interest in each Global Note so cancelled, an aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes equal to the aggregate principal amount of such beneficial interest, registered in such name and authorized denominations as the Depositary specifies, and bearing such legends as such Definitive Notes are required to bear under Section 2.02 hereof, and, (y) as provided in Section 2.05(c) hereof, will promptly deliver to the Trustee such Definitive Notes and a Company Order including the information specified in Section 2.05(c) hereof with
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respect to such Definitive Notes, and (4) the Trustee, upon receipt of such Definitive Notes and such Company Order, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly authenticate, and deliver to the Holder specified in such Company Order, such Definitive Notes.
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(ii) In addition: |
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(I) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for Definitive Notes by delivering a written request to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee; or |
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(II) at any time, the Company may, in its sole discretion, at the request of the owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note, permit the exchange of such owner’s beneficial interest, by delivering a written request to the Registrar, the Trustee and the owner of such beneficial interest. |
In each case, (1) upon receipt of such request, the Registrar will promptly deliver written notice of such request to the Company and the Trustee, which notice must identify the owner of the beneficial interest to be exchanged, the aggregate principal amount of such beneficial interest and the CUSIP number of the relevant Global Note; (2) the Trustee, upon receipt of such notice, will promptly cause the aggregate principal amount of such Global Note to be reduced by the aggregate principal amount of the beneficial interest to be so exchanged in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, (3) the Company (x) in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly execute, for such beneficial interest, a Definitive Note having aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such beneficial interest, registered in the name of the owner specified in the notice delivered by the Registrar, and bearing such legends as such Definitive Note is required to bear under Sections 2.02 hereof, and, (y) as provided in Section 2.05(c) hereof, will promptly deliver to the Trustee such Definitive Note and a Company Order including the information specified in Section 2.05(c) hereof with respect to such Definitive Note, and (4) the Trustee, upon receipt of such Definitive Note and such Company Order, will promptly, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, authenticate, and deliver to the Holder specified in such Company Order, such Definitive Note. If, after such exchange, all of the beneficial interests in a Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes, such Global Note will be deemed surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Trustee will cause such Global Note to be cancelled in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.
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(p) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes. If Definitive Notes are issued, a Holder may: |
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(i) transfer a Definitive Note by: (A) surrendering such Definitive Note for registration of transfer to the Registrar, together with any endorsements or instruments of transfer reasonably required by any of the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar; and (B) satisfying any other requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.09. Upon the satisfaction of conditions (A), (B) and (C), (1) the Company, (x) in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly execute a new Definitive Note, in the name of the designated transferee, having an aggregate principal amount equal to that of the transferred Definitive Note and bearing such legends as such Definitive Note is required to bear under Sections 2.02 hereof, and (y) as provided in Section 2.05(c) hereof, will promptly deliver to the Trustee such Definitive Note and a Company
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Order including the information specified in Section 2.05(c) with respect to such Definitive Note, and (2) the Trustee, upon receipt of such Definitive Note and such Company Order, will promptly, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, authenticate, and deliver to the Holder specified in such Company Order, such Definitive Note. |
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(iii) transfer or exchange a Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note by (A) surrendering such Definitive Note for registration of transfer or exchange, together with any endorsements or instruments of transfer reasonably required by any of the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purposes pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof; (B) satisfying any other requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.09; and (D) providing written instructions to the Trustee to make an adjustment in its books and records with respect to the applicable Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by such Global Note, which instructions will contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase. Upon the satisfaction of conditions (A), (B), (C) and (D), the Trustee (1) will promptly cancel such Definitive Note and, (2) will promptly cause the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of such Definitive Note, and credit, or cause to be credited, the account of the Person specified in the instructions provided by the exchanging Holder in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Definitive Note, in each case, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures. If at the time of such exchange, no Global Notes are then outstanding, the Company, (x) in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee, a new Global Note registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, as the case may be, having the appropriate aggregate principal amount, and bearing such legends as such Global Note is required to bear under Sections 2.02 hereof, and (y) as provided in Section 2.05(c) hereof, will promptly deliver to the Trustee such Global Note and a Company Order including the information specified in Section 2.05(c) with respect to such Global Note, and (2) the Trustee, upon receipt of such Global Note and such Company Order, will promptly, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, authenticate, and deliver
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to the depositary, its nominee, or a custodian of the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, such Global Note. |
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If (a)(i) a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or (ii) the Holder of a Note claims that such Note has been lost, destroyed or stolen and provides the Company and the Trustee with (A) evidence of such loss, theft or destruction that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee and (B) any amount or kind of security or indemnity that either of the Company or the Trustee request to protect itself from any loss that it may suffer upon replacement of such Note, and, in either case, (b) such Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee, including the payment of any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with the replacement of such Note, then, unless the Company or the Trustee receives notice that such Note has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company will, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, and the documents required by Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof, will promptly authenticate and deliver, in the name of such Holder, a replacement Note having the same aggregate principal amount as the Note that was mutilated or claimed to be lost, destroyed or stolen, bearing any restrictive legends required by Section 2.02 hereof and with a certificate number not contemporaneously outstanding.
Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.10 in exchange for any mutilated Note, or in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Note, will constitute an original contractual obligation of the Company and any other obligor upon the Notes, regardless of whether the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note will be at any time enforceable by anyone, and will be entitled to all benefits of (and will be subject to all the limitations set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.11 Temporary Notes. Until Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee will, upon written request of the Company, authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed or lithographed) (“Temporary Notes”). Temporary Notes will be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of Definitive Notes, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for Temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such Temporary Note will be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or such authenticating agent upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the Definitive Notes. Without unreasonable delay the Company will prepare, execute and deliver to the Trustee or such authenticating agent Definitive Notes (other than any Global Note) and thereupon any or all Temporary Notes (other than any Global Note) may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at each office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof and the Trustee or such authenticating agent will authenticate and deliver in exchange for such Temporary Notes Definitive Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to such Temporary Notes. Such exchange will be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the Temporary Notes will, in all respects, be entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same limitations under this Indenture as Definitive Notes authenticated and delivered hereunder.
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Section 2.12 Cancellation
. At any time, the Company may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. Whenever any Note is surrendered to the Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent for registration of transfer, exchange, conversion, repurchase, redemption or payment, the Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly forward such Note to the Trustee. Upon receipt of any such Note, the Trustee, in its customary manner, will promptly cancel and dispose of such Note. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has repurchased, redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that a Holder has converted pursuant to Article 10 hereof.
Section 2.13 Outstanding Notes. At any time, Notes outstanding are limited to all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except (i) those cancelled by it, (ii) those delivered to it for cancellation and (iii) those deemed not outstanding under Sections 3.05, 10.02 and 11.06 hereof and clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.13.
. Prior to due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Note is registered in the Register as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving the payment of the principal, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price of, and interest, if any, on, such Note, for the purpose of conversion of such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever with respect to such Note, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee will be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 2.15 Repurchases. The Company may, from time to time, repurchase Notes in open market purchases or in negotiated transactions without delivering prior notice to Holders.
Section 2.16 CUSIPs.
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(r) In addition, if, when any shares of Common Stock are issued upon conversion of a Note, CUSIP and ISIN numbers are generally in use, the Company will use CUSIP and ISIN numbers with respect to such shares of Common Stock. |
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(s) Whenever any of the CUSIP or ISIN numbers with respect to the Notes or the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes change, cease to be used, or begin to be used, the Company will deliver prompt written notice of such change, cessation, or beginning to each of the Trustee and the Holders. |
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Trustee and the Paying Agent, the Company will publish a notice containing the same information as the Fundamental Change Notice in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York and on its website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at such time. |
For any Fundamental Change, the Fundamental Change Notice corresponding to such Fundamental Change will specify:
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(A) briefly, the events causing such Fundamental Change; |
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(B) the effective date of such Fundamental Change; |
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(C) the last date on which a Holder may exercise its right to require the Company to repurchase its Notes as a result of such Fundamental Change under this Article 3; |
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(D) the procedures that a Holder must follow to require the Company to repurchase a Note; |
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(E) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes for such Fundamental Change; |
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(F) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for such Fundamental Change; |
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(G) that the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for any Note for which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been duly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be paid promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and the time such Note is surrendered for repurchase; |
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(H) the name and address of the Paying Agent and of the Conversion Agent; |
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(I) the Conversion Rate in effect on the Fundamental Change Notice Date for such Fundamental Change and the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Notice Date; |
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(J) any adjustments that will be made to the Conversion Rate as a result of such Fundamental Change, including any Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate will be increased pursuant to Section 10.07 hereof for a Holder that converts a Note “in connection with” such Fundamental Change; |
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(K) that any Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if such Holder withdraws such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or to the extent any portion of such Notes are not subject to such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice; |
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(L) the procedures for withdrawing a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice; |
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(M) that if a Note or portion of a Note is subject to a validly delivered Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, unless the Company defaults in paying the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for such Note or portion of a Note, interest, if any, on such Note or portion of a Note will cease to accrue on and after the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and |
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(N) the CUSIP and ISIN number(s) of the Notes. |
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(d) Failure or Defect. Notwithstanding anything provided elsewhere in this Indenture, neither the failure of the Company to deliver a Fundamental Change Notice nor a defect in a Fundamental Change Notice delivered by the Company will limit the repurchase rights of any Holder under this Article 3 or impair or otherwise affect the validity of any proceedings relating to the repurchase of any Note pursuant to this Article 3. |
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(B) such Notes (A) by book-entry transfer if such Notes are Global Notes, or (B) by physical delivery, if such Notes are Definitive Notes, in each case, together with any endorsements or other documents reasonably requested by the Paying Agent, the Trustee or the Company. |
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(f) Contents of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. The Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice for any Note must state: |
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(i) if such Note is to be repurchased in part, the principal amount of such Note to be repurchased, which principal amount must equal $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
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(ii) that such Note will be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Article 3 hereof; and |
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(iii) if such Note is a Definitive Note, the certificate number of such Note. |
If the Notes to be repurchased are Global Notes, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice for such Notes must comply with the Applicable Procedures.
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(g) Notice to Company. If any Holder validly delivers to the Paying Agent a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note or any portion of a Note, the
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Paying Agent will promptly deliver to the Company a copy of such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. |
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(h) Effect of Improper Notice. Unless and until the Paying Agent receives a validly endorsed and delivered Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note, together with such Note, in a form that conforms in all material aspects with the description contained in such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, the Holder submitting the Notes will not be entitled to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for such Note. |
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(i) . |
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(a) General. After a Holder delivers a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note, such Holder may withdraw such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to such Note or any portion of such Note in principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof by delivering to the Paying Agent a written notice of withdrawal prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date to the Paying Agent. Any such withdrawal notice must state: |
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(A) the principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such notice of withdrawal pertains, which must equal $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
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(B) the principal amount of the Notes that remains subject to the original Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, which portion must have a principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; and |
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(C) if the Notes subject to such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice were Definitive Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be withdrawn and the Notes that will remain subject to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. |
If the Notes to be withdrawn are Global Notes, a Holder must deliver its notice of withdrawal in compliance with the Applicable Procedures.
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(c) Notice to Company. If any Holder validly delivers to the Paying Agent a notice of withdrawal with respect to a Note or any portion of a Note, the Paying Agent will promptly deliver to the Company a copy of such notice of withdrawal. |
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(d) . |
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(j) General. If a Holder validly delivers to the Paying Agent a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) with respect to a Note, such Holder may no longer convert such Note unless and until such Holder validly withdraws such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 3.04 hereof. |
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(k) Timing of Payment. Upon the Paying Agent’s receipt of (i) a valid Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) and (ii) the Notes to which such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice pertains, the Holder of the Notes to which such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice pertains will be entitled, except to the extent such Holder has validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 3.04 hereof to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes on the later of the following (subject to extension to comply with applicable law) (i) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and (ii)(A) if such Notes are Definitive Notes, the date of delivery of such Notes to the Paying Agent, duly endorsed, or (B) if such Notes are Global Notes, the date of book-entry transfer of such Notes to the Paying Agent, or, if such later date is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately following such later date. |
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(l) Effect of Deposit. If, as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for any Fundamental Change, the Company, in accordance with Section 3.08 hereof, has deposited with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for every Note subject to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice validly delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof and not validly withdrawn in accordance with Section 3.04 hereof, at the Close of Business on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date: |
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(A) the Notes to be repurchased will cease to be outstanding and interest will cease to accrue on such Notes (whether or not book-entry transfer of such Notes is made or whether or not such Notes are delivered to the Paying Agent), except to the extent provided in the proviso to Section 3.01(b); and |
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(B) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes with respect to such Notes (other than the right to receive payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price upon delivery or transfer of such Notes and any Defaulted Amounts or Default Interest with respect to the Notes, and other than as provided in the proviso to Section 3.01(b)) will terminate. |
. If any Definitive Note is to be repurchased only in part, the Holder must surrender such Note at the office of the Paying Agent (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder of such Note or such Holder’s attorney-in-fact, duly authorized in writing), whereupon the Company, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly execute, and, upon receipt of a Company Order and the documents required by Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof, the Trustee, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly authenticate and deliver, to the surrendering Holder, a new Note or Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to the portion of the principal amount of the Note so surrendered which is not repurchased. If any Global Note is repurchased in part, the Company will instruct the Trustee to decrease the principal amount of such Global Note by the principal amount repurchased. Any
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Notes that are repurchased or owned by the Company, whether or not in connection with a Fundamental Change, will be submitted to the Trustee for cancellation and will be duly retired by the Company.
Section 3.07 Covenant to Comply With Securities laws Upon Repurchase of Notes. In connection with any repurchase offer pursuant to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice under this Article 3, the Company will, to the extent applicable, (i) comply with Rule 13e-4 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may be applicable at the time of the offer to repurchase the Notes, (ii) file the related Schedule TO (or any successor schedule, form or report) under the Exchange Act, and (iii) otherwise comply with any applicable United States federal and state securities laws so as to permit Holders to exercise their rights and obligations under Section 3.01 hereof in the time and in the manner specified in Sections 3.01 and 3.03 hereof.
Section 3.08 Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either of them is acting as the Paying Agent, will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.07 hereof) an amount of immediately available funds sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price of all the Notes or portions thereof that the Company is required to repurchase on such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.
Section 3.09 Covenant Not to Repurchase Notes Upon Certain Events of Default.
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(a) General. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 3, the Company will not purchase any Notes under this Article 3 if, as of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, such acceleration has not been rescinded and such acceleration did not result from a Default that would be cured by the Company’s payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. |
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(m) Deemed Withdrawals. If, on any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, (i) a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice for a Note has been validly tendered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof and has not been validly withdrawn in accordance with Section 3.04 hereof, and (ii) pursuant to this Section 3.09, the Company is not permitted to purchase Notes, the Paying Agent, upon receipt of written notice from the Company stating that the Company, pursuant to this Section 3.09, is not permitted to purchase Notes, will deem such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice withdrawn. |
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(n) Return of Notes. If a Holder tenders a Note for purchase pursuant to this Article 3 and, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, pursuant to this Section 3.09, the Company is not permitted to purchase such Note, the Paying Agent will (i) if such Note is a Definitive Note, return such Note to such Holder, and (ii) if such Note is held in book-entry form, in compliance with the Applicable Procedures, deem to be cancelled any instructions for book-entry transfer of such Note. |
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Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.
The Company will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price for, and any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner required under this Indenture. Any principal of, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price for, or interest on, a Note will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds, as of 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the due date, money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for, and sufficient to pay, such principal, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, Redemption Price or interest then due. To the extent lawful, the Company will also pay Default Interest on any Defaulted Amounts in accordance with Section 2.04 hereof.
Section 4.02 Reports. The Company will deliver to Holders, with a copy to the Trustee, copies of all quarterly and annual reports that the Company is required to deliver to the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, and any other documents, information or other reports that the Company is required to file with the SEC under Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act no later than the time that the Company is required to file such quarterly and annual reports, other documents, information or other reports with the SEC (after giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act). However, the Company need not deliver any material for which it has received, or is seeking in good faith and have not been denied, confidential treatment by the SEC. Any document filed by the Company with the SEC via the EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) will be deemed to be delivered to Holders and the Trustee at the time such document is filed via the EDGAR system (or such successor); provided, however, that the Trustee will have no responsibility whatsoever to determine whether the Company has made any filing via the EDGAR system (or any successor thereto). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph shall require the Company to deliver to any Holder or the Trustee any material for which the Company has sought and received, or is seeking and has not been denied, confidential treatment by the SEC. The Company will also comply with its other obligations under Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act. Delivery of reports to the Trustee under the Indenture is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt thereof shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein, or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants under the Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate).
Delivery of such quarterly and annual reports, and such other documents, information and other reports to the Trustee will be for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such will not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
Section 4.03 Compliance Certificate.
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(a) Annual Compliance Certificate. Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2021, the Company will
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deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, which Officers’ Certificate will state (i) that the Officers signing such Officers’ Certificate have supervised a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture during the preceding fiscal year, and (ii) to the best knowledge of each of the Officers signing such Officers’ Certificate, (A) whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture) or, if one or more Defaults or Events of Default have occurred, what events triggered such Defaults or Events of Default and what actions the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect to such Defaults or Events of Default, and (B) whether any event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which any payment of the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, or interest on, or any delivery of any of the consideration due upon conversion of, a Note is prohibited, and, if any such event has occurred and remains in existence, a description, in reasonable detail, of such event or events and what actions the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect to such event or events. |
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(b) Certificate of Default or Event of Default. Within 30 days after a Default occurs, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate describing such Default, its status and a description, in reasonable detail, of what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect to such Default. |
. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will purchase or otherwise acquire any Notes without canceling such Notes. In addition, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent any affiliate of the Company (as defined in Rule 144) from acquiring any Note or any beneficial interest therein.
Section 4.05 Taxes. The Company will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
Section 4.06 Corporate Existence. Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:
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(a) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary; and |
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(c) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors determines that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders. |
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Section 4.07 Par Value Limitation.
The Company will not take any action that, after giving effect to any adjustment pursuant to Section 10.05 or 10.07, would result in the Conversion Price becoming less than the par value of one share of Common Stock. In addition, the Company will not adjust the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.06 such that the Conversion Price would be less than the par value of one share of Common Stock.
Section 4.08 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company covenants that, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will instead suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.09 Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the terms of this Indenture.
Section 5.01 Company May Consolidate, Merge or Sell Its Assets Only on Certain Terms. The Company will not (1) consolidate with or merge with or into, or (2) (whether directly, or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries) sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to, any other Person (any such transaction, a “Reorganization Event”), unless:
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(i) the Company is the surviving corporation; or |
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(ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if other than the Company) of such Reorganization Event (the “Reorganization Successor Corporation”): |
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(I) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia; and |
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(II) expressly assumes, by executing and delivering a supplemental indenture to the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee in accordance with Section 9.03 hereof, all of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture; |
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(b) immediately after giving effect to such Reorganization Event, no Default will have occurred and be continuing; and |
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(c) prior to the effective date of such Reorganization Event, the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that: |
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(i) such Reorganization Event and such supplemental indenture comply with Section 5.01(a) hereof; and |
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(ii) all conditions precedent to such Reorganization Event provided in this Indenture have been satisfied. |
. If any Reorganization Event occurs that complies with Sections 5.01(a)(ii) and 5.01(b) hereof, and the Company has complied with Section 5.01(c) hereof:
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(a) from and after the date of such Reorganization Event, the Reorganization Successor Corporation for such Reorganization Event will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Reorganization Successor Corporation had been named as the Company herein; and |
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(d) except in the case of a Reorganization Event that is a lease, the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor (other than such Reorganization Successor Corporation) that will thereafter have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article 5 will be released from its obligations under this Indenture and may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time. |
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(ii) the Company fails to pay any interest when due and such failure continues for a period of 30 days after the applicable due date; |
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(iii) the Company fails to give any Fundamental Change Notice, Redemption Notice or notice of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, in each case, when due; |
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(iv) the Company fails to comply with its obligation to convert a Note in accordance with Article 10 hereof upon a Holder’s exercise of its conversion rights with respect to such Note; |
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(vii) the default by the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company and/or any Subsidiaries in excess of $20,000,000 in the aggregate, whether such indebtedness exists as of the Issue Date or is later created, if that default: |
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(A) results in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable (prior to its express maturity); or |
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(B) constitutes a failure to pay the principal of, or interest on, such indebtedness when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise; |
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(viii) a final judgment for the payment of $20,000,000 or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) is rendered against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and such judgment is not discharged or stayed within 60 days after (i) the date on which all rights to appeal such judgment have expired if no appeal has commenced, or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished; |
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(ix) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: |
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(A) commences a voluntary case; |
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(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case; |
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(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; |
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(E) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or |
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(F) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or |
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(A) is for relief against Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding; |
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(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or for any substantial part of the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary; |
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(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary; or |
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(D) grants any similar relief under any foreign laws; |
and, in each such case, the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.
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(b) Cause Irrelevant. Each of the events enumerated in Section 6.01(a) hereof will constitute an Event of Default whatever the cause and regardless of whether voluntary or involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body. |
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(c) Optional Acceleration. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by delivering a written notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by delivering a written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all then outstanding Notes immediately due and payable, and upon such declaration, the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all then outstanding Notes will immediately become due and payable. |
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(d) Rescission of Acceleration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the then outstanding Notes, rescind any acceleration of the Notes and its consequences hereunder by delivering notice to the Trustee if (i) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (ii) all existing Events of Default (other than the nonpayment of the principal of, interest, if any, on, or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, the Notes that has become due solely as a result of acceleration) have been cured or waived. No such rescission will affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto. |
. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, or payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price for, the
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Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture regarding any other matter.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of the Notes in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default will not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.
Section 6.04 Sole Remedy for Failure to Report
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(e) Limitation on Remedy. If (i) a Reporting Event of Default occurs and the Company elects that the sole remedy with respect to such Reporting Event of Default will be the Extension Fee and (ii) on the 61st day immediately following, and including, the date on which such Reporting Event of Default first occurred, such Reporting Event of Default has not been cured or validly waived in accordance with Section 6.05 hereof, then the Notes will become subject to acceleration under Section 6.02(a) hereof on account of such Reporting Event of Default. |
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(f) Company Election Notice. To elect to pay the Extension Fee as the sole remedy for a Reporting Event of Default, the Company must deliver notice of such election to the Holders, the Paying Agent and the Trustee prior to the date on which such Reporting Event of Default first occurs. Any such notice must include a brief description of the report that the Company failed, or will fail, to file, a statement that the Company is electing to pay the Extension Fee and the date on which such Reporting Event of Default will occur. |
If a Reporting Event of Default occurs and the Company fails to timely deliver such notice for such Reporting Event of Default, the Notes will be subject to acceleration under Section 6.02(a) hereof on account of such Reporting Event of Default.
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(g) Other Events of Default. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Company elects to pay the Extension Fee with respect to any Reporting Event of Default, the Company’s election will not affect the rights of any Holder with respect to any other Event of Default, including with respect to any other Reporting Event of Default; provided, that, for the
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avoidance of doubt, in no event will the Company be obligated to pay the Extension Fee at a rate greater than 0.50% per annum on the principal amount of then outstanding Notes. |
. If an Event of Default described in Sections 6.01(a)(i), 6.01(a)(ii), 6.01(a)(iii), 6.01(a)(iv) or 6.01(a)(vi) (which, in the case of Section 6.01(a)(vi) only, relates to a covenant that cannot be amended without the consent of each affected Holder) or a Default that would lead to such an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, such Event of Default or Default may be waived only with the consent of each affected Holder. Every other Event of Default or Default may be waived by the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes. Whenever any Event of Default is so waived, it will cease to exist, and whenever any Default is so waived, it will be deemed cured and any Event of Default arising therefrom will be deemed not to occur. However, no such waiver will extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any consequent right.
Section 6.06 Control by Majority. At any time, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or for exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01 hereof, that the Trustee determines to be unduly prejudicial to the rights of a Holder or to the Trustee (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to determine whether any action is prejudicial to any Holder), or that would potentially involve the Trustee in personal liability unless the Trustee is offered, and if requested, provided indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense to the Trustee that may result from the Trustee’s instituting such proceeding as the Trustee. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it against all losses, liabilities and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
Section 6.07 Limitation on Suits. Except to enforce (i) its rights to receive the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, interest, if any, on, a Note, or (ii) the failure of the Company to comply with its obligations under Article 10 to convert any Note, no Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:
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(a) such Holder has previously delivered to the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; |
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(h) the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of then-outstanding Notes deliver to the Trustee a written request that the Trustee pursue a remedy with respect to such Event of Default; |
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(i) such Holder or Holders have offered and, if requested, provided, to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or other expense of compliance with such written request; |
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(j) the Trustee has not complied with such written request within 60 days after receipt of such written request and offer of security or indemnity; and |
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(k) during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes did not deliver to the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such written request. |
A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of any other Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over any other Holder, it being understood that the Trustee does not have any affirmative duty to ascertain whether any usage of this Indenture by a Holder is unduly prejudicial to such other Holders.
Section 6.08 Rights of Holders To Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive of any payment of the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, and any consideration due under Article 10 upon conversion of, its Note, on or after the respective due dates therefor as provided in this Indenture, and to institute suit for the enforcement of such rights, will not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder and will not be subject to the requirements of Section 6.07 hereof.
Section 6.09 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(i), 6.01(a)(ii), 6.01(a)(iii), 6.01(a)(iv) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, interest, if any, on, and the Conversion Consideration, if any, due upon conversion of, the Notes, and, to the extent lawful, any Default Interest on any Defaulted Amounts, and such further amount as is sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection provided for under Section 7.06 hereof.
Section 6.10 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, will be entitled to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, will be denied for any reason, payment of the same will be secured by a lien on, and will be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained will be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to, or to accept or to adopt on behalf of any Holder, any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
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Section 6.11 Priorities
. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it will pay out the money or property in the following order:
FIRST: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.06 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
SECOND: to the Holders, for any amounts due and unpaid on the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, accrued and unpaid interest on, and any Conversion Consideration due upon the conversion of, any Note, without preference or priority of any kind, according to such amounts due and payable on all of the Notes; and
THIRD: the balance, if any, to the Company or to such other party as a court of competent jurisdiction directs.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the Holders pursuant to this Section 6.11. If the Trustee so fixes a record date and a payment date, at least 15 days prior to such record date, the Company will deliver to each Holder and the Trustee a written notice, which notice will state such record date, such payment date and the amount of such payment.
Section 6.12 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.12 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.08 hereof or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.
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(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties, and only such duties, as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and |
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(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. |
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(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: |
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(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of Section 7.01(b) hereof; |
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(ii) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and |
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(iii) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Sections 6.06, 12.03 or 12.04 hereof. |
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(d) Whether herein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.01(a), (b), (c) and (g) hereof. |
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(e) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it or risk or expend any of its own funds. |
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(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. |
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(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee will be subject to the provisions of this Article 7, and the provisions of this Article 7 will apply to the Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent. |
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(i) The Trustee will not be deemed to have notice of a Default or an Event of Default unless (i) a Trust Officer of the Trustee has received written notice at its Corporate Trust Office thereof from the Company or any Holder and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture and states that it is a “Notice of Default” or (ii) a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof. |
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(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. The Trustee may, however, in its discretion make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit and, if the Trustee determines to make such further inquiry or investigation, it will be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of
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the Company, personally or by agent or attorney and at the expense of the Company, and will incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation. |
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(j) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. |
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(k) The Trustee may act through agents, attorneys or custodians and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent, attorney or custodian appointed with due care. |
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(l) So long as the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence, the Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture. |
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(m) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. |
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(n) The permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture will not be construed as a duty unless so specified herein. |
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(o) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders have offered, and if requested, provided, to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. |
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(p) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and will be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder, including the Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent. |
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(q) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded. |
. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company
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or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate the conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, Conversion Agent or co-registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Section 7.09 hereof.
Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity, priority or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it will not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it will not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.
Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a Trust Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee will send to each Holder notice of the Default within 90 days after such Default first occurs, or, if it is not known to the Trustee at such time, as soon as practicable after it is known to the Trustee; provided, however, that except in the case of a Default that is, or would lead to, an Event of Default described in Section 6.01(a)(i), 6.01(a)(ii), 6.01(a)(iii), 6.01(a)(iv) hereof, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders.
Section 7.06 Compensation and Indemnity.
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(a) The Company will pay to the Trustee, from time to time, such compensation as will be agreed upon, from time to time, in writing for its services. The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, fees and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company will fully indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance and administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder or any other Person). The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company of any claim for which it may seek indemnity of which a Trust Officer has actually received written notice will not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder except to the extent such failure is adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have materially prejudiced the Company. The Company will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. If the Trustee is advised by counsel that it may have available to it defenses that are in conflict with the defenses available to the Company, then the Trustee may have separate counsel, and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Trustee incurred in evaluating whether such defense and/or conflict exists. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Company need not pay for any settlement made by the Trustee without the Company’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. All indemnifications and releases from liability granted hereunder
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to the Trustee will extend to its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, custodians, successors and assigns. |
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(s) To secure the Company’s payment obligations under this Section 7.06, the Trustee will have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, other than money or property held in trust to pay the principal, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, or payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price on particular Notes. |
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(t) The Company’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.06 will survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the discharge of this Indenture. If the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Sections 6.01(a)(ix) or 6.01(a)(x) hereof with respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law. |
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(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by notifying the Company, in writing, at least 30 days prior to the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by notifying the Trustee, in writing at least 30 days prior to such removal. The Company may remove the Trustee if: |
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(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.09 hereof; |
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(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent; |
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(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or |
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(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting. |
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(u) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. |
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(v) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will send a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will, upon payment of all of its costs and the costs of its agents and counsel, promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.06 hereof. |
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(w) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee. |
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(x) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder, fails to comply with Section 7.09 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. |
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(y) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.07, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.06 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee. |
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(a) If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act will be the successor Trustee. |
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(z) In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee succeeds to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Notes have been authenticated, but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and, in case at that time any of the Notes have not been authenticated, any such successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes, either in the name of any predecessor Trustee hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee. |
. The Trustee will have (or, in the case of a corporation included in a bank holding company system, the related bank holding company will have) a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000, as set forth in its (or its related bank holding company’s) most recent published annual report of condition.
Section 7.10 Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action will be taken or such omission will be effective. The Trustee will not be liable to the Company for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date will not be less than three Business Days after the date any Officer actually receives such application, unless any such Officer has consented in writing to any earlier date), unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of any omission), the Trustee has received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
Section 8.01 Discharge of Liability on Notes. When (a)(i) the Company delivers to the Registrar all outstanding Notes (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof) for cancellation or (ii) all outstanding Notes have become due and payable, and the Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee (and, if applicable, solely to satisfy amounts due and owing
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as a result of conversions of the Notes, delivers shares of Common Stock (or other Reference Property) due upon such conversions to the converting Holders), cash (including, if applicable, and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or Reference Property Units), sufficient to pay all amounts due and owing on all outstanding Notes (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof), (b) the Company pays all other sums payable by it under this Indenture with respect to the then outstanding Notes and (c) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all of the applicable conditions precedent to the discharge of this Indenture described in this section have been satisfied, then, subject to Section 7.06 hereof, this Indenture will cease to be of further effect with respect to the Notes and the Holders and the Trustee will acknowledge the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, (i) any obligation of the Company to any Holder under Article 10 hereof with respect to the conversion of any Note or to the Trustee under Article 7 hereof with respect to compensation or indemnity, and (ii) any obligation of the Trustee with respect to money deposited with the Trustee under this Article 8 and Section 12.02 hereof will survive.
Section 8.02 Repayment to the Company. Subject to any applicable unclaimed property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent, upon receiving a written request from the Company, will promptly turn over to the Company any cash, securities, including shares of Common Stock, or other property held for payment on the Notes that remains unclaimed two years after the date on which such payment was due. After the Trustee and the Paying Agent return such cash and securities, including shares of the Common Stock, to the Company, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will have no further liability to any Holder with respect to such cash, securities, including shares of Common Stock, or other property, and any Holder entitled to the payment of such cash, securities, including shares of Common Stock, or other property under the Notes or this Indenture must look to the Company for payment as a general creditor of the Company.
Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder:
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(a) to add guarantees with respect to the Company’s obligations under this Indenture or the Notes; |
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(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and under the Notes by a Reorganization Successor Corporation as described in Article 5 hereof; |
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(d) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and under the Notes by a Successor Person as provided in Section 10.08; |
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(e) to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company under this Indenture; |
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(f) to add to the Company’s covenants for the benefit of the Holders; |
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(g) to cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency or defect in this Indenture or in the Notes that does not adversely affect Holders; |
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(h) to enter into supplemental indentures pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 10.08 in connection with a Common Stock Change Event; |
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(i) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with any qualification of this Indenture or a supplement hereto under the TIA; |
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(j) to irrevocably elect or eliminate a Settlement Method or a Specified Dollar Amount provided, however, that no such election or elimination will affect any Settlement Method theretofore elected (or deemed to be elected) with respect to any Note pursuant to Section 10.03; |
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(k) to evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent with respect to this Indenture; |
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(l) to comply with the rules of any applicable depositary; |
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(m) to provide for or confirm the issuance of additional Notes pursuant to this Indenture; |
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(n) provide for any transfer restrictions that apply to any Notes issued under the Indenture (other than the Initial Notes) that, at the time of their original issuance, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or that are originally issued in reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
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(o) to conform the provisions of this Indenture to the “Description of Notes” section of the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as supplemented by the Pricing Term Sheet; or |
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(p) to make any other change; provided that such change individually, or in the aggregate with all other such changes, does not have, and will not have, an adverse effect on the interest of the Holders. |
. With the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), by Act of such Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes or waive compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes; provided, however, that, without the consent of each affected Holder, no amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes, or waiver of any provision of this Indenture or the Notes, may:
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(a) reduce the principal amount of, or change the Maturity Date of, any Note; |
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(q) reduce the rate of, or extend the stated time for payment of, interest on any Note; |
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(r) reduce the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price of any Note or change the time at which, or the circumstances under which, the Notes may, or will be, redeemed or repurchased; |
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(s) impair the right of any Holder to receive any payment on any Note, including with respect to any consideration due upon conversion of a Note, or to institute suit to enforce such right; |
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(t) make any Note payable in a currency other than that stated in the Note; |
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(u) make any change that impairs or adversely affects the conversion rights of any Holder under Article 10 hereof or otherwise reduces the number of shares of Common Stock, amount of cash or any other property receivable by a Holder upon conversion; |
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(v) change the ranking of the Notes; |
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(w) reduce any voting requirements included in this Indenture; |
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(x) make any change to any amendment, modification or waiver provision of this Indenture that requires the consent of each affected Holder; or |
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(y) reduce the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment of this Indenture or a waiver of a past default. |
It will not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it will be sufficient if such consent approves the substance of such proposed amendment.
Section 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the request of the Company, the Trustee will sign any supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment contained therein does not affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture. If the supplemental indenture adversely affects the Trustee’s rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture, then the Trustee may, but need not, sign such supplemental indenture. In executing any such supplemental indenture, the Trustee will be provided with, and, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 hereof, will be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture is authorized and permitted under this Indenture.
Section 9.04 Notices of Supplemental Indentures. After an amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes pursuant to Sections 9.01 or 9.02 hereof becomes effective, the Company will promptly deliver notice to the Trustee, which notice will briefly describe the substance of such amendment or supplement to this Indenture in reasonable detail and state the effective date of such amendment or supplement. The Company, or the Trustee, at the direction of the Company, will then promptly deliver a copy of such notice to each Holder. The failure to deliver such notice to each Holder, or any defect in such notice, will not impair or affect the validity of such amendment or supplement to this Indenture.
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Section 9.05 Effect of Supplemental Indentures
. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article 9:
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(a) this Indenture will be modified in accordance therewith; |
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(z) such supplemental indenture will form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and |
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(aa) every Holder of Notes theretofore, or thereafter, authenticated and delivered hereunder will be bound thereby. |
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(a) Revocation. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder, and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder, or subsequent Holder, may revoke the consent as to its Note or portion of a Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. |
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(bb) Special Record Dates. The Company may, but is not obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required, or permitted, to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, will be entitled to give such consent, to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, regardless of whether such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent will be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date. |
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(cc) Binding Effect. After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it will bind every applicable Holder. Any amendment or supplement will become effective in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture relating thereto, which will become effective upon the execution thereof by the Trustee. |
. If any amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder of such Note to deliver such Note to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on such Note about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company, in exchange for the Note, will issue and the Trustee will authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms.
Section 10.01 Right To Convert.
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(a) In General. Subject to, and upon compliance with, the provisions of this Article 10, a Holder may, at its option, convert all of its Notes, or any portion of its Notes having a
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principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, (i) subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 10.01(b), at any time prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2026, under the circumstances and during the periods set forth in Section 10.01(b), and (ii) irrespective of the conditions set forth in Section 10.01(b), on or after September 15, 2026, and prior to the Close of Business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, in each case, into Conversion Consideration, as provided in this Article 10, based on the Conversion Rate. Notes may not be converted after the Close of Business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date. |
The Trading Price shall be determined by the Bid Solicitation Agent pursuant to this Section 10.01(b)(ii) and the definition of Trading Price set forth herein. The Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes unless the Company has requested such determination in writing, and the Company will have no obligation to make such request (or seek bids itself) unless a Holder of at least $2.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes provides the Company with reasonable evidence that the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes would be less than ninety eight percent (98%) of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate. At such time, the Company shall, or shall instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent to, determine the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes beginning on the next Trading Day and on each successive Trading Day until the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes is greater than or equal to ninety eight percent (98%) of
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the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate. If the Trading Price condition has been met, the Company will so notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing, and each of the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent will be entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of such notice and any calculations therein without independent verification. If, on any Trading Day after the Trading Price Condition has been met, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes is greater than or equal to ninety eight percent (98%) of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate for such Trading Day, the Company will so notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing.
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(A) Certain Distributions. If, prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2026, the Company elects to: |
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(I) issue, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than sixty (60) calendar days after the record date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at a price per share less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance; or |
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(III) distribute, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, the Company’s assets, debt securities or rights to purchase the Company’s securities, which distribution has a per share value, as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors, exceeding ten percent (10%) of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement for such distribution, |
then, in either case, (x) the Company must notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent at least thirty (30) Scheduled Trading Days prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance or distribution; and (y) once the Company has given such notice to the Holders, Holders may convert their Notes at any time until the earlier of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding such Ex-Dividend Date and the Company’s announcement that such issuance or distribution will not take place.
transaction or event) or, if such transaction or event also constitutes a Fundamental Change, the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and (y) the Close of Business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date. No later than the Business Day after the effective date of such transaction or event, the Company shall notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing of such transaction, its effective date and the related right to convert Notes. |
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(c) Closed Periods. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, (i) if the Company calls the Notes for redemption in accordance with Article 11 hereof, a Holder may not convert its Notes after the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Redemption Date except to the extent the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price for such Notes in accordance with Section 11.05 hereof, and (ii) if a Holder tenders a Repurchase Notice with respect to its Notes in accordance with Article 3 hereof, such Notes may not be converted except to the extent (A) such Notes are not subject to such Repurchase Notice; (B) such Repurchase Notice is withdrawn in accordance with Article 3 hereof; or (C) the Company fails to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for such Notes in accordance with Section 3.08 hereof. |
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To exercise its conversion right with respect to a Definitive Note, the Holder of such Note must (i) complete and manually sign the conversion notice on the back of the Note, or a facsimile of such conversion notice (such notice, or such facsimile, the “Conversion Notice”); (ii) deliver such signed and completed Conversion Notice and such Note to the Conversion Agent at its office; (iii) furnish any endorsements and transfer documents that the Company, Conversion Agent, Trustee or Transfer Agent may require; (iv) pay any funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date that such Holder is required to pay under clause (d) of this Section 10.02; and (v) pay any taxes or duties that such Holder is required to pay under the proviso to clause (e) of this Section 10.02.
The first Business Day on which a Holder satisfies the foregoing requirements with respect to a Note and on which conversion of such Note is not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture will be the “Conversion Date” for such Note.
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The conversion of any Note will be deemed to occur at the Close of Business on the Conversion Date for such Note, and any converted Note or portion thereof will cease to be outstanding upon conversion.
The person in whose name any shares of Common Stock shall be issuable upon conversion of any Note will become the holder of record of such shares as of the Close of Business on the Conversion Date for such conversion, in the case of Physical Settlement, or the last Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period, in the case of Combination Settlement.
Upon the conversion of any beneficial interest in a Global Note, the Conversion Agent will promptly request that the Trustee make a notation on the “Schedule of Increases and Decreases of Global Note” of such Global Note to reduce the principal amount represented by such Global Note by the principal amount of the converted beneficial interest. If all of the beneficial interests in a Global Note are so converted, such Global Note will be deemed surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Trustee will cause such Global Note to be cancelled in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.
Open of Business on such Interest Payment Date; or (D) to the extent of any overdue interest, if any overdue interest exists at the time of conversion with respect to such Note. |
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(h) Notices. Whenever a Conversion Date occurs with respect to a Note, the Conversion Agent will, as promptly as possible, and in no event later than the Business Day immediately following such Conversion Date, deliver to the Company and the Trustee notice that a Conversion Date has occurred, which notice will state such Conversion Date, the principal amount of Notes converted on such Conversion Date and the names of the Holders that converted Notes on such Conversion Date. |
Section 10.03 Settlement Upon Conversion.
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(a) Conversion Obligation. |
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(B) the Company shall use the same Settlement Method for all conversions of Notes whose Conversion Dates occur on the same day (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be obligated to use the same Settlement Method with respect to conversions of Notes whose Conversion Dates occur on different days, except as provided in clause (A) above or clause (D) below); |
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(E) if the Company elects a Settlement Method with respect to the conversion of any Note whose Conversion Date occurs before September 15, 2026, the Company shall send written notice of such Settlement Method to the Holder of such Note, with a copy to the Trustee and Conversion Agent, no later than the Close of Business on the Trading Day immediately following such Conversion Date; |
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(G) if the Company does not timely elect a Settlement Method with respect to the conversion of a Note, then the Company will be deemed to have elected the Default Settlement Method; |
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(I) the Settlement Method shall be subject to the last sentence of Section 10.08(a); |
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(ii) Conversion Consideration. The type and amount of consideration (the “Conversion Consideration”) due in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of a Note to be converted shall be as follows: |
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(B) if Cash Settlement applies to such conversion, cash in an amount equal to the sum of the Daily Conversion Values for each of the twenty five (25) consecutive Trading Days in the Observation Period for such conversion; or |
number, cash in lieu of the related fractional share in an amount equal to the product of (x) the Daily VWAP on the last Trading Day of such Observation Period and (y) the fractional portion of such sum. |
With respect to any conversion of Notes to which Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement applies, the Company shall determine the Conversion Consideration due thereupon promptly following the last day of the applicable Observation Period and shall promptly thereafter notify the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing of the same and the calculation thereof in reasonable detail. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) shall have any responsibility for any such determination.
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(iii) Delivery of Conversion Consideration. Except as set forth in Sections 10.05, 10.07 and 10.08 hereof, the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, the Conversion Consideration due upon the conversion of any Note to the Holder thereof as follows: (i) if Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement applies to such conversion, on the second (2nd) Business Day immediately following the last Trading Day of the Observation Period for such conversion; and (ii) if Physical Settlement applies to such conversion, on the second (2nd) Business Day immediately following the Conversion Date for such conversion. |
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(i) Conversion of Multiple Notes by a Single Holder. If a Holder converts more than one Note on a single Conversion Date, the Conversion Consideration due in respect of such conversion will be computed based on the total principal amount of Notes converted on such Conversion Date by such Holder, subject, in the case of Global Notes, to the Applicable Procedures. |
Section 10.04 Common Stock Issued Upon Conversion.
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(a) Prior to issuing of any shares of Common Stock under this Article 10, and from time to time thereafter as may be necessary, the Company will reserve out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock a number of shares of Common Stock sufficient to permit the conversion of all then-outstanding Notes under Physical Settlement. |
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(k) Any shares of Common Stock delivered upon the conversion of the Notes will be newly issued shares or treasury shares, duly and validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, free from preemptive rights and free of any lien or adverse claim (except to the extent of any lien or adverse claim created by the action or inaction of the Holder or other Person to whom such shares of Common Stock will be delivered). In addition, the Company will endeavor to comply promptly with all federal and state securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes; provided that the Company will not be obligated to register the offer and sale of such Common Stock under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws. The Company will also use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a Note to be listed on whatever stock exchange(s) the Common Stock is listed on the date the converting Holder becomes a record holder of such Common Stock. |
. The Company will adjust the Conversion Rate from time to time as described in this Section 10.05, except that the Company will not make an adjustment to the Conversion Rate if each Holder participates (other than in a share split or share combination or a tender or exchange offer), at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, and solely as a result of holding the Notes, in the relevant transaction described in this Section 10.05 without having to convert its Notes and as if it held number of shares of the Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the Conversion Rate in effect on the applicable record date, Effective Date or expiration date, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Notes held by such Holder (express in thousands) on such date, rounded up to the nearest whole number.
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date of such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Effective Date of such share split or share combination, as applicable;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date or the Open of Business on such Effective Date;
OS0=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date; and
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OS1=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination.
If any dividend, distribution, share split or share combination of the type described in this Section 10.05(a) is declared, but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate will be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution or to effect such share split or share combination, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination had not been declared or announced.
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
OS0=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
X=the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and
Y=the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (i) the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, over (ii) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of the issuance of such rights, options or warrants.
To the extent that shares of Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, including because the issued rights, options or warrants were not exercised, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of
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delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance had not occurred.
For purposes of this Section 10.05(b) and Section 10.01(b)(iii)(A), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle holders of the Common Stock to subscribe for, or purchase, shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement for an issuance, and in determining the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, there will be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors.
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(A) dividends, distributions, rights, options or warrants for which an adjustment was effected (or would be effected without regard to the Deferral Exception) pursuant to Section 10.05(a) hereof or Section 10.05(b) hereof, as applicable; |
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(B) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash for which an adjustment was effected (or would be effected without regard to the Deferral Exception) pursuant to Section 10.05(d) hereof; |
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(C) distributions pursuant to a stockholder rights plan, except as set forth in Section 10.05(g); |
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(D) a distribution solely pursuant to a Common Stock Change Event, as to which the provisions set forth in Section 10.08 shall apply; and |
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(E) Spin-Offs for which the provisions set forth in Section 10.05(c)(ii) hereof will apply, |
then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;
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CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
SP0=the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution; and
FMV=the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors) of the shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants distributed with respect to each outstanding share of Common Stock on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than the “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held on the record date for the distribution, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, the amount and kind of shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets or property, rights, options or warrants or other securities that such Holder would have received if such Holder had owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the record date for such distribution.
If such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such Spin-Off;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
FMV0=the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Capital Stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of the Common Stock applicable to one share of Common Stock (determined for purposes of the definition of Last Reported Sale Price as if such Capital Stock or similar equity interest were the Common Stock) over the first 10 consecutive Trading Day period after,
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and including, the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off (the “Valuation Period”); and
MP0=the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the Valuation Period.
The adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 10.05(c)(ii) will be calculated as of the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period but will be given effect as of immediately after the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off, with retroactive effect. The Company shall delay the settlement of any conversion of Notes where the Conversion Date (in the case of Physical Settlement) or any Trading Day of the applicable Observation Period (in the case of Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement) occurs during the Valuation Period until the second Business Day after the last day of the Valuation Period. If any distribution of the type described in this Section 10.05(c)(ii) is declared but not so made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to make such distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;
SP0=the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution; and
C=the amount in cash per share the Company distributes to holders of Common Stock.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held on the record date for such cash dividend or distribution, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder had owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on such record date. If any such dividend or distribution is
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declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Expiration Time;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Expiration Time;
AC=the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by the Board of Directors) paid or payable for shares purchased in such tender or exchange offer;
OS0=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the time (the “Expiration Time”) on the date such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);
OS1=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the Expiration Time (after giving effect to the purchase of all shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and
SP1=the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period (the “Averaging Period”) commencing on the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires.
The adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.05(e) will be calculated as of the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Averaging Period but will be given effect as of immediately after the Expiration Time, with retroactive effect. The Company shall delay the settlement of any conversion of Notes where the Conversion Date (in the case of Physical Settlement) or any Trading Day of the applicable Observation Period (in the case of Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement) occurs during the Averaging Period until the second (2nd) Business Day after the last day of the Averaging Period.
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To the extent such tender or exchange offer is announced but not consummated (including as a result of the Company being precluded from consummating such tender or exchange offer under applicable law), or any purchases or exchanges of shares of Common Stock in such tender or exchange offer are rescinded, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the purchases or exchanges of shares of Common Stock, if any, actually made, and not rescinded, in such tender or exchange offer.
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(p) Successive Adjustments. After an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Article 10, any subsequent event requiring an adjustment under this Article 10 will cause an adjustment to the Conversion Rate as so adjusted, without duplication. |
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(r) Other Adjustments. Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the calculation of the Last Reported Sale Price or a function thereof over a period of multiple days (including any Observation Period and the Stock Price for purposes of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change), the Company will make appropriate adjustments to the Last Reported Sale Price or such function thereof to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend date, Effective Date or expiration date of the event occurs, at any time during such period. |
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(s) Adjustments Not Yet Effective. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, if: |
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(i) a Note is to be converted pursuant to Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement; |
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(ii) the record date, effective date or Expiration Time for any event that requires an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.05 has occurred on or before the Conversion Date for such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or on or before any Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion (in the case of Combination Settlement), but an adjustment to the Conversion Rate for such event has not yet become effective as of such Conversion Date or Trading Day, as applicable; |
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(iii) the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or due in respect of such Trading Day (in the case of Combination
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Settlement) includes any whole shares of Common Stock; and |
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(iv) such shares are not entitled to participate in such event (because they were not held on the related record date or otherwise), |
then, solely for purposes of such conversion, the Company will, without duplication, give effect to such adjustment on such Conversion Date (in the case of Physical Settlement) or such Trading Day (in the case of Combination Settlement). In such case, if the date on which the Company is otherwise required to deliver the consideration due upon such conversion is before the first date on which the amount of such adjustment can be determined, then the Company will delay the settlement of such conversion until the second (2nd) Business Day after such first date.
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(t) Conversion Rate Adjustments where Converting Holders Participate in the Relevant Transaction or Event. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, if: |
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(i) a Conversion Rate adjustment for any dividend or distribution becomes effective on any Ex-Dividend Date pursuant to Section 10.05; |
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(ii) a Note is to be converted pursuant to Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement; |
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(iii) the Conversion Date for such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or any Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion (in the case of Combination Settlement) occurs on or after such Ex-Dividend Date and on or before the related record date; |
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(iv) the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or due with respect to such Trading Day (in the case of Combination Settlement) includes any whole shares of Common Stock based on a Conversion Rate that is adjusted for such dividend or distribution; and |
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(v) such shares would be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution, |
then (x) in the case of Physical Settlement, such Conversion Rate adjustment will not be given effect for such conversion, and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion based on such unadjusted Conversion Rate will be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution; and (y) in the case of Combination Settlement, the Conversion Rate adjustment relating to such Ex-Dividend Date will be made for such conversion in respect of such Trading Day, but the shares of Common Stock issuable with respect to such Trading Day based on such adjusted Conversion Rate will not be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution.
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(u) Restrictions on Adjustments. Except as a result of a share combination subject to Section 10.05(a), and except for readjustments pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 10.05(a), readjustments pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 10.05(b), readjustments pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 10.05(c)(i), readjustments pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 10.05(c)(ii) and readjustments pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 10.05(d), in no
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event will the Conversion Rate be adjusted downward pursuant to Sections 10.05(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) hereof. |
In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in this Indenture, the Conversion Rate will not be adjusted:
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(i) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Company’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of Common Stock under any plan; |
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(ii) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of, or assumed by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; |
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(iii) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in the preceding clause and outstanding as of the date of the Issue Date; |
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(iv) for a change in the par value of the Common Stock; or |
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(v) for accrued and unpaid interest. |
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(i) Certain Definitions. |
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(I) For purposes of this Section 10.05, (1) the number of shares outstanding at any time will include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock, but, (2) so long as the Company does not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company, will not include shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company. |
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(II) For purposes of this Section 10.05, the term “Effective Date” will mean the first date on which the Common Stock trades on the applicable exchange or in the
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applicable market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable. |
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(III) For purposes of this Article 10, the term “Ex-Dividend Date” will mean the first date on which the shares of the Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution in question. Any alternative trading convention on the applicable exchange or market in respect of the Common Stock under a separate ticker symbol or CUSIP number will not be considered “regular way” for purposes of the preceding sentence. |
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(ii) Notices. Whenever the Company adjusts the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.05, the Company will, no later than the effective date of such adjustment, deliver to each Holder a written notice, which notice will include (i) a brief description of the event requiring adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.05, (ii) the effective time of such adjustment, (iii) the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after such adjustment is made and (iv) a schedule explaining, in reasonable detail, how the Company calculated such adjustment. On the same day the Company delivers such notice to each Holder, the Company will deliver to the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent an Officers’ Certificate that includes all of the information contained in such notice, which Officers’ Certificate each of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent may treat as conclusive evidence that the adjustment specified in such Officers’ Certificate is correct and will be in effect as of the effective time specified in such Officers’ Certificate. The failure to deliver such notice will not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustment. |
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(a) Best Interest Increases. The Company may, from time to time, to the extent permitted by law, increase the Conversion Rate by any amount if (i) the Board of Directors determines that such increase is in the best interest of the Company, (ii) such increase is in effect for a period of at least 20 Business Days, and (iii) during such period, such increase is irrevocable. |
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(x) Tax-Related Increases. The Company may (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate if the Board of Directors determines that such increase is advisable to avoid, or diminish, any income tax imposed on holders of the Common Stock or rights to purchase the Common Stock as a result of any dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) or similar event treated as such for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
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(y) Notices. Whenever the Board of Directors determines that the Company will increase the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.06, the Company will mail to each Holder notice of such increase at least 15 Business Days before such increase will take effect, which notice will state the increase to be made and the period during which such increase will be in effect. |
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and a Holder converts its Notes in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company will, in the circumstances set forth in this Section 10.07, increase the Conversion Rate for such Notes by the number of additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”) set forth in this Section 10.07. For purposes of this Section 10.07, a conversion of Notes will be deemed to be “in connection with”: |
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(ii) a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurring pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition of “Make-Whole Fundamental Change” if the Conversion Notice for such Notes is received by the Conversion Agent during the period beginning on, and including, the related Redemption Notice Date and ending on the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the related Redemption Date. |
No later than one Business Day immediately after the effective date of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurring pursuant to clause (i) of the definition of “Make-Whole Fundamental Change,” the Company will notify the Holders of such effective date.
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(aa) Adjustment of Stock Prices and Additional Shares. The Stock Prices set forth in the first row (i.e., the column headers) of the table below will be adjusted on each date on which the Conversion Rate must be adjusted pursuant to Section 10.05. The adjusted Stock Prices will equal the Stock Prices in effect immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the share price adjustment, and (ii) the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the adjustment. The numbers of Additional Shares set forth in the table below will be adjusted in the same manner, at the same time and for the same events for which the Conversion Rate is adjusted pursuant to Section 10.05 hereof. |
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(cc) Use of Additional Shares Table. If the Stock Price or Make-Whole Fundamental Change Effective Date for a Make-Whole Fundamental Change are not set forth in the table above, then: |
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(A) if the Stock Price is between two Stock Prices in the table or the Make-Whole Fundamental Change Effective Date is between two Make-Whole Fundamental Change Effective Dates in the table, the number of Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate will be increased for a Holder that converts a Note in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the numbers of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Stock Prices listed in the table and the earlier and later Make-Whole Fundamental Change Effective Dates listed in the table, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable; |
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(B) if the Stock Price is greater than $350.00, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table, no Additional Shares will be added to the Conversion Rate; and |
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(C) if the Stock Price is less than $23.00 per share, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table, no Additional Shares will be added to the Conversion Rate. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Conversion Rate be increased as a result of this Section 10.07 to exceed 43.4782 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, subject to adjustment in the same manner, at the same time and for the same events for which the Conversion Rate must be adjusted as set forth in Section 10.05 hereof.
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(dd) Settlement or Conversion. If a Holder converts a Note in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company will settle such conversion by delivering Conversion Consideration in accordance with Section 10.03 hereof; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.03 hereof, if a Holder converts a Note in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (ii) of the definition of Fundamental Change in which the holders of the Common Stock receive only cash in consideration for their shares of Common Stock, the Company will settle such conversion by delivering to such Holder, on the second Business Day immediately following the Conversion Date for such Note, an amount of cash, for each $1,000 principal amount of such Note converted, equal to the product of (i) the
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Conversion Rate on the Conversion Date applicable to such Note (including any Additional Shares added to such Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.07) and (ii) the Stock Price for such Make-Whole Fundamental Change. |
.
(1)any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination or change only in par value or from par value to no par value or no par value to par value);
(2)any consolidation, merger or combination involving the Company;
(3)any sale, lease or other transfer to a third party of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety; or
(4)any statutory share exchange,
and, as a result of which, the Common Stock is converted into, or is exchanged for, or represents solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property, or any combination of the foregoing (such an event, a “Common Stock Change Event,” and such other securities, cash or property, the “Reference Property,” and the amount and kind of Reference Property that a holder of one (1) share of Common Stock would be entitled to receive on account of such Common Stock Change Event (without giving effect to any arrangement not to issue or deliver a fractional portion of any security or other property), a “Reference Property Unit”), then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes,
(1)from and after the effective time of such Common Stock Change Event, (I) the Conversion Consideration due upon conversion of any Note and the conditions to any such conversion, will be determined in the same manner as if each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in this Article 10 (or in any related definitions) were instead a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; (II) for purposes of Section 11.02, each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in such Section (or in any related definitions) will instead be deemed to be a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; and (III) for purposes of the definition of “Fundamental Change” and “Make-Whole Fundamental Change,” the terms “Common Stock” and “common equity” will be deemed to mean the common equity (including depositary receipts representing common equity), if any, forming part of such Reference Property; and
(2)for these purposes, the Daily VWAP or Last Reported Sale Price of any Reference Property Unit or portion thereof that does not consist of a class of securities will be the fair value of such Reference Property Unit or portion thereof, as applicable, determined in good faith by the Company (or, in the case of cash denominated in U.S. dollars, the face amount thereof).
If the Reference Property consists of more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of shareholder election), then the composition of the Reference
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Property Unit will be deemed to be the weighted average, per share of Common Stock, of the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of Common Stock. The Company shall notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent of the weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made.
At or before the effective time of such Common Stock Change Event, the Company and the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if not the Company) of such Common Stock Change Event (the “Successor Person”) will execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.01(h), which supplemental indenture will (x) provide for subsequent conversions of Notes in the manner set forth in this Section 10.08; (y) provide for subsequent adjustments to the Conversion Rate in a manner consistent with Section 10.05 and Section 10.07; and (z) contain such other provisions as the Company reasonably determines are appropriate to preserve the economic interests of the Holders and to give effect to the provisions of this Section 10.08. If the Reference Property includes shares of stock or other securities or assets of a Person other than the Successor Person, then such other Person will also execute such supplemental indenture and such supplemental indenture will contain such additional provisions the Company reasonably determines are appropriate to preserve the economic interests of the Holders.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, if the Reference Property Unit of a Common Stock Change Event consists entirely of cash, then the Company will be deemed to elect Physical Settlement in respect of each conversion of any Note whose conversion date occurs after the effective date of such Common Stock Change Event, and the Company will deliver the Conversion Consideration therefor no later than the second (2nd) Business Day after such Conversion Date.
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(ee) Notices. |
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(i) No later than the business day immediately after the effective date of any Common Stock Change Event, the Company will deliver written notice of such Common Stock Change Event to each Holder and the Trustee. Such Notice will include: |
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(A) a brief description of such Common Stock Change Event; |
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(B) the Conversion Rate in effect on the date the Company delivers such notice; |
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(C) the anticipated effective date for the Common Stock Change Event; |
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(D) a description of the conversion right of the Notes following the Common Stock Change Event; and |
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(E) the composition of the Reference Property Unit for such Common Stock Change Event. |
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(ii) As promptly as practicable after executing a supplemental indenture in accordance with Section 10.08(a) hereof, the Company will: |
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(A) file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate briefly describing the reasons therefor, the composition of the Reference Property Unit for such Common Stock Change Event, any adjustment to be made with respect thereto and that all conditions precedent under this Indenture to such Common Stock Change Event have been complied with; and |
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(B) cause to be sent to each Holder a notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture and the composition of the Reference Property Unit for such Common Stock Change Event; provided, that the failure to deliver such notice to any Holder will not affect the validity or legality of such supplemental indenture. |
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(ff) Successive Common Stock Change Events. If more than one Common Stock Change Event occurs, this Section 10.08 will apply successively to each Common Stock Change Event. |
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(gg) Compliance Covenant. The Company will not become a party to any Common Stock Change Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 10.08. |
. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent will not have any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine whether any facts exist that require an adjustment of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed in making the same. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent will be responsible for any failure of the Company to deliver the Conversion Consideration due upon the surrender of any Notes for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article 10. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent will be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 10.08 hereof, including with respect to the calculation of the amount of Conversion Consideration receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their Notes after any Common Stock Change Event, and each, subject to the provisions of Article 7, may accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and will be protected in relying upon, the Officers’ Certificate (which the Company will be obligated to file with the Trustee prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto.
Section 11.01 No Sinking Fund. No sinking fund is provided for the Notes.
Section 11.02 Right To Redeem the Notes.
effect (i) on each of at least 20 Trading Days during the 30 consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Redemption Notice Date for such redemption as provided in Section 11.03 hereof; and (ii) the Trading Day immediately before such Redemption Notice Date. |
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(c) The “Redemption Date” means, for any redemption, the date specified as such in the Redemption Notice, which Redemption Date must comply with Section 11.03(a). |
For any redemption, the Redemption Notice corresponding to such redemption will specify:
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(A) briefly, a description of the Company’s redemption right under this Indenture; |
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(B) the Redemption Price for such Redemption Date (for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes); |
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(C) the Redemption Date for such redemption; |
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(D) the name and address of the Paying Agent and of the Conversion Agent; |
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(E) that Notes called for redemption may be converted at any time before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date; |
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(F) the Conversion Rate in effect on the Redemption Notice Date for such redemption and the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Redemption Notice Date; |
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(G) any Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate will be increased pursuant to Section 10.07 hereof for a Holder that converts a Note “in connection with” the Company’s election to redeem the Notes; |
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(H) that Notes must be surrendered to the Paying Agent on or before the Redemption Date to collect the Redemption Price; |
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(I) that, unless the Company defaults in paying the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date, interest, if any, on a Note will cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date; and |
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(J) the CUSIP and ISIN number(s) of the Notes. |
On any Redemption Notice Date, the Company will also furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, which Officers’ Certificate will set forth the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding and include a copy of the Redemption Notice delivered by the Company on such Redemption Notice Date.
Section 11.04 Effect of Redemption Notice. After the Company has delivered a Redemption Notice, each Holder will have the right to receive payment of the Redemption Price for its Notes on the later of (i) the Redemption Date and (ii)(a) if the Notes are Definitive Notes, delivery of its Notes to the Paying Agent or (b) if the Notes are Global Notes, compliance with the Applicable Procedures relating to the redemption and delivery of the beneficial interests to be redeemed to the Paying Agent; provided, however, that, until the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date, Holders may convert their Notes, regardless of whether they have been delivered to the Paying Agent for redemption, by complying with the requirements for conversion set forth in Article 10.
Section 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Company will deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either of them is acting as the Paying Agent, will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.07 hereof) an amount of immediately available funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all of the then outstanding Notes.
Section 11.06 Effect of Deposit. If, as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company, in accordance with Section 11.05 hereof, has deposited with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price for every Note validly delivered in accordance with Section 11.04 hereof (and not converted before such Redemption Date), then, at the Close of Business on such Redemption Date:
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(A) every Note outstanding immediately prior to the Close of Business on such Redemption Date will cease to be outstanding and interest, if any, on such Notes will cease to accrue (regardless of whether such Notes were delivered to the Paying Agent or book-entry transfer has been made, as applicable), except to the extent provided in the proviso to Section 11.02(b); and |
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(K) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes with respect to such Notes (other than the right to receive payment of the Redemption Price or, in the case of Notes surrendered for conversion in accordance with Article 10 hereof, the right to receive the Conversion Consideration due upon conversion of such Notes, and other than as provided in the proviso to Section 11.02(b)) will terminate. |
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Section 11.07 Covenant Not to Redeem Notes Upon Certain Events of Default
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(a) General. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 11, the Company will not redeem any Notes under this Article 11 if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded on, or prior to, the Redemption Date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by the Company that would be cured by the Company’s payment of the Redemption Price for such Notes). |
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(e) Return of Notes. If a Holder delivers a Note for redemption pursuant to Section 11.04 and, on the Redemption Date, pursuant to this Section 11.07, the Company is not permitted to redeem such Note, the Paying Agent will (i) if such Note is a Definitive Note, return such Note to such Holder, and (ii) if such Note is held in book-entry form, in compliance with the Applicable Procedures, deem to be cancelled any instructions for book-entry transfer of such Note. |
. Subject to any applicable property laws, if, six months after the Redemption Date, any cash held by the Paying Agent remains unclaimed, the Paying Agent will promptly return such cash to the Company; provided, however, that, to the extent that the aggregate amount of cash deposited by the Company pursuant to Section 11.05 exceeds the aggregate Redemption Price of every Note outstanding, then as soon as practicable following the Redemption Date, the Trustee will return such excess to the Company.
Section 12.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision that is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required provision will control.
Section 12.02 Notices. Any request, demand, authorization, notice, waiver, consent or communication will be in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows or transmitted by facsimile transmission or other similar means of unsecured electronic methods to the following:
if to the Company:
Green Plains Inc.
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, NE 68106
Facsimile: (402) 952-4916
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
if to the Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent:
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
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Facsimile: (612) 217-5651
Attn: Green Plains Inc. Administrator
The Company or the Trustee, by notice given to the other in the manner provided above, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication given to a Holder will be mailed to the Holder, by first class mail, postage prepaid, at the Holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and will be deemed given on the date of such mailing; provided, however, that with respect to any Global Note, such notice or communication will be sent to the Holder thereof pursuant to the Applicable Procedures.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: (A) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (B) five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; (C) when receipt is acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile, electronic transmission or other similar means of unsecured electronic communication; and (D) the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
All notices or communications required to be made to a Holder pursuant to this Indenture must be made in writing and will be deemed to be duly sent or given in writing if mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to its address shown on the Register; provided, however, that a notice or communication to a Holder of a Global Note must instead be sent pursuant to the Applicable Procedures (in which case, such notice will be deemed to be duly sent or given in writing).
Failure to mail or send a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not received by the addressee.
If the Company mails or sends a notice or communication to the Holders, it will, at the same time, send a copy to the Trustee and each of the Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent.
If the Company is required under this Indenture to give a notice to the Holders, in lieu of delivering such notice to the Holders, the Company may deliver such notice to the Trustee and cause the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, to have delivered such notice to the Holders on or prior to the date on which the Company would otherwise have been required to deliver such notice to the Holders. In such a case, the Company will also cause the Trustee to send a copy of the notice to each of the Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent at the same time it sends the notice to the Holders.
Section 12.03 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture other than the authentication of the initial Global Note on the Issue Date, the Company will furnish to the Trustee:
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(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the judgment or opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and |
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(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the judgment or opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent relating to the proposed action (to the extent of legal conclusions and subject to reasonable assumptions and exclusions) have been complied with. |
. Each Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition (except for such Officers’ Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof) provided for in this Indenture will include:
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(a) a statement that each Person making such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel has read such covenant or condition; |
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(c) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements, judgments or opinions contained in such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel are based; |
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(d) a statement that, in the judgment or opinion of each such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed judgment or opinion to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and |
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(e) a statement that, in the judgment or opinion of such Person, such covenant or condition has been complied with. |
. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes will be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 12.06 Rules by Trustee. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by, or a meeting of, Holders.
Section 12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company under this Indenture or the Notes or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting any Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
Section 12.08 Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial. THE INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
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PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 12.09 No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Holder will waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release will be part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
Section 12.10 Calculations. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Company will be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes and this Indenture. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock or any other security, the Daily Settlement Amounts, the Daily Conversion Values, accrued interest payable on the Notes and the Conversion Rate in effect on any Conversion Date.
The Company will make all calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on all Holders. The Company will provide a schedule of its calculations to each of the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee and Conversion Agent is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. If any Holder requests from the Trustee a copy of such schedule, the Trustee will promptly forward a copy of such schedule to such Holder.
All calculations will be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share, as the case may be, with 5/100,000ths rounded upward.
Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent will have any duty to determine whether the conditions to convertibility of the Notes have been met or whether and to what extent any of the conditions requiring a change to the Conversion Rate have been met, nor will either of them have any responsibility to make calculations under the Indenture to monitor the price of the Company’s Common Stock or the Trading Price.
Section 12.11 Successors. All agreements of the Company, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent in this Indenture and the Notes will bind their respective successors.
Section 12.12 Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission will constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or other electronic means will be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 12.13 Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof, and will not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
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Section 12.14 Force Majeure
. The Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent will not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of such Person (including, but not limited to, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, any act of terrorism, epidemics, pandemics or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility).
Section 12.15 Submission to Jurisdiction. The Company: (a) agrees that any suit, action or proceeding against it arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be, may be instituted in any U.S. federal court with applicable subject matter jurisdiction sitting in The City of New York; (b) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and any claim that any suit, action or proceeding in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum; and (c) submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any suit, action or proceeding.
Section 12.16 Legal Holidays. If the Maturity Date or any Interest Payment Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, Redemption Date or Conversion Date is not a Business Day, then any action to be taken on such date need not be taken on such date, but may be taken on the immediately following Business Day with the same force and effect as if taken on such date, and no interest will accrue for the period from and after such date.
Section 12.17 No Security Interest Created. Except as provided in Section 7.06 or 9.01(b) hereof, nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, will be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction.
Section 12.18 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, will give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Registrar, and their successors hereunder, and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
Section 12.19 Tax Withholding. Any applicable withholding taxes (including backup withholding) may be withheld from interest and payments upon conversion, repurchase or maturity of the Notes, or if any withholding taxes (including backup withholding) are paid on behalf of a Holder or beneficial owner, those withholding taxes may be set off against payments of cash or Common Stock, if any, payable on the Notes or sales proceeds received by or other funds or assets of the Holder or beneficial owner.
Section 12.20 U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions, in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
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[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Green Plains Inc. has caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as a deed the day and year first before written.
Green Plains Inc., as Issuer
By:/s/ Todd Becker
Name:Todd Becker
Title:President Chief Executive Officer
[Signature Page to Indenture]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized, has executed this Indenture as of the day and year first before written.
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee
By:/s/ Barry D. Somrock
Name: Barry D. Somrock
Title: Vice President
[Signature Page to Indenture]
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTE
[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]
NO AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY MAY PURCHASE OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN.
[Include the following legend for Global Notes only (the “Global Notes Legend”):]
THIS IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE WILL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE, AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE WILL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE 2 OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
A-1
No.:[___]
CUSIP:[___]
ISIN:[___]
Principal Amount $[___]
[Insert for Global Note: as revised by the Schedule of Increases
and Decreases of Global Note attached hereto]
Green Plains Inc.
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027
Green Plains Inc., an Iowa corporation, promises to pay to [___][Cede & Co.], or registered assigns, the principal amount of $[___] [Insert for Global Note: (as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases of Global Note attached hereto)] on March 15, 2027.
Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning [___].
Regular Record Dates: March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning [___].
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.
A-3
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
By:
Authorized Signatory
Dated:
A-4
[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]
GREEN PLAINS INC.
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of Green Plains Inc. (the “Company”), designated as its 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”), all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of the Issue Date, and a first supplemental indenture (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Supplemental Indenture,” and the Base Indenture, as amended by the Supplemental Indenture, and as the same may be further amended or supplemented from time to time with respect to the Notes, the “Indenture”), dated as of the Issue Date, each between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture, and the terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those incorporated into the Indenture. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent that any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture will govern and control.
1.Interest.
This Note will bear interest at a rate equal to 2.25% per annum. Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for, or, if no interest has been paid or provided for, the Issue Date. Interest will be payable semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on [__]. Each payment of cash interest on this Note will include interest accrued for the period commencing on and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or, if none, the Issue Date) through, and including, the day before the applicable Interest Payment Date.
Pursuant to Section 6.04 of the Supplemental Indenture, in certain circumstances, the Company will pay an Extension Fee on this Note.
Pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Supplemental Indenture, in certain circumstances, the Company will pay Default Interest on Defaulted Amounts with respect to this Note.
2.Method of Payment.
The Company will promptly make all payments on this Note on the dates and in the manner provided herein and in the Supplemental Indenture. Payments on Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by Depositary. The Company will pay principal of, and any Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price for, Definitive Notes at the office or agency designated by the Company for such purpose. Interest on Definitive Notes will be made by check or by wire transfer, as described in Section 2.04, except that any payment of Interest due on the Maturity Date will be made at the office or agency designated by the Company for such
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purpose. All payments on this Note will be made in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
3.Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar.
Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association will act as the Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Registrar; provided, that the Company will maintain at least one Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar in the continental United States. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Registrar.
4.Repurchase By the Company at the Option of the Holder upon a Fundamental Change.
At the option of the Holder, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Supplemental Indenture, upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, each Holder will have the right, at its option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of its Notes, or any portion of its Notes having a principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, at a Fundamental Change Repurchase Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes to be purchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, unless the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date occurs after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date corresponding to such Regular Record Date, in which case the Company will pay the accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes, on such Interest Payment Date, to the Holder of such Notes as of the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date, and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall not include such accrued and unpaid interest. To exercise its purchase right, a Holder must comply with the procedures set forth in Article 3 of the Supplemental Indenture.
5.Redemption at the Option of the Company.
Prior to March 15, 2024, the Company may not redeem the Notes. Subject to the terms of the Supplemental Indenture, on a Redemption Date occurring on or after March 15, 2024, and prior to the Maturity Date, the Company may redeem all, but not less than all, of the Notes if the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds 140% of the Conversion Price in effect on (i) each of at least 20 Trading Days during the 30 consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the applicable Redemption Notice Date; and (ii) the Trading Day immediately before the Redemption Notice Date. Any Redemption Date must be at least 30, but not more than 50, Scheduled Trading Days after the date on which the Company delivers the applicable Redemption Notice. The Redemption Price that the Company will pay for any Notes that it redeems will equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes to be purchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, unless the Redemption Date occurs after a Regular Record Date and on or before the Interest Payment Date corresponding to such Regular Record Date, in which case the Redemption Price for any Notes to be redeemed will equal 100% of the principal amount of such Notes, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such Notes to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will be payable, on or, at the Company’s election before, such Interest Payment Date, to the Holder of such Notes at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date.
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6.Conversion.
Subject to, and upon compliance with, the provisions of Article 10 of the Supplemental Indenture, a Holder may, at its option, convert all of its Notes, or any portion of its Notes having a principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, (i) subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 10.01(b) of the Supplemental Indenture, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2026, under the circumstances and during the periods set forth in Section 10.01(b) of the Supplemental Indenture, and (ii) irrespective of the conditions set forth in Section 10.01(b) of the Supplemental Indenture, on or after September 15, 2026 and prior to the Close of Business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, in each case, into Conversion Consideration, as provided in Article 10 of the Supplemental Indenture, based on the Conversion Rate. Notes may not be converted after the Close of Business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date.
7.Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Notes are in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $1,000 of principal amount and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Supplemental Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Supplemental Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Notes in respect of which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been given and not withdrawn (except, in the case of a Note to be repurchased in part, the portion of the Note not to be repurchased), after the Company has delivered a Notice of Redemption (except to the extent that Notes are converted or the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price in accordance with Article 11 of the Supplemental Indenture) or in respect of which a Conversion Notice has been given (except, in the case of a Note to be converted in part, the portion of the Note not to be converted).
8.Amendment, Supplement and Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Supplemental Indenture permits the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes to be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. In certain circumstances, the Company and the Trustee may also amend or supplement the Supplemental Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder. Subject to certain exceptions, the Supplemental Indenture permits the waiver of certain Events of Default or the noncompliance with certain provisions of the Supplemental Indenture and of the Notes with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
9.Defaults and Remedies.
Subject to the immediately following paragraph, if an Event of Default specified in the Supplemental Indenture occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by delivering a written notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by delivering a written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all the
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Notes to be due and payable immediately by delivering notice to the Company. In addition, certain specified Events of Default will cause the Notes to become immediately due and payable without the Trustee or Holders taking any action.
If the Company so elects, the sole remedy for an Event of Default relating to the Company’s failure to comply with the reporting obligations under Section 4.02 of the Supplemental Indenture will, for the 60 days after the occurrence of such Event of Default, consist exclusively of the right to receive an Extension Fee on the principal amount of the Notes.
Holders may not enforce the Supplemental Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Supplemental Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Supplemental Indenture or the Notes unless it receives indemnity or security satisfactory to it. Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Supplemental Indenture. Subject to certain exceptions, the Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Event of Default or Default if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.
10.Persons Deemed Owners.
The Holder of this Note will be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.
11.Unclaimed Money or Notes.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent will return to the Company upon written request any money or securities held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the Notes that remain unclaimed for two years, subject to applicable unclaimed property law. After return to the Company, Holders entitled to the money or securities must look to the Company for payment as general creditors, unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
12.Trustee Dealings with the Company.
The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee.
13.Calculations in Respect of Notes.
Except as otherwise provided in the Supplemental Indenture, the Company will be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes and the Supplemental Indenture. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock or any other security, the Daily Settlement Amounts, the Daily Conversion Values, accrued interest payable on the Notes and the Conversion Rate in effect on any Conversion Date.
The Company will make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on all Holders.
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14.No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.
15.Authentication.
This Note will not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the Trustee’s certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
16.Abbreviations.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
17.GOVERNING LAW.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
18.CUSIP Numbers.
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Note Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in any notices as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Company will furnish to any Holder, upon written request and without charge, a copy of the Supplemental Indenture which has in it the text of this Note. Requests may be made to:
Green Plains Inc.
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, NE 68106
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
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CONVERSION NOTICE
GREEN PLAINS INC.
2.25% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027
To convert this Note, check the box ☐
To convert the entire principal amount of this Note, check the box ☐
To convert only a portion of the principal amount of this Note, check the box ☐ and here specify the principal amount to be converted, which principal amount must equal $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof:
$
Signature Guaranteed
Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guarantee Medallion Program
By:
Authorized Signatory
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FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Attention: Green Plains Inc. Administrator
The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from Green Plains Inc. (the “Company”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and specifying the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and requests and instructs the Company to pay to the Holder hereof in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture referred to in this Note (1) the entire principal amount of this Note, or the portion thereof (that is equal to $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, and (2) if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date does not occur during the period after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.
Principal amount to be repaid (if less than all): $ ,000
Signature Guaranteed
Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guarantee Medallion Program
By:
Authorized Signatory
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[Include for Global Note]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES OF GLOBAL NOTE
Initial Principal Amount of Global Note: $[___]
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Green Plains Inc.
as Issuer
2.25% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of March 1, 2021
Wilmington trust, National Association
as Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE; SCOPE AND INTERPRETATION OF BASE INDENTURE1
Interpretation; Scope of Supplemental Indenture; Supersession of Base Indenture.11
Designation, Amount and Issuance of Notes13
Execution and Authentication18
Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent19
Money and Securities Held in Trust20
REPURCHASE AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER27
Fundamental Change Permits Holders to Require the Company to Repurchase the Notes27
Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice29
Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice30
Effect of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice31
Covenant to Comply With Securities laws Upon Repurchase of Notes32
Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price32
Covenant Not to Repurchase Notes Upon Certain Events of Default32
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Restriction on Purchases by the Company and by Affiliates of the Company34
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws35
Further Instruments and Acts35
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS35
Company May Consolidate, Merge or Sell Its Assets Only on Certain Terms35
Sole Remedy for Failure to Report39
Rights of Holders To Receive Payment41
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim41
Individual Rights of Trustee44
Successor Trustee by Merger47
Eligibility; Disqualification47
Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company47
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE48
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Discharge of Liability on Notes48
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS48
Execution of Supplemental Indentures50
Notices of Supplemental Indentures50
Effect of Supplemental Indentures51
Revocation and Effect of Consents, Waivers and Actions51
Notation on, or Exchange of, Notes51
Settlement Upon Conversion.56
Common Stock Issued Upon Conversion.58
Adjustment of Conversion Rate59
Adjustments Upon a Make-Whole Fundamental Change69
Effect of Recapitalization, Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale70
No Responsibility of Trustee or Conversion Agent73
REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE COMPANY73
Effect of Redemption Notice75
Deposit of Redemption Price75
Covenant Not to Redeem Notes Upon Certain Events of Default76
Trust Indenture Act Controls76
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent77
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion78
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.78
Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial78
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Table of Contents; Headings79
No Security Interest Created80
Form of Note.............................................................................................................................A-1
Form of Transfer Certificate.............................................................................................................B-1
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FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 1, 2021, between Green Plains Inc., an Iowa corporation (“Company”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (“Trustee”), to the Base Indenture (as defined below).
This Supplemental Indenture (as defined below) is being executed and delivered pursuant to Article II of the Base Indenture to establish the terms, and provide for the issuance, of a new series of Securities (as defined in the Base Indenture) constituting the Company’s 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Notes:
Section 1.01 Definitions.
Subject to the last paragraph of Section 1.03, capitalized terms used in this Supplemental Indenture without definition have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Base Indenture. For purposes of the Notes, the following additional definitions will apply and supersede any conflicting definitions in the Base Indenture.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or any beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Note, in each case to the extent applicable to such transfer or transaction and as in effect from time to time.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar U.S. federal, state or non-U.S. law for the relief of debtors.
“Base Indenture” means that certain Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2021, between the Company and the Trustee.
“Bid Solicitation Agent” means the Person who shall solicit and obtain bids for the Trading Price in accordance with Section 10.01(b)(ii) and the definition of Trading Price set forth herein. The initial Bid Solicitation Agent shall be the Company, and the Company shall have the right to thereafter appoint any other Person to be the Bid Solicitation Agent without prior notice.
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“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or a committee of such board duly authorized to act for it.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the place of payment is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed.
“Capital Stock” means, for any Person, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of, or interests in (however designated), the equity of such Person, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.
“Close of Business” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.
“Common Stock” means the shares of the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, or any other shares of Capital Stock of the Company into which such shares of common stock will be reclassified or changed.
“Company” means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture until a successor or assignee replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, thereafter, means the successor or assignee.
“Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any Officer.
“Conversion Price” means, at any time, (i) $1,000 divided by (ii) the Conversion Rate in effect at such time.
“Conversion Rate” means, initially, 31.6206 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the corporate trust office of the Trustee at which the trust created by this Indenture will be administered, which office, as of the Issue Date, is located at Wilmington Trust, National Association, Global Capital Markets, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: Green Plains Inc. Administrator, and may later be located at such other address as the Trustee, upon delivering notice to the Holders, the Paying Agent, the Conversion Agent, the Registrar and the Company, designates.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Daily Conversion Value” means, for any Trading Day, (1) the product (x) the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on such Trading Day and (y) the Daily VWAP on such Trading Day, divided by (2) twenty five (25).
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“Daily Settlement Amount” means, with respect to each of the 25 consecutive Trading Days during an Observation Period for a conversion of any Notes, (i) cash equal to the lesser of (x) the Specified Dollar Amount applicable to such conversion, divided by twenty five (25) (such quotient, the “Daily Measurement Value”); and (y) the Daily Conversion Value on such Trading Day (the lesser of such preceding clauses (x) and (y), the “Daily Cash Amount”); and (ii) if such Daily Conversion Value exceeds such Daily Measurement Value, a number of shares of Common Stock (such number, the “Daily Share Amount”) equal to (x) the difference between such Daily Conversion Value and such Daily Measurement Value, divided by (y) the Daily VWAP for such Trading Day.
“Daily VWAP” means, for any Trading Day, the per share volume-weighted average price per share of Common Stock as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “GPRE <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of Common Stock on such Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company). The Daily VWAP will be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Default Settlement Method” will initially be Combination Settlement with a specified dollar amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes equal to $1,000; provided, however, that the Company may, from time to time, change the Default Settlement Method by sending written notice of the new Default Settlement Method to Holders, with a copy to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent.
“Deferral Exception” means the provisions set forth in Section 10.05(l).
“Definitive Notes” means Notes that are in registered definitive form.
“Depositary” means DTC; provided that the Company may at any time, upon delivering notice to the Holders, the Company, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent, appoint a successor Depositary.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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1 “Fundamental Change” means an event that will be deemed to occur if any of the following occurs: |
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(i) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act other than the Company, its Subsidiaries, and the Company and its Subsidiaries’ employee benefit plans, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined below) of shares of
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the Company’s common equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s common equity; |
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(ii) the consummation of: |
any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person; or
any transaction or series of related transactions in connection with which (whether by means of exchange, liquidation, consolidation, merger, combination, reclassification, recapitalization, acquisition or otherwise) all of the Common Stock is exchanged for, converted into, acquired for, or constitutes solely the right to receive, other securities, other property, assets or cash; provided, however, that any merger, consolidation, share exchange or combination of the Company pursuant to which the persons that “beneficially owned” (as defined below), directly or indirectly, the shares of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, immediately after such transaction, shares of the Voting Stock of the surviving, continuing or acquiring corporation, or the parent thereof, representing more than 50% of the total outstanding voting power of all outstanding classes of Voting Stock of the surviving, continuing or acquiring corporation, or the parent thereof, as applicable, in substantially the same proportions vis-à-vis each other as immediately prior to such transaction, will not constitute a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (ii);
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(iii) the Company’s stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or |
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(iv) the Common Stock ceases to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Global Select Market (or any of their respective successors). |
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2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, a transaction or event described in clause (ii) above will not constitute a Fundamental Change if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by the holders of the Common Stock, excluding cash payments for fractional shares or dissenters rights in connection with the transaction or transactions, consists of shares of common stock traded on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Global Select Market (or any of their respective successors) or which will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or event and as a result of such transaction or event, the Notes become convertible or exchangeable (assuming Physical Settlement) solely into such consideration (excluding cash payable in lieu of any fractional share) in accordance with Section 10.08 hereof. |
a person is a “beneficial owner” or whether shares are “beneficially owned” will be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. |
“Global Note” means a permanent global note that is in the form of the Note attached hereto as Exhibit A and that is registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary and deposited with the Depositary, the nominee of the Depositary or a custodian appointed by the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary.
“Global Notes Legend” means the legend identified as such in Exhibit A hereto.
“Holder” or “Holders” means a Person or Persons in whose name a Note is registered in the Register.
“Indenture” means the Base Indenture, as amended by this Supplemental Indenture, and as the same may be further amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Issue Date” means March 1, 2021.
“Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock on any date means the closing sale or trading price (or, if no closing sale or trading price is reported, the average of the last bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average last bid and the average last ask prices) per share of the Common Stock on such date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded. If the Common Stock is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on such date, the “Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock will be the last quoted bid price per share for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on such date as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If the Common Stock is not so quoted, the “Last Reported Sale Price” will be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices per share for the Common Stock on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Company for this purpose.
“Market Disruption Event” means, (i) for purposes of determining whether the Notes will be convertible pursuant to Section 10.01(b), the occurrence or existence during the one-half hour period ending on the scheduled close of trading on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed for trading of any material suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or future contracts relating to the Common Stock; and (ii) for purposes of determining any Observation Period, (A) a failure by the primary U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading to open for trading during its regular trading session or (B) the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Scheduled Trading Day for the Common Stock for more than one half-hour period in the aggregate during regular trading hours of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options, contracts or future contracts relating to the Common Stock.
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“Notes” means any of the Company’s 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 issued under the Indenture.
“Observation Period” means, with respect to any Note surrendered for conversion, (i) subject to clause (ii) below, if the Conversion Date for such conversion is before the twenty eighth (28th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Maturity Date, the twenty five (25) consecutive Trading Days beginning on, and including, the second Trading Day after such Conversion Date; (ii) if such Conversion Date occurs on or after the date the Company has sent a Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 11.03 and before the related Redemption Date, the twenty five (25) consecutive Trading Days beginning on, and including, the twenty sixth (26th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date; and (iii) subject to clause (ii) above, if such Conversion Date occurs on or after the twenty eighth (28th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the Maturity Date, the twenty five (25) consecutive Trading Days beginning on, and including, the twenty sixth (26th) Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Chief Legal Officer, the Administration Officer, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a written certificate containing the information specified in Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof, signed in the name of the Company by any two Officers, and delivered to the Trustee; provided, that, if such certificate is given pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof, (i) one of the Officers signing such certificate must be the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and (ii) such certificate need not contain the information specified in Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof.
“Open of Business” means 9:00 a.m., New York City time.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion containing the information specified in Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof, from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of, or counsel to, the Company who is reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.
“Option” means the option of the Underwriters, pursuant to Section 3(b) of the Underwriting Agreement, to purchase up to $30,000,000 aggregate principal amount of additional Notes from the Company.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Preliminary Prospectus Supplement” means the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering of the Notes dated February 24, 2021.
“Pricing Term Sheet” means the Pricing Term Sheet attached to the Underwriting Agreement as Schedule II thereto.
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“Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as it may be amended from time to time.
“Scheduled Trading Day” means a day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading; provided, however, that if the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, then “Scheduled Trading day” means a Business Day.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Settlement Method” means Cash Settlement, Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is a “significant subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Exchange Act.
“Specified Dollar Amount” means, with respect to the conversion of any Note with respect to which Combination Settlement applies, the maximum cash amount per $1,000 principal amount of such Note being converted to be received upon such conversion (excluding cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock), as specified in the notice specifying the Company’s elected Settlement Method for such conversion or as deemed to be so specified pursuant to Section 10.03(a)(i).
“Stock Price” means, for any Make-Whole Fundamental Change, (i) if the holders of the Common Stock receive only cash in consideration for their shares of Common Stock in such Make-Whole Fundamental Change and such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is of the type described in clause (ii) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the amount of cash paid per share of the Common Stock in such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, and (ii) otherwise, the average of the Last Reported Sales Price of the Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Make-Whole Fundamental Change Effective Date for such Make-Whole Fundamental Change.
“Subsidiary” means a Person more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company.
“Supplemental Indenture” means this First Supplemental Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in effect on the Issue Date; provided, however, that if the TIA is amended after such date, TIA means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the TIA as so amended.
“Trading Day” means a day on which (i) trading in the Common Stock (or other security for which a closing sale price must be determined) generally occurs on The Nasdaq Global Select
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Market or, if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not then listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock (or such other security) is then listed or, if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock (or such other security) is then listed or admitted for trading; (ii) there is no Market Disruption Event; and (iii) a closing price for the Common Stock (or such other security) is available on such securities exchange; provided, however, that if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not so listed or traded, then “Trading Day” means a Business Day; provided, further, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, solely for purposes of determining the Conversion Consideration due upon any conversion of a Note, (x) “Trading Day” means a day on which (A) there is no Market Disruption Event and (B) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on The Nasdaq Global Select Market or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted for trading; and (y) if the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.
“Trading Price” means, with respect to the Notes on any date of determination, the average of the secondary market bid quotations obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent for $2.0 million principal amount of Notes at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such determination date from three independent nationally recognized securities dealers selected by the Company; provided, however, that if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent but two such bids are obtained, then the average of the two (2) bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent, that one bid shall be used. If the Bid Solicitation Agent cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for $2.0 million principal amount of the Notes from a nationally recognized securities dealer on any Trading Day, then the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes on such Trading Day will be deemed to be less than ninety eight percent (98%) of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on such Trading Day. If (x) the Company is not acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, and the Company does not, when the Company is required to, instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent in writing to obtain bids, or if the Company gives such written instruction to the Bid Solicitation Agent, and the Bid Solicitation Agent fails to make such determination or (y) the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, and the Company fails to make such determination, then, in either case, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes will be deemed to be less than ninety eight percent (98%) of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on each Trading Day of such failure.
“Transfer Agent” means, initially, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., in its capacity as the transfer agent for the transfer agent for the Common Stock, and any successor entity acting in such capacity.
“Trust Officer” means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter hereunder, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
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“Trustee” means the party named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture and, thereafter, means such successor. The foregoing sentence will likewise apply to any such subsequent successor or successors.
“Underwriters” means Jefferies LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Truist Securities, Inc.
“Underwriting Agreement” means the underwriting agreement, dated February 24, 2021, between the Company and the Underwriters.
“Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the Issue Date.
“Voting Stock” of a Person means Capital Stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Capital Stock of any other class or classes will have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
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Term Section: |
Defined in: |
“Act” |
1.05 |
“Additional Shares” |
10.07(a) |
“Agent Members” |
2.02(c) |
“Averaging Period” |
10.05(e) |
“Cash Settlement” |
10.03(a) |
“Combination Settlement” |
10.03(a) |
“Common Stock Change Event” |
10.08(a) |
“Conversion Agent” |
2.06(a) |
“Conversion Consideration” |
10.03(a)(ii) |
“Conversion Date” |
10.02(a) |
“Conversion Notice” |
10.02(a) |
“Defaulted Amount” |
2.04(d) |
“Default Interest” |
2.04(d) |
“Effective Date” |
10.05(m) |
“Event of Default” |
6.01(a) |
“Ex-Dividend Date” |
10.05(m) |
“Expiration Time” |
10.05(e) |
“Extension Fee” |
6.04(a) |
“Fundamental Change Notice” |
3.02(a) |
“Fundamental Change Notice Date” |
3.02(a) |
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” |
3.01(c) |
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” |
3.03(a)(A) |
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” |
3.01(b) |
“Interest Payment Date” |
2.04(a) |
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.
(1)a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2)an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it and will be construed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles;
(3)“or” is not exclusive;
(4)“including” means including, without limitation;
(5)words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular, unless the context requires otherwise;
(6)all references to $, dollars, cash payments or money refer to United States currency;
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(7)each Article, Section, clause or paragraph reference in this Supplemental Indenture refers to the referenced Article, Section, clause or paragraph, as applicable, of this Supplemental Indenture;
(8)unless the context requires otherwise, all references to interest on the Notes (a) will include any Extension Fee payable pursuant to Section 6.04 hereof, (b) but, for the avoidance of doubt, will not include any Default Interest payable on a Defaulted Amount pursuant to the terms of Section 2.04 hereof; and
(9)unless otherwise provided in this Indenture or in any Note, the words “execute”, “execution”, “signed”, and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture, any Note or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other modifications) will be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which will be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Trustee pursuant to reasonable procedures approved by the Trustee.
For purposes of the Indenture, the following terms of the Trust Indenture Act have the following meanings:
(i)“Commission” means the SEC;
(ii)“indenture securities” means the Notes;
(iii)“indenture security holder” means a Holder;
(iv)“indenture to be qualified” means the Indenture;
(v)“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and
(vi)“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company.
All other terms used in the Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act (including by reference to another statute) or the related rules of the SEC, and not defined in the Indenture, have the respective meanings so defined by the Trust Indenture Act or such rules.
Section 1.04 Interpretation; Scope of Supplemental Indenture; Supersession of Base Indenture.
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(A) Generally. The amendments to the Base Indenture made by this Supplemental
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Indenture will apply solely with respect to the Notes and not with respect to any other class or series of Securities. For purposes of the Notes, if any provision of this Supplemental Indenture conflicts with any provision of the Base Indenture, then this Supplemental Indenture will control to the extent of such conflict. |
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(i) Article II of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 2 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(ii) Section 5.3 of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Section 4.02 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(iii) Section 13.12 of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Section 4.03 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(iv) Article III of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 11 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(v) Article VI of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 6; |
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(vi) Article VII of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 7 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(vii) Article IX of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 9 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(viii) Article X of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 5 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(ix) Article XI of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 8 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
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(x) Article XIII of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes and will instead be deemed to be replaced with Article 12 of this Supplemental Indenture; |
Each reference in the Base Indenture to any Articles or Sections (or part of any Articles or Sections) of the Base Indenture referred to in the preceding clauses of this Section 1.04(B) will, for purposes of the Notes, be deemed instead to be a reference to the respective Articles and Sections (or corresponding part of the respective Articles or Sections) referred to in the preceding clauses of this Section 1.04(B).
Section 1.05 Acts of Holders. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by
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such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action will become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent will be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to such officer the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than such signer’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit will also constitute sufficient proof of such signer’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Note will bind every future Holder of the same Note and the Holder of every Note issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, the Company, the Paying Agent, the Conversion Agent or the Registrar in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Note.
If the Company will solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company will have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the Close of Business on such record date will be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and, for that purpose, the outstanding Notes will be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date will be deemed effective unless it will become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
Section 2.01 Designation, Amount and Issuance of Notes.
exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.09, 2.10, 2.11, 3.06 and 10.02 hereof. In addition, the Company may issue an unlimited aggregate principal amount of additional Notes in accordance with clause (b) of this Section 2.01. |
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(a) General. The Notes will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, but may include any notations, legends or endorsements required by any applicable law (or regulation promulgated thereunder), stock exchange rule or usage, or any insertions, omissions or other variations otherwise permitted or required by this Indenture. Whenever any such notation, legend or endorsement, or any such insertion, omission or other variation is applicable to a Note, the Company will provide such notation, legend or endorsement, or such insertion, omission or other variation to the Trustee in writing. |
Each Note will bear a Trustee’s certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
Notes that are Global Notes will bear the Global Notes Legend and the “Schedule of Increases and Decreases of Global Note” attached thereto.
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent that any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture will govern and control.
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(c) Initial and Subsequent Notes. The Notes initially will be issued in global form, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary, and deposited with the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, as custodian for the Depositary. Except to the extent provided in Section 2.09(c) hereof, all Notes will be represented by one or more Global Notes. |
reduced or increased to reflect transfers, exchanges, conversions, redemptions or repurchases by the Company. |
Only the Trustee, or the custodian holding such Global Note for the Depositary, at the direction of the Trustee, may endorse a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes represented thereby, and whenever the Holder of a Global Note delivers instructions to the Trustee to increase or decrease the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes represented by a Global Note in accordance with Section 2.09 hereof, the Trustee, or the custodian holding such Global Note for the Depositary, at the direction of the Trustee, will endorse such Global Note to reflect such increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes represented thereby. None of the Trustee, the Company or any agent of the Trustee or the Company will have any responsibility or bear any liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, the ownership of any beneficial interest in a Global Note or with respect to maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interest.
Neither any member of, or participant in, the Depositary (collectively, the “Agent Members”) nor any other Person on whose behalf an Agent Member may act will have any rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note or under such Global Note, and the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee, may, for all purposes, treat the Depositary, or its nominee, if any, as the absolute owner and Holder of such Global Note.
The Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action that such Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes with respect to such Global Note, and, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein will prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or any agent of the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by such Holder or impair, as between the Depositary, its Agent Members and any other Person on whose behalf an Agent Member may act, the operation of their respective customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any interest in any Global Note.
Section 2.03 Denomination of Notes. The Notes will be issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 principal amount and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Section 2.04 Payments.
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(ii) Payment of Interest. Each Note will accrue interest at a rate equal to 2.25% per annum from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, or, if no
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interest has been paid or duly provided for, the Issue Date (or such other date provided for in Section 2.01(b) with respect to Notes issued in accordance with such Section) until, subject to the provisions of clause (d) of this Section 2.04, the date the principal amount of such Note is paid or deemed paid, as the case may be, pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.04(a) or any of Sections 3.05, 10.03 or 11.06 hereof. |
Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), beginning September 15, 2021 (or such other date provided for in Section 2.01(b) with respect to Notes issued in accordance with such Section), to the Holder of each such Note as of the Close of Business on the March 1 and September 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date (each such date, a “Regular Record Date”), regardless of whether such Note is converted, repurchased or redeemed after such Regular Record Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
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(iii) Method of Payment. The Company will pay the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, and the interest on, any Global Note to the Depositary by wire transfer of immediately available funds on the relevant payment date. |
The Company will pay the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price for, and any interest due on the Maturity Date on, any Definitive Note in cash to the applicable Holder of such Note at the office of the Paying Agent on the relevant payment date.
The Company will pay interest due, on an Interest Payment Date, on any Definitive Note (except interest due on the Maturity Date) to the applicable Holder of such Note (i) if such Holder holds $5,000,000 or less aggregate principal amount of Notes, by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address, and (ii) if such Holder holds more than $5,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, (A) by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address or (B) if such Holder delivers, not later than the Regular Record Date relating to such Interest Payment Date, a written request to the Registrar that the Company make such payments by wire transfer to an account of such Holder within the United States, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account, which request shall remain in effect until such Holder notifies, in writing, the Registrar to the contrary.
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(e) Interest Rights Preserved. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.04(d) hereof, and, to the extent applicable, Sections 2.09 and 2.10 hereof, each Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, any other Note will carry any rights to the payment and accrual of interest that were carried by the relevant surrendered Note, Notes, or portion(s) thereof. |
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(f) Extension Fee. Pursuant to Section 6.04 hereof, in certain circumstances, the Company may, at its election, be obligated to pay Holders the Extension Fee. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this Indenture to interest on the Notes will include such Extension Fee, but will not include any Default Interest payable pursuant to Section 2.04(d) hereof. |
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(A) At least 30 days before the date on which the Company proposes to pay such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon, the Company will deliver to the Trustee written notice of (I) the proposed payment date for such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon and (II) the aggregate amount of such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon. |
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(B) Simultaneously with delivering such notice to the Trustee, the Company will either (I) deposit with the Trustee an amount of money, in immediately available funds, equal to the aggregate amount of such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon, or (II) take other actions that the Trustee deems reasonably satisfactory to ensure that an amount of money, in immediately available funds, equal to the aggregate of such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon will be deposited with the Trustee by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day that is five Business Days prior to the proposed payment date, and in either case, upon receipt of such money, the Trustee will hold such money in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest pursuant to this Section 2.04(d)(i). |
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(C) Upon (i) receipt of such notice and (ii) the Company’s depositing such money or taking such other actions reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the Company will promptly fix a Special Regular Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon, which Special Regular Record Date will be not more than 15 calendar days and not less than 10 days prior to the proposed payment date, and notify the Trustee of the Special Regular Record Date. The Trustee will then, in the name and at the expense of the Company, deliver notice to each Holder specifying such Special Regular Record Date and the date on which such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon will be paid by the Company. |
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(D) After such notice has been delivered by the Trustee, such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon will be paid to the Persons in whose names
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the Notes (or their respective predecessor Notes) are registered at the Close of Business on the Special Regular Record Date specified in such notice and such Defaulted Amounts and Default Interest thereon will no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii) of this Section 2.04(d)(i). |
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(a) In General. A Note will be valid only if executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee. |
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent. If the Trustee appoints an authenticating agent and such authenticating agent is reasonably acceptable to the Company, such authenticating agent may authenticate a Note whenever the Trustee may authenticate such Note. For purposes of this provision, each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee will be deemed to include authentication by an authenticating agent, and an authenticating agent will have the same rights to deal with the Company as the Trustee would have if it were performing the duties that the authentication agent was validly appointed to undertake.
Section 2.06 Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent.
“Paying Agent”), an office or agency where the Notes may be presented for conversion (the “Conversion Agent”) and an office or agency where notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served. |
The Registrar will keep a register for the recordation of, and will record, the names and addresses of Holders, the Notes held by each Holder and the transfer, exchange, repurchase, redemption and conversion of Notes (the “Register”). Absent manifest error, the entries in the Register will be conclusive and the parties may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Holder hereunder for all purposes of this Indenture. The Register will be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonably prompt period of time.
The Company may have one or more registrars, one or more paying agents, one or more conversion agents and one or more places where notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served. Before appointing any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent that is not otherwise a party to this agreement, the Company will enter into an appropriate agency agreement with such Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as the case may be, which agency agreement will implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such replacement or additional registrar, paying agent or conversion agent, as the case may be. The term Registrar includes any additional registrars named pursuant to this Indenture. The term Paying Agent includes any additional paying agent named pursuant to this Indenture. The term Conversion Agent includes any additional conversion agent named pursuant to this Indenture. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default under Section 6.01(a)(ix) or 6.01(a)(x) with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall be the Paying Agent.
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(j) Initial Designations. The Company initially appoints the Trustee as each of the Registrar, the Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, and the Notes initially may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange, payment, repurchase, redemption and conversion to the Trustee, in its capacity as the Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as the case may be, at the Corporate Trust Office. Notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served at the Corporate Trust Office; provided, however, that no office of the Trustee shall be an office or agency of the Company for purposes of service of legal process on the Company. |
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(k) Removal, Resignation and Replacement. The Company may remove any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent by delivering written notice to the Trustee and to such Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent; provided, however, that no such removal will become effective unless (i) after such removal, at least one Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent will remain; (ii) a successor has accepted appointment as Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as the case may be, the Company and such successor have entered into an agency agreement in accordance with Section 2.06(a) hereof, and the Company has delivered written notice of such appointment and a copy of such agency agreement to the Trustee, or (iii) the Company has delivered written notice to the Trustee that the Trustee will serve as the successor Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 2.06(d) hereof; and provided, further, that the right to effect any such change or removal in no way relieves the Company of its obligation to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent in the continental United States. The Company may also change the place where
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notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served, or reduce the number of such places; provided, however, that the right to effect any such change or reduction in no way relieves the Company of its obligation to maintain a place in the continental United States where notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served. |
In addition, the Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent may resign at any time by delivering written notice of such resignation to each of the Company and the Trustee; provided, however, that if the Trustee is serving as Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, the Trustee may resign from such capacity only if it also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.07 hereof. If, after any such resignation, at least one Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent does not remain, the Trustee will immediately be deemed to serve such empty office or agency in accordance with Section 2.06(d) hereof.
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(m) Notices. Promptly upon the effectiveness of any removal or appointment of a Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, or upon any change in the location of the office of any Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, or of the place where notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served, the Company will deliver to each Holder notice of such removal, appointment or change in location, as the case may be, which notice will include a brief description of the removal, appointment or change in location, as the case may be, and list the name and address of each continuing (and newly appointed, if applicable) Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent and place where notices and demands to, or upon, the Company with respect to the Notes and this Indenture may be served. |
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Except as otherwise provided herein, by no later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each due date for a payment on any Note, the Company will deposit with the Paying Agent an amount of money in immediately available funds, if deposited on the due date sufficient to make such payment when due.
The Company will require that each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee, if the Trustee is a Paying Agent) agree in writing that it will (i) segregate all money and securities it holds for making payments with respect to the Notes; (ii) hold such money and securities in trust for the benefit of Holders; and (iii) notify the Trustee, in writing, as promptly as practicable, if the Company defaults in making any payment on the Notes.
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If any such default has occurred and is continuing, the Paying Agent will, upon receiving a written request from the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all of the money and securities it holds in trust. In addition, at any time, the Company may require a Paying Agent to pay all money and securities that it holds for making payments with respect to the Notes to the Trustee and to account for any money and securities it has disbursed. After delivering all of such money and securities to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 2.07, the Paying Agent (in its capacity as such) will have no further liability for such money and securities.
Section 2.08 Holder Lists.
The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee, (i) within five Business Days after each Regular Record Date, a list of the names and addresses of Holders as of such Regular Record Date, and (ii) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of such request, a list of the names and addresses of Holders as of no more than 15 days immediately prior to the date such list is furnished, in each case, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require.
Section 2.09 Transfer and Exchange.
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(a) Provisions Applicable to All Transfers and Exchanges. |
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(i) Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.09, Definitive Notes and beneficial interests in Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged from time to time as desired, and each such transfer or exchange will be noted by the Registrar in the Register. |
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(ii) All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange in accordance with this Indenture will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange. |
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(iii) No service charge will be imposed on any Holder of a Definitive Note or any owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note for any exchange or registration of transfer, but each of the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar may require such Holder or owner of a beneficial interest to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed in connection with such registration of transfer or exchange. |
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(iv) Unless the Company specifies otherwise, none of the Company, the Trustee, the Registrar or any co-registrar will be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Note (i) surrendered for conversion, except to the extent that any portion of such Note has not been surrendered for conversion, (ii) subject to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice validly delivered pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof, except to the extent any portion of such Note is not subject to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or the Company fails to pay the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Price when due, or (iii) after the Company has delivered a Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 11.03 hereof, except to the extent the Company fails to pay the applicable Redemption Price when due. |
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(v) The Trustee will have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on Transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. |
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(n) In General; Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. So long as the Notes are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depositary (unless otherwise required by law and except to the extent required by Section 2.09(c) hereof): |
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(i) all Notes will be represented by one or more Global Notes; |
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(ii) every transfer and exchange of a beneficial interest in a Global Note will be effected through the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the provisions of this Indenture; and |
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(iii) each Global Note may be transferred only as a whole and only (A) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, (B) by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or (C) by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. |
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(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, each Global Note will be exchanged for Definitive Notes if the Depositary delivers notice to the Company that: |
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(I) the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary; or |
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(II) the Depositary is no longer registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, |
and, in each case, the Company promptly delivers a copy of such notice to the Trustee and the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days after receiving notice from the Depositary.
In each such case, (1) each Global Note will be deemed surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, (2) the Trustee will promptly cancel each such Global Note in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, (3) the Company, (x) in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly execute, for each beneficial interest in each Global Note so cancelled, an aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes equal to the aggregate principal amount of such beneficial interest, registered in such name and authorized denominations as the Depositary specifies, and bearing such legends as such Definitive Notes are required to bear under Section 2.02 hereof, and, (y) as provided in Section 2.05(c) hereof, will promptly deliver to the Trustee such Definitive Notes and a Company Order including the information specified in Section 2.05(c) hereof with
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respect to such Definitive Notes, and (4) the Trustee, upon receipt of such Definitive Notes and such Company Order, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly authenticate, and deliver to the Holder specified in such Company Order, such Definitive Notes.
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(ii) In addition: |
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(I) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for Definitive Notes by delivering a written request to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee; or |
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(II) at any time, the Company may, in its sole discretion, at the request of the owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note, permit the exchange of such owner’s beneficial interest, by delivering a written request to the Registrar, the Trustee and the owner of such beneficial interest. |
In each case, (1) upon receipt of such request, the Registrar will promptly deliver written notice of such request to the Company and the Trustee, which notice must identify the owner of the beneficial interest to be exchanged, the aggregate principal amount of such beneficial interest and the CUSIP number of the relevant Global Note; (2) the Trustee, upon receipt of such notice, will promptly cause the aggregate principal amount of such Global Note to be reduced by the aggregate principal amount of the beneficial interest to be so exchanged in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, (3) the Company (x) in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly execute, for such beneficial interest, a Definitive Note having aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such beneficial interest, registered in the name of the owner specified in the notice delivered by the Registrar, and bearing such legends as such Definitive Note is required to bear under Sections 2.02 hereof, and, (y) as provided in Section 2.05(c) hereof, will promptly deliver to the Trustee such Definitive Note and a Company Order including the information specified in Section 2.05(c) hereof with respect to such Definitive Note, and (4) the Trustee, upon receipt of such Definitive Note and such Company Order, will promptly, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, authenticate, and deliver to the Holder specified in such Company Order, such Definitive Note. If, after such exchange, all of the beneficial interests in a Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes, such Global Note will be deemed surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Trustee will cause such Global Note to be cancelled in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.
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(p) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes. If Definitive Notes are issued, a Holder may: |
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(i) transfer a Definitive Note by: (A) surrendering such Definitive Note for registration of transfer to the Registrar, together with any endorsements or instruments of transfer reasonably required by any of the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar; and (B) satisfying any other requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.09. Upon the satisfaction of conditions (A), (B) and (C), (1) the Company, (x) in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly execute a new Definitive Note, in the name of the designated transferee, having an aggregate principal amount equal to that of the transferred Definitive Note and bearing such legends as such Definitive Note is required to bear under Sections 2.02 hereof, and (y) as provided in Section 2.05(c) hereof, will promptly deliver to the Trustee such Definitive Note and a Company
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Order including the information specified in Section 2.05(c) with respect to such Definitive Note, and (2) the Trustee, upon receipt of such Definitive Note and such Company Order, will promptly, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, authenticate, and deliver to the Holder specified in such Company Order, such Definitive Note. |
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(iii) transfer or exchange a Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note by (A) surrendering such Definitive Note for registration of transfer or exchange, together with any endorsements or instruments of transfer reasonably required by any of the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purposes pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof; (B) satisfying any other requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.09; and (D) providing written instructions to the Trustee to make an adjustment in its books and records with respect to the applicable Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by such Global Note, which instructions will contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase. Upon the satisfaction of conditions (A), (B), (C) and (D), the Trustee (1) will promptly cancel such Definitive Note and, (2) will promptly cause the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of such Definitive Note, and credit, or cause to be credited, the account of the Person specified in the instructions provided by the exchanging Holder in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Definitive Note, in each case, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures. If at the time of such exchange, no Global Notes are then outstanding, the Company, (x) in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee, a new Global Note registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, as the case may be, having the appropriate aggregate principal amount, and bearing such legends as such Global Note is required to bear under Sections 2.02 hereof, and (y) as provided in Section 2.05(c) hereof, will promptly deliver to the Trustee such Global Note and a Company Order including the information specified in Section 2.05(c) with respect to such Global Note, and (2) the Trustee, upon receipt of such Global Note and such Company Order, will promptly, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, authenticate, and deliver
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to the depositary, its nominee, or a custodian of the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, such Global Note. |
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If (a)(i) a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or (ii) the Holder of a Note claims that such Note has been lost, destroyed or stolen and provides the Company and the Trustee with (A) evidence of such loss, theft or destruction that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee and (B) any amount or kind of security or indemnity that either of the Company or the Trustee request to protect itself from any loss that it may suffer upon replacement of such Note, and, in either case, (b) such Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee, including the payment of any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with the replacement of such Note, then, unless the Company or the Trustee receives notice that such Note has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company will, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, and the documents required by Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof, will promptly authenticate and deliver, in the name of such Holder, a replacement Note having the same aggregate principal amount as the Note that was mutilated or claimed to be lost, destroyed or stolen, bearing any restrictive legends required by Section 2.02 hereof and with a certificate number not contemporaneously outstanding.
Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.10 in exchange for any mutilated Note, or in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Note, will constitute an original contractual obligation of the Company and any other obligor upon the Notes, regardless of whether the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note will be at any time enforceable by anyone, and will be entitled to all benefits of (and will be subject to all the limitations set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.11 Temporary Notes. Until Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee will, upon written request of the Company, authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed or lithographed) (“Temporary Notes”). Temporary Notes will be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of Definitive Notes, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for Temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such Temporary Note will be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or such authenticating agent upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the Definitive Notes. Without unreasonable delay the Company will prepare, execute and deliver to the Trustee or such authenticating agent Definitive Notes (other than any Global Note) and thereupon any or all Temporary Notes (other than any Global Note) may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at each office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof and the Trustee or such authenticating agent will authenticate and deliver in exchange for such Temporary Notes Definitive Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to such Temporary Notes. Such exchange will be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the Temporary Notes will, in all respects, be entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same limitations under this Indenture as Definitive Notes authenticated and delivered hereunder.
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Section 2.12 Cancellation
. At any time, the Company may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. Whenever any Note is surrendered to the Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent for registration of transfer, exchange, conversion, repurchase, redemption or payment, the Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly forward such Note to the Trustee. Upon receipt of any such Note, the Trustee, in its customary manner, will promptly cancel and dispose of such Note. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has repurchased, redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that a Holder has converted pursuant to Article 10 hereof.
Section 2.13 Outstanding Notes. At any time, Notes outstanding are limited to all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except (i) those cancelled by it, (ii) those delivered to it for cancellation and (iii) those deemed not outstanding under Sections 3.05, 10.02 and 11.06 hereof and clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.13.
. Prior to due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Note is registered in the Register as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving the payment of the principal, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price of, and interest, if any, on, such Note, for the purpose of conversion of such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever with respect to such Note, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee will be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 2.15 Repurchases. The Company may, from time to time, repurchase Notes in open market purchases or in negotiated transactions without delivering prior notice to Holders.
Section 2.16 CUSIPs.
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(r) In addition, if, when any shares of Common Stock are issued upon conversion of a Note, CUSIP and ISIN numbers are generally in use, the Company will use CUSIP and ISIN numbers with respect to such shares of Common Stock. |
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(s) Whenever any of the CUSIP or ISIN numbers with respect to the Notes or the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes change, cease to be used, or begin to be used, the Company will deliver prompt written notice of such change, cessation, or beginning to each of the Trustee and the Holders. |
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Trustee and the Paying Agent, the Company will publish a notice containing the same information as the Fundamental Change Notice in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York and on its website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at such time. |
For any Fundamental Change, the Fundamental Change Notice corresponding to such Fundamental Change will specify:
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(A) briefly, the events causing such Fundamental Change; |
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(B) the effective date of such Fundamental Change; |
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(C) the last date on which a Holder may exercise its right to require the Company to repurchase its Notes as a result of such Fundamental Change under this Article 3; |
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(D) the procedures that a Holder must follow to require the Company to repurchase a Note; |
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(E) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes for such Fundamental Change; |
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(F) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for such Fundamental Change; |
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(G) that the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for any Note for which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been duly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be paid promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and the time such Note is surrendered for repurchase; |
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(H) the name and address of the Paying Agent and of the Conversion Agent; |
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(I) the Conversion Rate in effect on the Fundamental Change Notice Date for such Fundamental Change and the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Notice Date; |
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(J) any adjustments that will be made to the Conversion Rate as a result of such Fundamental Change, including any Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate will be increased pursuant to Section 10.07 hereof for a Holder that converts a Note “in connection with” such Fundamental Change; |
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(K) that any Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if such Holder withdraws such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or to the extent any portion of such Notes are not subject to such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice; |
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(L) the procedures for withdrawing a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice; |
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(M) that if a Note or portion of a Note is subject to a validly delivered Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, unless the Company defaults in paying the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for such Note or portion of a Note, interest, if any, on such Note or portion of a Note will cease to accrue on and after the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and |
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(N) the CUSIP and ISIN number(s) of the Notes. |
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(d) Failure or Defect. Notwithstanding anything provided elsewhere in this Indenture, neither the failure of the Company to deliver a Fundamental Change Notice nor a defect in a Fundamental Change Notice delivered by the Company will limit the repurchase rights of any Holder under this Article 3 or impair or otherwise affect the validity of any proceedings relating to the repurchase of any Note pursuant to this Article 3. |
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(B) such Notes (A) by book-entry transfer if such Notes are Global Notes, or (B) by physical delivery, if such Notes are Definitive Notes, in each case, together with any endorsements or other documents reasonably requested by the Paying Agent, the Trustee or the Company. |
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(f) Contents of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. The Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice for any Note must state: |
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(i) if such Note is to be repurchased in part, the principal amount of such Note to be repurchased, which principal amount must equal $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
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(ii) that such Note will be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Article 3 hereof; and |
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(iii) if such Note is a Definitive Note, the certificate number of such Note. |
If the Notes to be repurchased are Global Notes, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice for such Notes must comply with the Applicable Procedures.
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(g) Notice to Company. If any Holder validly delivers to the Paying Agent a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note or any portion of a Note, the
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Paying Agent will promptly deliver to the Company a copy of such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. |
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(h) Effect of Improper Notice. Unless and until the Paying Agent receives a validly endorsed and delivered Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note, together with such Note, in a form that conforms in all material aspects with the description contained in such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, the Holder submitting the Notes will not be entitled to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for such Note. |
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(i) . |
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(a) General. After a Holder delivers a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note, such Holder may withdraw such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to such Note or any portion of such Note in principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof by delivering to the Paying Agent a written notice of withdrawal prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date to the Paying Agent. Any such withdrawal notice must state: |
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(A) the principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such notice of withdrawal pertains, which must equal $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
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(B) the principal amount of the Notes that remains subject to the original Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, which portion must have a principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; and |
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(C) if the Notes subject to such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice were Definitive Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be withdrawn and the Notes that will remain subject to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. |
If the Notes to be withdrawn are Global Notes, a Holder must deliver its notice of withdrawal in compliance with the Applicable Procedures.
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(c) Notice to Company. If any Holder validly delivers to the Paying Agent a notice of withdrawal with respect to a Note or any portion of a Note, the Paying Agent will promptly deliver to the Company a copy of such notice of withdrawal. |
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(d) . |
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(j) General. If a Holder validly delivers to the Paying Agent a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) with respect to a Note, such Holder may no longer convert such Note unless and until such Holder validly withdraws such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 3.04 hereof. |
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(k) Timing of Payment. Upon the Paying Agent’s receipt of (i) a valid Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) and (ii) the Notes to which such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice pertains, the Holder of the Notes to which such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice pertains will be entitled, except to the extent such Holder has validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 3.04 hereof to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes on the later of the following (subject to extension to comply with applicable law) (i) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and (ii)(A) if such Notes are Definitive Notes, the date of delivery of such Notes to the Paying Agent, duly endorsed, or (B) if such Notes are Global Notes, the date of book-entry transfer of such Notes to the Paying Agent, or, if such later date is not a Business Day, the Business Day immediately following such later date. |
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(l) Effect of Deposit. If, as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date for any Fundamental Change, the Company, in accordance with Section 3.08 hereof, has deposited with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for every Note subject to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice validly delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof and not validly withdrawn in accordance with Section 3.04 hereof, at the Close of Business on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date: |
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(A) the Notes to be repurchased will cease to be outstanding and interest will cease to accrue on such Notes (whether or not book-entry transfer of such Notes is made or whether or not such Notes are delivered to the Paying Agent), except to the extent provided in the proviso to Section 3.01(b); and |
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(B) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes with respect to such Notes (other than the right to receive payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price upon delivery or transfer of such Notes and any Defaulted Amounts or Default Interest with respect to the Notes, and other than as provided in the proviso to Section 3.01(b)) will terminate. |
. If any Definitive Note is to be repurchased only in part, the Holder must surrender such Note at the office of the Paying Agent (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder of such Note or such Holder’s attorney-in-fact, duly authorized in writing), whereupon the Company, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly execute, and, upon receipt of a Company Order and the documents required by Sections 12.03 and 12.04 hereof, the Trustee, in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof, will promptly authenticate and deliver, to the surrendering Holder, a new Note or Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to the portion of the principal amount of the Note so surrendered which is not repurchased. If any Global Note is repurchased in part, the Company will instruct the Trustee to decrease the principal amount of such Global Note by the principal amount repurchased. Any
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Notes that are repurchased or owned by the Company, whether or not in connection with a Fundamental Change, will be submitted to the Trustee for cancellation and will be duly retired by the Company.
Section 3.07 Covenant to Comply With Securities laws Upon Repurchase of Notes. In connection with any repurchase offer pursuant to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice under this Article 3, the Company will, to the extent applicable, (i) comply with Rule 13e-4 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may be applicable at the time of the offer to repurchase the Notes, (ii) file the related Schedule TO (or any successor schedule, form or report) under the Exchange Act, and (iii) otherwise comply with any applicable United States federal and state securities laws so as to permit Holders to exercise their rights and obligations under Section 3.01 hereof in the time and in the manner specified in Sections 3.01 and 3.03 hereof.
Section 3.08 Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either of them is acting as the Paying Agent, will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.07 hereof) an amount of immediately available funds sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price of all the Notes or portions thereof that the Company is required to repurchase on such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.
Section 3.09 Covenant Not to Repurchase Notes Upon Certain Events of Default.
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(a) General. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 3, the Company will not purchase any Notes under this Article 3 if, as of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, such acceleration has not been rescinded and such acceleration did not result from a Default that would be cured by the Company’s payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. |
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(m) Deemed Withdrawals. If, on any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, (i) a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice for a Note has been validly tendered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof and has not been validly withdrawn in accordance with Section 3.04 hereof, and (ii) pursuant to this Section 3.09, the Company is not permitted to purchase Notes, the Paying Agent, upon receipt of written notice from the Company stating that the Company, pursuant to this Section 3.09, is not permitted to purchase Notes, will deem such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice withdrawn. |
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(n) Return of Notes. If a Holder tenders a Note for purchase pursuant to this Article 3 and, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, pursuant to this Section 3.09, the Company is not permitted to purchase such Note, the Paying Agent will (i) if such Note is a Definitive Note, return such Note to such Holder, and (ii) if such Note is held in book-entry form, in compliance with the Applicable Procedures, deem to be cancelled any instructions for book-entry transfer of such Note. |
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Section 4.01 Payment of Notes.
The Company will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price for, and any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes on the dates and in the manner required under this Indenture. Any principal of, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price for, or interest on, a Note will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds, as of 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the due date, money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for, and sufficient to pay, such principal, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, Redemption Price or interest then due. To the extent lawful, the Company will also pay Default Interest on any Defaulted Amounts in accordance with Section 2.04 hereof.
Section 4.02 Reports. The Company will deliver to Holders, with a copy to the Trustee, copies of all quarterly and annual reports that the Company is required to deliver to the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, and any other documents, information or other reports that the Company is required to file with the SEC under Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act no later than the time that the Company is required to file such quarterly and annual reports, other documents, information or other reports with the SEC (after giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act). However, the Company need not deliver any material for which it has received, or is seeking in good faith and have not been denied, confidential treatment by the SEC. Any document filed by the Company with the SEC via the EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) will be deemed to be delivered to Holders and the Trustee at the time such document is filed via the EDGAR system (or such successor); provided, however, that the Trustee will have no responsibility whatsoever to determine whether the Company has made any filing via the EDGAR system (or any successor thereto). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph shall require the Company to deliver to any Holder or the Trustee any material for which the Company has sought and received, or is seeking and has not been denied, confidential treatment by the SEC. The Company will also comply with its other obligations under Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act. Delivery of reports to the Trustee under the Indenture is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt thereof shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein, or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants under the Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate).
Delivery of such quarterly and annual reports, and such other documents, information and other reports to the Trustee will be for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such will not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
Section 4.03 Compliance Certificate.
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(a) Annual Compliance Certificate. Within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2021, the Company will
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deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, which Officers’ Certificate will state (i) that the Officers signing such Officers’ Certificate have supervised a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture during the preceding fiscal year, and (ii) to the best knowledge of each of the Officers signing such Officers’ Certificate, (A) whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture) or, if one or more Defaults or Events of Default have occurred, what events triggered such Defaults or Events of Default and what actions the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect to such Defaults or Events of Default, and (B) whether any event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which any payment of the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, or interest on, or any delivery of any of the consideration due upon conversion of, a Note is prohibited, and, if any such event has occurred and remains in existence, a description, in reasonable detail, of such event or events and what actions the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect to such event or events. |
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(b) Certificate of Default or Event of Default. Within 30 days after a Default occurs, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate describing such Default, its status and a description, in reasonable detail, of what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect to such Default. |
. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will purchase or otherwise acquire any Notes without canceling such Notes. In addition, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent any affiliate of the Company (as defined in Rule 144) from acquiring any Note or any beneficial interest therein.
Section 4.05 Taxes. The Company will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
Section 4.06 Corporate Existence. Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:
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(a) its corporate existence, and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each of its Subsidiaries, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such Subsidiary; and |
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(c) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any of its Subsidiaries, if the Board of Directors determines that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders. |
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Section 4.07 Par Value Limitation.
The Company will not take any action that, after giving effect to any adjustment pursuant to Section 10.05 or 10.07, would result in the Conversion Price becoming less than the par value of one share of Common Stock. In addition, the Company will not adjust the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.06 such that the Conversion Price would be less than the par value of one share of Common Stock.
Section 4.08 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company covenants that, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will instead suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.09 Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the terms of this Indenture.
Section 5.01 Company May Consolidate, Merge or Sell Its Assets Only on Certain Terms. The Company will not (1) consolidate with or merge with or into, or (2) (whether directly, or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries) sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to, any other Person (any such transaction, a “Reorganization Event”), unless:
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(i) the Company is the surviving corporation; or |
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(ii) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if other than the Company) of such Reorganization Event (the “Reorganization Successor Corporation”): |
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(I) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia; and |
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(II) expressly assumes, by executing and delivering a supplemental indenture to the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee in accordance with Section 9.03 hereof, all of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture; |
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(b) immediately after giving effect to such Reorganization Event, no Default will have occurred and be continuing; and |
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(c) prior to the effective date of such Reorganization Event, the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that: |
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(i) such Reorganization Event and such supplemental indenture comply with Section 5.01(a) hereof; and |
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(ii) all conditions precedent to such Reorganization Event provided in this Indenture have been satisfied. |
. If any Reorganization Event occurs that complies with Sections 5.01(a)(ii) and 5.01(b) hereof, and the Company has complied with Section 5.01(c) hereof:
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(a) from and after the date of such Reorganization Event, the Reorganization Successor Corporation for such Reorganization Event will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Reorganization Successor Corporation had been named as the Company herein; and |
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(d) except in the case of a Reorganization Event that is a lease, the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor (other than such Reorganization Successor Corporation) that will thereafter have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article 5 will be released from its obligations under this Indenture and may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time. |
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(ii) the Company fails to pay any interest when due and such failure continues for a period of 30 days after the applicable due date; |
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(iii) the Company fails to give any Fundamental Change Notice, Redemption Notice or notice of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, in each case, when due; |
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(iv) the Company fails to comply with its obligation to convert a Note in accordance with Article 10 hereof upon a Holder’s exercise of its conversion rights with respect to such Note; |
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(vii) the default by the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company and/or any Subsidiaries in excess of $20,000,000 in the aggregate, whether such indebtedness exists as of the Issue Date or is later created, if that default: |
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(A) results in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable (prior to its express maturity); or |
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(B) constitutes a failure to pay the principal of, or interest on, such indebtedness when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise; |
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(viii) a final judgment for the payment of $20,000,000 or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) is rendered against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and such judgment is not discharged or stayed within 60 days after (i) the date on which all rights to appeal such judgment have expired if no appeal has commenced, or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished; |
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(ix) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: |
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(A) commences a voluntary case; |
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(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case; |
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(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; |
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(E) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or |
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(F) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or |
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(A) is for relief against Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding; |
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(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or for any substantial part of the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary; |
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(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary; or |
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(D) grants any similar relief under any foreign laws; |
and, in each such case, the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.
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(b) Cause Irrelevant. Each of the events enumerated in Section 6.01(a) hereof will constitute an Event of Default whatever the cause and regardless of whether voluntary or involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body. |
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(c) Optional Acceleration. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by delivering a written notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by delivering a written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all then outstanding Notes immediately due and payable, and upon such declaration, the principal amount of, and all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all then outstanding Notes will immediately become due and payable. |
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(d) Rescission of Acceleration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the then outstanding Notes, rescind any acceleration of the Notes and its consequences hereunder by delivering notice to the Trustee if (i) such rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (ii) all existing Events of Default (other than the nonpayment of the principal of, interest, if any, on, or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, the Notes that has become due solely as a result of acceleration) have been cured or waived. No such rescission will affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto. |
. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, or payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price for, the
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Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture regarding any other matter.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of the Notes in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default will not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.
Section 6.04 Sole Remedy for Failure to Report
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(e) Limitation on Remedy. If (i) a Reporting Event of Default occurs and the Company elects that the sole remedy with respect to such Reporting Event of Default will be the Extension Fee and (ii) on the 61st day immediately following, and including, the date on which such Reporting Event of Default first occurred, such Reporting Event of Default has not been cured or validly waived in accordance with Section 6.05 hereof, then the Notes will become subject to acceleration under Section 6.02(a) hereof on account of such Reporting Event of Default. |
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(f) Company Election Notice. To elect to pay the Extension Fee as the sole remedy for a Reporting Event of Default, the Company must deliver notice of such election to the Holders, the Paying Agent and the Trustee prior to the date on which such Reporting Event of Default first occurs. Any such notice must include a brief description of the report that the Company failed, or will fail, to file, a statement that the Company is electing to pay the Extension Fee and the date on which such Reporting Event of Default will occur. |
If a Reporting Event of Default occurs and the Company fails to timely deliver such notice for such Reporting Event of Default, the Notes will be subject to acceleration under Section 6.02(a) hereof on account of such Reporting Event of Default.
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(g) Other Events of Default. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the Company elects to pay the Extension Fee with respect to any Reporting Event of Default, the Company’s election will not affect the rights of any Holder with respect to any other Event of Default, including with respect to any other Reporting Event of Default; provided, that, for the
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avoidance of doubt, in no event will the Company be obligated to pay the Extension Fee at a rate greater than 0.50% per annum on the principal amount of then outstanding Notes. |
. If an Event of Default described in Sections 6.01(a)(i), 6.01(a)(ii), 6.01(a)(iii), 6.01(a)(iv) or 6.01(a)(vi) (which, in the case of Section 6.01(a)(vi) only, relates to a covenant that cannot be amended without the consent of each affected Holder) or a Default that would lead to such an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, such Event of Default or Default may be waived only with the consent of each affected Holder. Every other Event of Default or Default may be waived by the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes. Whenever any Event of Default is so waived, it will cease to exist, and whenever any Default is so waived, it will be deemed cured and any Event of Default arising therefrom will be deemed not to occur. However, no such waiver will extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any consequent right.
Section 6.06 Control by Majority. At any time, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or for exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01 hereof, that the Trustee determines to be unduly prejudicial to the rights of a Holder or to the Trustee (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to determine whether any action is prejudicial to any Holder), or that would potentially involve the Trustee in personal liability unless the Trustee is offered, and if requested, provided indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense to the Trustee that may result from the Trustee’s instituting such proceeding as the Trustee. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it against all losses, liabilities and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
Section 6.07 Limitation on Suits. Except to enforce (i) its rights to receive the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, interest, if any, on, a Note, or (ii) the failure of the Company to comply with its obligations under Article 10 to convert any Note, no Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:
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(a) such Holder has previously delivered to the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; |
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(h) the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of then-outstanding Notes deliver to the Trustee a written request that the Trustee pursue a remedy with respect to such Event of Default; |
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(i) such Holder or Holders have offered and, if requested, provided, to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or other expense of compliance with such written request; |
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(j) the Trustee has not complied with such written request within 60 days after receipt of such written request and offer of security or indemnity; and |
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(k) during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes did not deliver to the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such written request. |
A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of any other Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over any other Holder, it being understood that the Trustee does not have any affirmative duty to ascertain whether any usage of this Indenture by a Holder is unduly prejudicial to such other Holders.
Section 6.08 Rights of Holders To Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive of any payment of the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, and any consideration due under Article 10 upon conversion of, its Note, on or after the respective due dates therefor as provided in this Indenture, and to institute suit for the enforcement of such rights, will not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder and will not be subject to the requirements of Section 6.07 hereof.
Section 6.09 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(i), 6.01(a)(ii), 6.01(a)(iii), 6.01(a)(iv) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, interest, if any, on, and the Conversion Consideration, if any, due upon conversion of, the Notes, and, to the extent lawful, any Default Interest on any Defaulted Amounts, and such further amount as is sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection provided for under Section 7.06 hereof.
Section 6.10 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, will be entitled to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, will be denied for any reason, payment of the same will be secured by a lien on, and will be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained will be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to, or to accept or to adopt on behalf of any Holder, any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
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Section 6.11 Priorities
. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it will pay out the money or property in the following order:
FIRST: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.06 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
SECOND: to the Holders, for any amounts due and unpaid on the principal of, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price for, accrued and unpaid interest on, and any Conversion Consideration due upon the conversion of, any Note, without preference or priority of any kind, according to such amounts due and payable on all of the Notes; and
THIRD: the balance, if any, to the Company or to such other party as a court of competent jurisdiction directs.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the Holders pursuant to this Section 6.11. If the Trustee so fixes a record date and a payment date, at least 15 days prior to such record date, the Company will deliver to each Holder and the Trustee a written notice, which notice will state such record date, such payment date and the amount of such payment.
Section 6.12 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.12 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.08 hereof or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.
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(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties, and only such duties, as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and |
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(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. |
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(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: |
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(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of Section 7.01(b) hereof; |
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(ii) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and |
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(iii) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Sections 6.06, 12.03 or 12.04 hereof. |
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(d) Whether herein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.01(a), (b), (c) and (g) hereof. |
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(e) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it or risk or expend any of its own funds. |
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(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. |
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(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee will be subject to the provisions of this Article 7, and the provisions of this Article 7 will apply to the Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent. |
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(i) The Trustee will not be deemed to have notice of a Default or an Event of Default unless (i) a Trust Officer of the Trustee has received written notice at its Corporate Trust Office thereof from the Company or any Holder and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture and states that it is a “Notice of Default” or (ii) a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof. |
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(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document. The Trustee may, however, in its discretion make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit and, if the Trustee determines to make such further inquiry or investigation, it will be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of
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the Company, personally or by agent or attorney and at the expense of the Company, and will incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation. |
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(j) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. |
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(k) The Trustee may act through agents, attorneys or custodians and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent, attorney or custodian appointed with due care. |
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(l) So long as the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence, the Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture. |
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(m) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel. |
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(n) The permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture will not be construed as a duty unless so specified herein. |
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(o) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders have offered, and if requested, provided, to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. |
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(p) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and will be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder, including the Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent. |
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(q) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded. |
. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company
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or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, if the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate the conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, Conversion Agent or co-registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Section 7.09 hereof.
Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity, priority or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it will not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it will not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.
Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a Trust Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee will send to each Holder notice of the Default within 90 days after such Default first occurs, or, if it is not known to the Trustee at such time, as soon as practicable after it is known to the Trustee; provided, however, that except in the case of a Default that is, or would lead to, an Event of Default described in Section 6.01(a)(i), 6.01(a)(ii), 6.01(a)(iii), 6.01(a)(iv) hereof, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders.
Section 7.06 Compensation and Indemnity.
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(a) The Company will pay to the Trustee, from time to time, such compensation as will be agreed upon, from time to time, in writing for its services. The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will include the reasonable compensation, fees and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company will fully indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it in connection with the acceptance and administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder or any other Person). The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company of any claim for which it may seek indemnity of which a Trust Officer has actually received written notice will not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder except to the extent such failure is adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have materially prejudiced the Company. The Company will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. If the Trustee is advised by counsel that it may have available to it defenses that are in conflict with the defenses available to the Company, then the Trustee may have separate counsel, and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Trustee incurred in evaluating whether such defense and/or conflict exists. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Company need not pay for any settlement made by the Trustee without the Company’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. All indemnifications and releases from liability granted hereunder
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to the Trustee will extend to its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, custodians, successors and assigns. |
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(s) To secure the Company’s payment obligations under this Section 7.06, the Trustee will have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, other than money or property held in trust to pay the principal, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, or payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price on particular Notes. |
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(t) The Company’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.06 will survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the discharge of this Indenture. If the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Sections 6.01(a)(ix) or 6.01(a)(x) hereof with respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law. |
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(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by notifying the Company, in writing, at least 30 days prior to the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by notifying the Trustee, in writing at least 30 days prior to such removal. The Company may remove the Trustee if: |
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(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.09 hereof; |
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(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent; |
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(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or |
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(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting. |
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(u) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. |
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(v) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will send a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will, upon payment of all of its costs and the costs of its agents and counsel, promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.06 hereof. |
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(w) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee. |
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(x) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder, fails to comply with Section 7.09 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. |
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(y) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.07, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.06 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee. |
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(a) If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act will be the successor Trustee. |
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(z) In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee succeeds to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Notes have been authenticated, but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and, in case at that time any of the Notes have not been authenticated, any such successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes, either in the name of any predecessor Trustee hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee. |
. The Trustee will have (or, in the case of a corporation included in a bank holding company system, the related bank holding company will have) a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000, as set forth in its (or its related bank holding company’s) most recent published annual report of condition.
Section 7.10 Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action will be taken or such omission will be effective. The Trustee will not be liable to the Company for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date will not be less than three Business Days after the date any Officer actually receives such application, unless any such Officer has consented in writing to any earlier date), unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of any omission), the Trustee has received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
Section 8.01 Discharge of Liability on Notes. When (a)(i) the Company delivers to the Registrar all outstanding Notes (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof) for cancellation or (ii) all outstanding Notes have become due and payable, and the Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee (and, if applicable, solely to satisfy amounts due and owing
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as a result of conversions of the Notes, delivers shares of Common Stock (or other Reference Property) due upon such conversions to the converting Holders), cash (including, if applicable, and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or Reference Property Units), sufficient to pay all amounts due and owing on all outstanding Notes (other than Notes replaced pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof), (b) the Company pays all other sums payable by it under this Indenture with respect to the then outstanding Notes and (c) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all of the applicable conditions precedent to the discharge of this Indenture described in this section have been satisfied, then, subject to Section 7.06 hereof, this Indenture will cease to be of further effect with respect to the Notes and the Holders and the Trustee will acknowledge the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, (i) any obligation of the Company to any Holder under Article 10 hereof with respect to the conversion of any Note or to the Trustee under Article 7 hereof with respect to compensation or indemnity, and (ii) any obligation of the Trustee with respect to money deposited with the Trustee under this Article 8 and Section 12.02 hereof will survive.
Section 8.02 Repayment to the Company. Subject to any applicable unclaimed property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent, upon receiving a written request from the Company, will promptly turn over to the Company any cash, securities, including shares of Common Stock, or other property held for payment on the Notes that remains unclaimed two years after the date on which such payment was due. After the Trustee and the Paying Agent return such cash and securities, including shares of the Common Stock, to the Company, the Trustee and the Paying Agent will have no further liability to any Holder with respect to such cash, securities, including shares of Common Stock, or other property, and any Holder entitled to the payment of such cash, securities, including shares of Common Stock, or other property under the Notes or this Indenture must look to the Company for payment as a general creditor of the Company.
Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 9.02, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder:
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(a) to add guarantees with respect to the Company’s obligations under this Indenture or the Notes; |
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(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and under the Notes by a Reorganization Successor Corporation as described in Article 5 hereof; |
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(d) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and under the Notes by a Successor Person as provided in Section 10.08; |
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(e) to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company under this Indenture; |
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(f) to add to the Company’s covenants for the benefit of the Holders; |
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(g) to cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency or defect in this Indenture or in the Notes that does not adversely affect Holders; |
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(h) to enter into supplemental indentures pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 10.08 in connection with a Common Stock Change Event; |
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(i) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with any qualification of this Indenture or a supplement hereto under the TIA; |
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(j) to irrevocably elect or eliminate a Settlement Method or a Specified Dollar Amount provided, however, that no such election or elimination will affect any Settlement Method theretofore elected (or deemed to be elected) with respect to any Note pursuant to Section 10.03; |
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(k) to evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent with respect to this Indenture; |
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(l) to comply with the rules of any applicable depositary; |
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(m) to provide for or confirm the issuance of additional Notes pursuant to this Indenture; |
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(n) provide for any transfer restrictions that apply to any Notes issued under the Indenture (other than the Initial Notes) that, at the time of their original issuance, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or that are originally issued in reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
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(o) to conform the provisions of this Indenture to the “Description of Notes” section of the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as supplemented by the Pricing Term Sheet; or |
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(p) to make any other change; provided that such change individually, or in the aggregate with all other such changes, does not have, and will not have, an adverse effect on the interest of the Holders. |
. With the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), by Act of such Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes or waive compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes; provided, however, that, without the consent of each affected Holder, no amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes, or waiver of any provision of this Indenture or the Notes, may:
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(a) reduce the principal amount of, or change the Maturity Date of, any Note; |
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(q) reduce the rate of, or extend the stated time for payment of, interest on any Note; |
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(r) reduce the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or the Redemption Price of any Note or change the time at which, or the circumstances under which, the Notes may, or will be, redeemed or repurchased; |
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(s) impair the right of any Holder to receive any payment on any Note, including with respect to any consideration due upon conversion of a Note, or to institute suit to enforce such right; |
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(t) make any Note payable in a currency other than that stated in the Note; |
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(u) make any change that impairs or adversely affects the conversion rights of any Holder under Article 10 hereof or otherwise reduces the number of shares of Common Stock, amount of cash or any other property receivable by a Holder upon conversion; |
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(v) change the ranking of the Notes; |
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(w) reduce any voting requirements included in this Indenture; |
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(x) make any change to any amendment, modification or waiver provision of this Indenture that requires the consent of each affected Holder; or |
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(y) reduce the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment of this Indenture or a waiver of a past default. |
It will not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it will be sufficient if such consent approves the substance of such proposed amendment.
Section 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the request of the Company, the Trustee will sign any supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment contained therein does not affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture. If the supplemental indenture adversely affects the Trustee’s rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture, then the Trustee may, but need not, sign such supplemental indenture. In executing any such supplemental indenture, the Trustee will be provided with, and, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 hereof, will be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture is authorized and permitted under this Indenture.
Section 9.04 Notices of Supplemental Indentures. After an amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes pursuant to Sections 9.01 or 9.02 hereof becomes effective, the Company will promptly deliver notice to the Trustee, which notice will briefly describe the substance of such amendment or supplement to this Indenture in reasonable detail and state the effective date of such amendment or supplement. The Company, or the Trustee, at the direction of the Company, will then promptly deliver a copy of such notice to each Holder. The failure to deliver such notice to each Holder, or any defect in such notice, will not impair or affect the validity of such amendment or supplement to this Indenture.
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Section 9.05 Effect of Supplemental Indentures
. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article 9:
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(a) this Indenture will be modified in accordance therewith; |
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(z) such supplemental indenture will form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and |
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(aa) every Holder of Notes theretofore, or thereafter, authenticated and delivered hereunder will be bound thereby. |
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(a) Revocation. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder, and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder, or subsequent Holder, may revoke the consent as to its Note or portion of a Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. |
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(bb) Special Record Dates. The Company may, but is not obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required, or permitted, to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, will be entitled to give such consent, to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, regardless of whether such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent will be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date. |
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(cc) Binding Effect. After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it will bind every applicable Holder. Any amendment or supplement will become effective in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture relating thereto, which will become effective upon the execution thereof by the Trustee. |
. If any amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder of such Note to deliver such Note to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on such Note about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company, in exchange for the Note, will issue and the Trustee will authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms.
Section 10.01 Right To Convert.
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(a) In General. Subject to, and upon compliance with, the provisions of this Article 10, a Holder may, at its option, convert all of its Notes, or any portion of its Notes having a
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principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, (i) subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 10.01(b), at any time prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2026, under the circumstances and during the periods set forth in Section 10.01(b), and (ii) irrespective of the conditions set forth in Section 10.01(b), on or after September 15, 2026, and prior to the Close of Business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, in each case, into Conversion Consideration, as provided in this Article 10, based on the Conversion Rate. Notes may not be converted after the Close of Business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date. |
The Trading Price shall be determined by the Bid Solicitation Agent pursuant to this Section 10.01(b)(ii) and the definition of Trading Price set forth herein. The Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes unless the Company has requested such determination in writing, and the Company will have no obligation to make such request (or seek bids itself) unless a Holder of at least $2.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes provides the Company with reasonable evidence that the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes would be less than ninety eight percent (98%) of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate. At such time, the Company shall, or shall instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent to, determine the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes beginning on the next Trading Day and on each successive Trading Day until the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes is greater than or equal to ninety eight percent (98%) of
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the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate. If the Trading Price condition has been met, the Company will so notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing, and each of the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent will be entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of such notice and any calculations therein without independent verification. If, on any Trading Day after the Trading Price Condition has been met, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes is greater than or equal to ninety eight percent (98%) of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate for such Trading Day, the Company will so notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing.
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(A) Certain Distributions. If, prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2026, the Company elects to: |
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(I) issue, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than sixty (60) calendar days after the record date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at a price per share less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance; or |
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(III) distribute, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, the Company’s assets, debt securities or rights to purchase the Company’s securities, which distribution has a per share value, as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors, exceeding ten percent (10%) of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement for such distribution, |
then, in either case, (x) the Company must notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent at least thirty (30) Scheduled Trading Days prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance or distribution; and (y) once the Company has given such notice to the Holders, Holders may convert their Notes at any time until the earlier of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding such Ex-Dividend Date and the Company’s announcement that such issuance or distribution will not take place.
transaction or event) or, if such transaction or event also constitutes a Fundamental Change, the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and (y) the Close of Business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date. No later than the Business Day after the effective date of such transaction or event, the Company shall notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing of such transaction, its effective date and the related right to convert Notes. |
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(c) Closed Periods. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, (i) if the Company calls the Notes for redemption in accordance with Article 11 hereof, a Holder may not convert its Notes after the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Redemption Date except to the extent the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price for such Notes in accordance with Section 11.05 hereof, and (ii) if a Holder tenders a Repurchase Notice with respect to its Notes in accordance with Article 3 hereof, such Notes may not be converted except to the extent (A) such Notes are not subject to such Repurchase Notice; (B) such Repurchase Notice is withdrawn in accordance with Article 3 hereof; or (C) the Company fails to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for such Notes in accordance with Section 3.08 hereof. |
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To exercise its conversion right with respect to a Definitive Note, the Holder of such Note must (i) complete and manually sign the conversion notice on the back of the Note, or a facsimile of such conversion notice (such notice, or such facsimile, the “Conversion Notice”); (ii) deliver such signed and completed Conversion Notice and such Note to the Conversion Agent at its office; (iii) furnish any endorsements and transfer documents that the Company, Conversion Agent, Trustee or Transfer Agent may require; (iv) pay any funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date that such Holder is required to pay under clause (d) of this Section 10.02; and (v) pay any taxes or duties that such Holder is required to pay under the proviso to clause (e) of this Section 10.02.
The first Business Day on which a Holder satisfies the foregoing requirements with respect to a Note and on which conversion of such Note is not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture will be the “Conversion Date” for such Note.
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The conversion of any Note will be deemed to occur at the Close of Business on the Conversion Date for such Note, and any converted Note or portion thereof will cease to be outstanding upon conversion.
The person in whose name any shares of Common Stock shall be issuable upon conversion of any Note will become the holder of record of such shares as of the Close of Business on the Conversion Date for such conversion, in the case of Physical Settlement, or the last Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period, in the case of Combination Settlement.
Upon the conversion of any beneficial interest in a Global Note, the Conversion Agent will promptly request that the Trustee make a notation on the “Schedule of Increases and Decreases of Global Note” of such Global Note to reduce the principal amount represented by such Global Note by the principal amount of the converted beneficial interest. If all of the beneficial interests in a Global Note are so converted, such Global Note will be deemed surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Trustee will cause such Global Note to be cancelled in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.
Open of Business on such Interest Payment Date; or (D) to the extent of any overdue interest, if any overdue interest exists at the time of conversion with respect to such Note. |
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(h) Notices. Whenever a Conversion Date occurs with respect to a Note, the Conversion Agent will, as promptly as possible, and in no event later than the Business Day immediately following such Conversion Date, deliver to the Company and the Trustee notice that a Conversion Date has occurred, which notice will state such Conversion Date, the principal amount of Notes converted on such Conversion Date and the names of the Holders that converted Notes on such Conversion Date. |
Section 10.03 Settlement Upon Conversion.
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(a) Conversion Obligation. |
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(B) the Company shall use the same Settlement Method for all conversions of Notes whose Conversion Dates occur on the same day (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be obligated to use the same Settlement Method with respect to conversions of Notes whose Conversion Dates occur on different days, except as provided in clause (A) above or clause (D) below); |
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(E) if the Company elects a Settlement Method with respect to the conversion of any Note whose Conversion Date occurs before September 15, 2026, the Company shall send written notice of such Settlement Method to the Holder of such Note, with a copy to the Trustee and Conversion Agent, no later than the Close of Business on the Trading Day immediately following such Conversion Date; |
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(G) if the Company does not timely elect a Settlement Method with respect to the conversion of a Note, then the Company will be deemed to have elected the Default Settlement Method; |
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(I) the Settlement Method shall be subject to the last sentence of Section 10.08(a); |
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(ii) Conversion Consideration. The type and amount of consideration (the “Conversion Consideration”) due in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of a Note to be converted shall be as follows: |
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(B) if Cash Settlement applies to such conversion, cash in an amount equal to the sum of the Daily Conversion Values for each of the twenty five (25) consecutive Trading Days in the Observation Period for such conversion; or |
number, cash in lieu of the related fractional share in an amount equal to the product of (x) the Daily VWAP on the last Trading Day of such Observation Period and (y) the fractional portion of such sum. |
With respect to any conversion of Notes to which Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement applies, the Company shall determine the Conversion Consideration due thereupon promptly following the last day of the applicable Observation Period and shall promptly thereafter notify the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing of the same and the calculation thereof in reasonable detail. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) shall have any responsibility for any such determination.
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(iii) Delivery of Conversion Consideration. Except as set forth in Sections 10.05, 10.07 and 10.08 hereof, the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, the Conversion Consideration due upon the conversion of any Note to the Holder thereof as follows: (i) if Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement applies to such conversion, on the second (2nd) Business Day immediately following the last Trading Day of the Observation Period for such conversion; and (ii) if Physical Settlement applies to such conversion, on the second (2nd) Business Day immediately following the Conversion Date for such conversion. |
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(i) Conversion of Multiple Notes by a Single Holder. If a Holder converts more than one Note on a single Conversion Date, the Conversion Consideration due in respect of such conversion will be computed based on the total principal amount of Notes converted on such Conversion Date by such Holder, subject, in the case of Global Notes, to the Applicable Procedures. |
Section 10.04 Common Stock Issued Upon Conversion.
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(a) Prior to issuing of any shares of Common Stock under this Article 10, and from time to time thereafter as may be necessary, the Company will reserve out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock a number of shares of Common Stock sufficient to permit the conversion of all then-outstanding Notes under Physical Settlement. |
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(k) Any shares of Common Stock delivered upon the conversion of the Notes will be newly issued shares or treasury shares, duly and validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, free from preemptive rights and free of any lien or adverse claim (except to the extent of any lien or adverse claim created by the action or inaction of the Holder or other Person to whom such shares of Common Stock will be delivered). In addition, the Company will endeavor to comply promptly with all federal and state securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes; provided that the Company will not be obligated to register the offer and sale of such Common Stock under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws. The Company will also use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a Note to be listed on whatever stock exchange(s) the Common Stock is listed on the date the converting Holder becomes a record holder of such Common Stock. |
. The Company will adjust the Conversion Rate from time to time as described in this Section 10.05, except that the Company will not make an adjustment to the Conversion Rate if each Holder participates (other than in a share split or share combination or a tender or exchange offer), at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, and solely as a result of holding the Notes, in the relevant transaction described in this Section 10.05 without having to convert its Notes and as if it held number of shares of the Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the Conversion Rate in effect on the applicable record date, Effective Date or expiration date, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Notes held by such Holder (express in thousands) on such date, rounded up to the nearest whole number.
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date of such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Effective Date of such share split or share combination, as applicable;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date or the Open of Business on such Effective Date;
OS0=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date; and
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OS1=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination.
If any dividend, distribution, share split or share combination of the type described in this Section 10.05(a) is declared, but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate will be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution or to effect such share split or share combination, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination had not been declared or announced.
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
OS0=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
X=the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and
Y=the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (i) the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, over (ii) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of the issuance of such rights, options or warrants.
To the extent that shares of Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, including because the issued rights, options or warrants were not exercised, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of
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delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance had not occurred.
For purposes of this Section 10.05(b) and Section 10.01(b)(iii)(A), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle holders of the Common Stock to subscribe for, or purchase, shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement for an issuance, and in determining the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, there will be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors.
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(A) dividends, distributions, rights, options or warrants for which an adjustment was effected (or would be effected without regard to the Deferral Exception) pursuant to Section 10.05(a) hereof or Section 10.05(b) hereof, as applicable; |
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(B) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash for which an adjustment was effected (or would be effected without regard to the Deferral Exception) pursuant to Section 10.05(d) hereof; |
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(C) distributions pursuant to a stockholder rights plan, except as set forth in Section 10.05(g); |
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(D) a distribution solely pursuant to a Common Stock Change Event, as to which the provisions set forth in Section 10.08 shall apply; and |
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(E) Spin-Offs for which the provisions set forth in Section 10.05(c)(ii) hereof will apply, |
then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;
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CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
SP0=the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution; and
FMV=the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors) of the shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants distributed with respect to each outstanding share of Common Stock on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than the “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held on the record date for the distribution, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, the amount and kind of shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets or property, rights, options or warrants or other securities that such Holder would have received if such Holder had owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the record date for such distribution.
If such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such Spin-Off;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
FMV0=the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Capital Stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of the Common Stock applicable to one share of Common Stock (determined for purposes of the definition of Last Reported Sale Price as if such Capital Stock or similar equity interest were the Common Stock) over the first 10 consecutive Trading Day period after,
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and including, the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off (the “Valuation Period”); and
MP0=the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the Valuation Period.
The adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 10.05(c)(ii) will be calculated as of the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period but will be given effect as of immediately after the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off, with retroactive effect. The Company shall delay the settlement of any conversion of Notes where the Conversion Date (in the case of Physical Settlement) or any Trading Day of the applicable Observation Period (in the case of Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement) occurs during the Valuation Period until the second Business Day after the last day of the Valuation Period. If any distribution of the type described in this Section 10.05(c)(ii) is declared but not so made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to make such distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;
SP0=the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution; and
C=the amount in cash per share the Company distributes to holders of Common Stock.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held on the record date for such cash dividend or distribution, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder had owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on such record date. If any such dividend or distribution is
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declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.
where
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Expiration Time;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Expiration Time;
AC=the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by the Board of Directors) paid or payable for shares purchased in such tender or exchange offer;
OS0=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the time (the “Expiration Time”) on the date such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);
OS1=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the Expiration Time (after giving effect to the purchase of all shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and
SP1=the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period (the “Averaging Period”) commencing on the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires.
The adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.05(e) will be calculated as of the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Averaging Period but will be given effect as of immediately after the Expiration Time, with retroactive effect. The Company shall delay the settlement of any conversion of Notes where the Conversion Date (in the case of Physical Settlement) or any Trading Day of the applicable Observation Period (in the case of Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement) occurs during the Averaging Period until the second (2nd) Business Day after the last day of the Averaging Period.
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To the extent such tender or exchange offer is announced but not consummated (including as a result of the Company being precluded from consummating such tender or exchange offer under applicable law), or any purchases or exchanges of shares of Common Stock in such tender or exchange offer are rescinded, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the purchases or exchanges of shares of Common Stock, if any, actually made, and not rescinded, in such tender or exchange offer.
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(p) Successive Adjustments. After an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Article 10, any subsequent event requiring an adjustment under this Article 10 will cause an adjustment to the Conversion Rate as so adjusted, without duplication. |
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(r) Other Adjustments. Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the calculation of the Last Reported Sale Price or a function thereof over a period of multiple days (including any Observation Period and the Stock Price for purposes of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change), the Company will make appropriate adjustments to the Last Reported Sale Price or such function thereof to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend date, Effective Date or expiration date of the event occurs, at any time during such period. |
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(s) Adjustments Not Yet Effective. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, if: |
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(i) a Note is to be converted pursuant to Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement; |
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(ii) the record date, effective date or Expiration Time for any event that requires an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.05 has occurred on or before the Conversion Date for such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or on or before any Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion (in the case of Combination Settlement), but an adjustment to the Conversion Rate for such event has not yet become effective as of such Conversion Date or Trading Day, as applicable; |
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(iii) the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or due in respect of such Trading Day (in the case of Combination
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Settlement) includes any whole shares of Common Stock; and |
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(iv) such shares are not entitled to participate in such event (because they were not held on the related record date or otherwise), |
then, solely for purposes of such conversion, the Company will, without duplication, give effect to such adjustment on such Conversion Date (in the case of Physical Settlement) or such Trading Day (in the case of Combination Settlement). In such case, if the date on which the Company is otherwise required to deliver the consideration due upon such conversion is before the first date on which the amount of such adjustment can be determined, then the Company will delay the settlement of such conversion until the second (2nd) Business Day after such first date.
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(t) Conversion Rate Adjustments where Converting Holders Participate in the Relevant Transaction or Event. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, if: |
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(i) a Conversion Rate adjustment for any dividend or distribution becomes effective on any Ex-Dividend Date pursuant to Section 10.05; |
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(ii) a Note is to be converted pursuant to Physical Settlement or Combination Settlement; |
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(iii) the Conversion Date for such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or any Trading Day in the Observation Period for such conversion (in the case of Combination Settlement) occurs on or after such Ex-Dividend Date and on or before the related record date; |
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(iv) the Conversion Consideration due upon such conversion (in the case of Physical Settlement) or due with respect to such Trading Day (in the case of Combination Settlement) includes any whole shares of Common Stock based on a Conversion Rate that is adjusted for such dividend or distribution; and |
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(v) such shares would be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution, |
then (x) in the case of Physical Settlement, such Conversion Rate adjustment will not be given effect for such conversion, and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion based on such unadjusted Conversion Rate will be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution; and (y) in the case of Combination Settlement, the Conversion Rate adjustment relating to such Ex-Dividend Date will be made for such conversion in respect of such Trading Day, but the shares of Common Stock issuable with respect to such Trading Day based on such adjusted Conversion Rate will not be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution.
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(u) Restrictions on Adjustments. Except as a result of a share combination subject to Section 10.05(a), and except for readjustments pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 10.05(a), readjustments pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 10.05(b), readjustments pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 10.05(c)(i), readjustments pursuant to the penultimate paragraph of Section 10.05(c)(ii) and readjustments pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 10.05(d), in no
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event will the Conversion Rate be adjusted downward pursuant to Sections 10.05(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) hereof. |
In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in this Indenture, the Conversion Rate will not be adjusted:
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(i) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Company’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of Common Stock under any plan; |
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(ii) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of, or assumed by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; |
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(iii) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in the preceding clause and outstanding as of the date of the Issue Date; |
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(iv) for a change in the par value of the Common Stock; or |
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(v) for accrued and unpaid interest. |
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(i) Certain Definitions. |
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(I) For purposes of this Section 10.05, (1) the number of shares outstanding at any time will include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock, but, (2) so long as the Company does not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company, will not include shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company. |
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(II) For purposes of this Section 10.05, the term “Effective Date” will mean the first date on which the Common Stock trades on the applicable exchange or in the
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applicable market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable. |
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(III) For purposes of this Article 10, the term “Ex-Dividend Date” will mean the first date on which the shares of the Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution in question. Any alternative trading convention on the applicable exchange or market in respect of the Common Stock under a separate ticker symbol or CUSIP number will not be considered “regular way” for purposes of the preceding sentence. |
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(ii) Notices. Whenever the Company adjusts the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.05, the Company will, no later than the effective date of such adjustment, deliver to each Holder a written notice, which notice will include (i) a brief description of the event requiring adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.05, (ii) the effective time of such adjustment, (iii) the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after such adjustment is made and (iv) a schedule explaining, in reasonable detail, how the Company calculated such adjustment. On the same day the Company delivers such notice to each Holder, the Company will deliver to the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent an Officers’ Certificate that includes all of the information contained in such notice, which Officers’ Certificate each of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent may treat as conclusive evidence that the adjustment specified in such Officers’ Certificate is correct and will be in effect as of the effective time specified in such Officers’ Certificate. The failure to deliver such notice will not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustment. |
.
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(a) Best Interest Increases. The Company may, from time to time, to the extent permitted by law, increase the Conversion Rate by any amount if (i) the Board of Directors determines that such increase is in the best interest of the Company, (ii) such increase is in effect for a period of at least 20 Business Days, and (iii) during such period, such increase is irrevocable. |
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(x) Tax-Related Increases. The Company may (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate if the Board of Directors determines that such increase is advisable to avoid, or diminish, any income tax imposed on holders of the Common Stock or rights to purchase the Common Stock as a result of any dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) or similar event treated as such for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
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(y) Notices. Whenever the Board of Directors determines that the Company will increase the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.06, the Company will mail to each Holder notice of such increase at least 15 Business Days before such increase will take effect, which notice will state the increase to be made and the period during which such increase will be in effect. |
.
and a Holder converts its Notes in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company will, in the circumstances set forth in this Section 10.07, increase the Conversion Rate for such Notes by the number of additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”) set forth in this Section 10.07. For purposes of this Section 10.07, a conversion of Notes will be deemed to be “in connection with”: |
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(ii) a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurring pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition of “Make-Whole Fundamental Change” if the Conversion Notice for such Notes is received by the Conversion Agent during the period beginning on, and including, the related Redemption Notice Date and ending on the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the related Redemption Date. |
No later than one Business Day immediately after the effective date of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurring pursuant to clause (i) of the definition of “Make-Whole Fundamental Change,” the Company will notify the Holders of such effective date.
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(aa) Adjustment of Stock Prices and Additional Shares. The Stock Prices set forth in the first row (i.e., the column headers) of the table below will be adjusted on each date on which the Conversion Rate must be adjusted pursuant to Section 10.05. The adjusted Stock Prices will equal the Stock Prices in effect immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the share price adjustment, and (ii) the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the adjustment. The numbers of Additional Shares set forth in the table below will be adjusted in the same manner, at the same time and for the same events for which the Conversion Rate is adjusted pursuant to Section 10.05 hereof. |
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(cc) Use of Additional Shares Table. If the Stock Price or Make-Whole Fundamental Change Effective Date for a Make-Whole Fundamental Change are not set forth in the table above, then: |
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(A) if the Stock Price is between two Stock Prices in the table or the Make-Whole Fundamental Change Effective Date is between two Make-Whole Fundamental Change Effective Dates in the table, the number of Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate will be increased for a Holder that converts a Note in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the numbers of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Stock Prices listed in the table and the earlier and later Make-Whole Fundamental Change Effective Dates listed in the table, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable; |
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(B) if the Stock Price is greater than $350.00, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table, no Additional Shares will be added to the Conversion Rate; and |
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(C) if the Stock Price is less than $23.00 per share, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table, no Additional Shares will be added to the Conversion Rate. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Conversion Rate be increased as a result of this Section 10.07 to exceed 43.4782 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, subject to adjustment in the same manner, at the same time and for the same events for which the Conversion Rate must be adjusted as set forth in Section 10.05 hereof.
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(dd) Settlement or Conversion. If a Holder converts a Note in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company will settle such conversion by delivering Conversion Consideration in accordance with Section 10.03 hereof; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.03 hereof, if a Holder converts a Note in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (ii) of the definition of Fundamental Change in which the holders of the Common Stock receive only cash in consideration for their shares of Common Stock, the Company will settle such conversion by delivering to such Holder, on the second Business Day immediately following the Conversion Date for such Note, an amount of cash, for each $1,000 principal amount of such Note converted, equal to the product of (i) the
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Conversion Rate on the Conversion Date applicable to such Note (including any Additional Shares added to such Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.07) and (ii) the Stock Price for such Make-Whole Fundamental Change. |
.
(1)any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination or change only in par value or from par value to no par value or no par value to par value);
(2)any consolidation, merger or combination involving the Company;
(3)any sale, lease or other transfer to a third party of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety; or
(4)any statutory share exchange,
and, as a result of which, the Common Stock is converted into, or is exchanged for, or represents solely the right to receive, other securities, cash or other property, or any combination of the foregoing (such an event, a “Common Stock Change Event,” and such other securities, cash or property, the “Reference Property,” and the amount and kind of Reference Property that a holder of one (1) share of Common Stock would be entitled to receive on account of such Common Stock Change Event (without giving effect to any arrangement not to issue or deliver a fractional portion of any security or other property), a “Reference Property Unit”), then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes,
(1)from and after the effective time of such Common Stock Change Event, (I) the Conversion Consideration due upon conversion of any Note and the conditions to any such conversion, will be determined in the same manner as if each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in this Article 10 (or in any related definitions) were instead a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; (II) for purposes of Section 11.02, each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in such Section (or in any related definitions) will instead be deemed to be a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; and (III) for purposes of the definition of “Fundamental Change” and “Make-Whole Fundamental Change,” the terms “Common Stock” and “common equity” will be deemed to mean the common equity (including depositary receipts representing common equity), if any, forming part of such Reference Property; and
(2)for these purposes, the Daily VWAP or Last Reported Sale Price of any Reference Property Unit or portion thereof that does not consist of a class of securities will be the fair value of such Reference Property Unit or portion thereof, as applicable, determined in good faith by the Company (or, in the case of cash denominated in U.S. dollars, the face amount thereof).
If the Reference Property consists of more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of shareholder election), then the composition of the Reference
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Property Unit will be deemed to be the weighted average, per share of Common Stock, of the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of Common Stock. The Company shall notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent of the weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made.
At or before the effective time of such Common Stock Change Event, the Company and the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if not the Company) of such Common Stock Change Event (the “Successor Person”) will execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.01(h), which supplemental indenture will (x) provide for subsequent conversions of Notes in the manner set forth in this Section 10.08; (y) provide for subsequent adjustments to the Conversion Rate in a manner consistent with Section 10.05 and Section 10.07; and (z) contain such other provisions as the Company reasonably determines are appropriate to preserve the economic interests of the Holders and to give effect to the provisions of this Section 10.08. If the Reference Property includes shares of stock or other securities or assets of a Person other than the Successor Person, then such other Person will also execute such supplemental indenture and such supplemental indenture will contain such additional provisions the Company reasonably determines are appropriate to preserve the economic interests of the Holders.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, if the Reference Property Unit of a Common Stock Change Event consists entirely of cash, then the Company will be deemed to elect Physical Settlement in respect of each conversion of any Note whose conversion date occurs after the effective date of such Common Stock Change Event, and the Company will deliver the Conversion Consideration therefor no later than the second (2nd) Business Day after such Conversion Date.
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(ee) Notices. |
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(i) No later than the business day immediately after the effective date of any Common Stock Change Event, the Company will deliver written notice of such Common Stock Change Event to each Holder and the Trustee. Such Notice will include: |
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(A) a brief description of such Common Stock Change Event; |
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(B) the Conversion Rate in effect on the date the Company delivers such notice; |
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(C) the anticipated effective date for the Common Stock Change Event; |
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(D) a description of the conversion right of the Notes following the Common Stock Change Event; and |
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(E) the composition of the Reference Property Unit for such Common Stock Change Event. |
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(ii) As promptly as practicable after executing a supplemental indenture in accordance with Section 10.08(a) hereof, the Company will: |
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(A) file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate briefly describing the reasons therefor, the composition of the Reference Property Unit for such Common Stock Change Event, any adjustment to be made with respect thereto and that all conditions precedent under this Indenture to such Common Stock Change Event have been complied with; and |
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(B) cause to be sent to each Holder a notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture and the composition of the Reference Property Unit for such Common Stock Change Event; provided, that the failure to deliver such notice to any Holder will not affect the validity or legality of such supplemental indenture. |
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(ff) Successive Common Stock Change Events. If more than one Common Stock Change Event occurs, this Section 10.08 will apply successively to each Common Stock Change Event. |
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(gg) Compliance Covenant. The Company will not become a party to any Common Stock Change Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 10.08. |
. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent will not have any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine whether any facts exist that require an adjustment of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed in making the same. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent will be responsible for any failure of the Company to deliver the Conversion Consideration due upon the surrender of any Notes for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article 10. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent will be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 10.08 hereof, including with respect to the calculation of the amount of Conversion Consideration receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their Notes after any Common Stock Change Event, and each, subject to the provisions of Article 7, may accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and will be protected in relying upon, the Officers’ Certificate (which the Company will be obligated to file with the Trustee prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto.
Section 11.01 No Sinking Fund. No sinking fund is provided for the Notes.
Section 11.02 Right To Redeem the Notes.
effect (i) on each of at least 20 Trading Days during the 30 consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Redemption Notice Date for such redemption as provided in Section 11.03 hereof; and (ii) the Trading Day immediately before such Redemption Notice Date. |
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(c) The “Redemption Date” means, for any redemption, the date specified as such in the Redemption Notice, which Redemption Date must comply with Section 11.03(a). |
For any redemption, the Redemption Notice corresponding to such redemption will specify:
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(A) briefly, a description of the Company’s redemption right under this Indenture; |
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(B) the Redemption Price for such Redemption Date (for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes); |
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(C) the Redemption Date for such redemption; |
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(D) the name and address of the Paying Agent and of the Conversion Agent; |
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(E) that Notes called for redemption may be converted at any time before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date; |
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(F) the Conversion Rate in effect on the Redemption Notice Date for such redemption and the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Redemption Notice Date; |
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(G) any Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate will be increased pursuant to Section 10.07 hereof for a Holder that converts a Note “in connection with” the Company’s election to redeem the Notes; |
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(H) that Notes must be surrendered to the Paying Agent on or before the Redemption Date to collect the Redemption Price; |
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(I) that, unless the Company defaults in paying the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date, interest, if any, on a Note will cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date; and |
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(J) the CUSIP and ISIN number(s) of the Notes. |
On any Redemption Notice Date, the Company will also furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, which Officers’ Certificate will set forth the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding and include a copy of the Redemption Notice delivered by the Company on such Redemption Notice Date.
Section 11.04 Effect of Redemption Notice. After the Company has delivered a Redemption Notice, each Holder will have the right to receive payment of the Redemption Price for its Notes on the later of (i) the Redemption Date and (ii)(a) if the Notes are Definitive Notes, delivery of its Notes to the Paying Agent or (b) if the Notes are Global Notes, compliance with the Applicable Procedures relating to the redemption and delivery of the beneficial interests to be redeemed to the Paying Agent; provided, however, that, until the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date, Holders may convert their Notes, regardless of whether they have been delivered to the Paying Agent for redemption, by complying with the requirements for conversion set forth in Article 10.
Section 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Company will deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either of them is acting as the Paying Agent, will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.07 hereof) an amount of immediately available funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all of the then outstanding Notes.
Section 11.06 Effect of Deposit. If, as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company, in accordance with Section 11.05 hereof, has deposited with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price for every Note validly delivered in accordance with Section 11.04 hereof (and not converted before such Redemption Date), then, at the Close of Business on such Redemption Date:
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(A) every Note outstanding immediately prior to the Close of Business on such Redemption Date will cease to be outstanding and interest, if any, on such Notes will cease to accrue (regardless of whether such Notes were delivered to the Paying Agent or book-entry transfer has been made, as applicable), except to the extent provided in the proviso to Section 11.02(b); and |
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(K) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes with respect to such Notes (other than the right to receive payment of the Redemption Price or, in the case of Notes surrendered for conversion in accordance with Article 10 hereof, the right to receive the Conversion Consideration due upon conversion of such Notes, and other than as provided in the proviso to Section 11.02(b)) will terminate. |
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Section 11.07 Covenant Not to Redeem Notes Upon Certain Events of Default
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(a) General. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 11, the Company will not redeem any Notes under this Article 11 if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated and such acceleration has not been rescinded on, or prior to, the Redemption Date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by the Company that would be cured by the Company’s payment of the Redemption Price for such Notes). |
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(e) Return of Notes. If a Holder delivers a Note for redemption pursuant to Section 11.04 and, on the Redemption Date, pursuant to this Section 11.07, the Company is not permitted to redeem such Note, the Paying Agent will (i) if such Note is a Definitive Note, return such Note to such Holder, and (ii) if such Note is held in book-entry form, in compliance with the Applicable Procedures, deem to be cancelled any instructions for book-entry transfer of such Note. |
. Subject to any applicable property laws, if, six months after the Redemption Date, any cash held by the Paying Agent remains unclaimed, the Paying Agent will promptly return such cash to the Company; provided, however, that, to the extent that the aggregate amount of cash deposited by the Company pursuant to Section 11.05 exceeds the aggregate Redemption Price of every Note outstanding, then as soon as practicable following the Redemption Date, the Trustee will return such excess to the Company.
Section 12.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision that is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required provision will control.
Section 12.02 Notices. Any request, demand, authorization, notice, waiver, consent or communication will be in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows or transmitted by facsimile transmission or other similar means of unsecured electronic methods to the following:
if to the Company:
Green Plains Inc.
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, NE 68106
Facsimile: (402) 952-4916
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
if to the Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent:
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
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Facsimile: (612) 217-5651
Attn: Green Plains Inc. Administrator
The Company or the Trustee, by notice given to the other in the manner provided above, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication given to a Holder will be mailed to the Holder, by first class mail, postage prepaid, at the Holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and will be deemed given on the date of such mailing; provided, however, that with respect to any Global Note, such notice or communication will be sent to the Holder thereof pursuant to the Applicable Procedures.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: (A) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; (B) five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; (C) when receipt is acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile, electronic transmission or other similar means of unsecured electronic communication; and (D) the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
All notices or communications required to be made to a Holder pursuant to this Indenture must be made in writing and will be deemed to be duly sent or given in writing if mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to its address shown on the Register; provided, however, that a notice or communication to a Holder of a Global Note must instead be sent pursuant to the Applicable Procedures (in which case, such notice will be deemed to be duly sent or given in writing).
Failure to mail or send a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not received by the addressee.
If the Company mails or sends a notice or communication to the Holders, it will, at the same time, send a copy to the Trustee and each of the Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent.
If the Company is required under this Indenture to give a notice to the Holders, in lieu of delivering such notice to the Holders, the Company may deliver such notice to the Trustee and cause the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, to have delivered such notice to the Holders on or prior to the date on which the Company would otherwise have been required to deliver such notice to the Holders. In such a case, the Company will also cause the Trustee to send a copy of the notice to each of the Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent at the same time it sends the notice to the Holders.
Section 12.03 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture other than the authentication of the initial Global Note on the Issue Date, the Company will furnish to the Trustee:
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(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the judgment or opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and |
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(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the judgment or opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent relating to the proposed action (to the extent of legal conclusions and subject to reasonable assumptions and exclusions) have been complied with. |
. Each Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition (except for such Officers’ Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof) provided for in this Indenture will include:
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(a) a statement that each Person making such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel has read such covenant or condition; |
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(c) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements, judgments or opinions contained in such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel are based; |
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(d) a statement that, in the judgment or opinion of each such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed judgment or opinion to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and |
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(e) a statement that, in the judgment or opinion of such Person, such covenant or condition has been complied with. |
. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes will be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 12.06 Rules by Trustee. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by, or a meeting of, Holders.
Section 12.07 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company under this Indenture or the Notes or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting any Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. Such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
Section 12.08 Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial. THE INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
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PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 12.09 No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Holder will waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release will be part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes.
Section 12.10 Calculations. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Company will be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes and this Indenture. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock or any other security, the Daily Settlement Amounts, the Daily Conversion Values, accrued interest payable on the Notes and the Conversion Rate in effect on any Conversion Date.
The Company will make all calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on all Holders. The Company will provide a schedule of its calculations to each of the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee and Conversion Agent is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. If any Holder requests from the Trustee a copy of such schedule, the Trustee will promptly forward a copy of such schedule to such Holder.
All calculations will be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share, as the case may be, with 5/100,000ths rounded upward.
Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent will have any duty to determine whether the conditions to convertibility of the Notes have been met or whether and to what extent any of the conditions requiring a change to the Conversion Rate have been met, nor will either of them have any responsibility to make calculations under the Indenture to monitor the price of the Company’s Common Stock or the Trading Price.
Section 12.11 Successors. All agreements of the Company, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent in this Indenture and the Notes will bind their respective successors.
Section 12.12 Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission will constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or other electronic means will be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 12.13 Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof, and will not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
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Section 12.14 Force Majeure
. The Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent will not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of such Person (including, but not limited to, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, any act of terrorism, epidemics, pandemics or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility).
Section 12.15 Submission to Jurisdiction. The Company: (a) agrees that any suit, action or proceeding against it arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be, may be instituted in any U.S. federal court with applicable subject matter jurisdiction sitting in The City of New York; (b) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and any claim that any suit, action or proceeding in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum; and (c) submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any suit, action or proceeding.
Section 12.16 Legal Holidays. If the Maturity Date or any Interest Payment Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, Redemption Date or Conversion Date is not a Business Day, then any action to be taken on such date need not be taken on such date, but may be taken on the immediately following Business Day with the same force and effect as if taken on such date, and no interest will accrue for the period from and after such date.
Section 12.17 No Security Interest Created. Except as provided in Section 7.06 or 9.01(b) hereof, nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, will be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction.
Section 12.18 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, will give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Registrar, and their successors hereunder, and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
Section 12.19 Tax Withholding. Any applicable withholding taxes (including backup withholding) may be withheld from interest and payments upon conversion, repurchase or maturity of the Notes, or if any withholding taxes (including backup withholding) are paid on behalf of a Holder or beneficial owner, those withholding taxes may be set off against payments of cash or Common Stock, if any, payable on the Notes or sales proceeds received by or other funds or assets of the Holder or beneficial owner.
Section 12.20 U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions, in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
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[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Green Plains Inc. has caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as a deed the day and year first before written.
Green Plains Inc., as Issuer
By:/s/ Todd Becker
Name:Todd Becker
Title:President Chief Executive Officer
[Signature Page to Indenture]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized, has executed this Indenture as of the day and year first before written.
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee
By:/s/ Barry D. Somrock
Name: Barry D. Somrock
Title: Vice President
[Signature Page to Indenture]
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTE
[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]
NO AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY MAY PURCHASE OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN.
[Include the following legend for Global Notes only (the “Global Notes Legend”):]
THIS IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE WILL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE, AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE WILL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE 2 OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
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No.:[___]
CUSIP:[___]
ISIN:[___]
Principal Amount $[___]
[Insert for Global Note: as revised by the Schedule of Increases
and Decreases of Global Note attached hereto]
Green Plains Inc.
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027
Green Plains Inc., an Iowa corporation, promises to pay to [___][Cede & Co.], or registered assigns, the principal amount of $[___] [Insert for Global Note: (as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases of Global Note attached hereto)] on March 15, 2027.
Interest Payment Dates: March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning [___].
Regular Record Dates: March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning [___].
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.
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TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
By:
Authorized Signatory
Dated:
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[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]
GREEN PLAINS INC.
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of Green Plains Inc. (the “Company”), designated as its 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Notes”), all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of the Issue Date, and a first supplemental indenture (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Supplemental Indenture,” and the Base Indenture, as amended by the Supplemental Indenture, and as the same may be further amended or supplemented from time to time with respect to the Notes, the “Indenture”), dated as of the Issue Date, each between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture, and the terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those incorporated into the Indenture. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent that any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture will govern and control.
1.Interest.
This Note will bear interest at a rate equal to 2.25% per annum. Interest on this Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for, or, if no interest has been paid or provided for, the Issue Date. Interest will be payable semiannually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on [__]. Each payment of cash interest on this Note will include interest accrued for the period commencing on and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or, if none, the Issue Date) through, and including, the day before the applicable Interest Payment Date.
Pursuant to Section 6.04 of the Supplemental Indenture, in certain circumstances, the Company will pay an Extension Fee on this Note.
Pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Supplemental Indenture, in certain circumstances, the Company will pay Default Interest on Defaulted Amounts with respect to this Note.
2.Method of Payment.
The Company will promptly make all payments on this Note on the dates and in the manner provided herein and in the Supplemental Indenture. Payments on Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by Depositary. The Company will pay principal of, and any Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price for, Definitive Notes at the office or agency designated by the Company for such purpose. Interest on Definitive Notes will be made by check or by wire transfer, as described in Section 2.04, except that any payment of Interest due on the Maturity Date will be made at the office or agency designated by the Company for such
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purpose. All payments on this Note will be made in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
3.Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar.
Initially, Wilmington Trust, National Association will act as the Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Registrar; provided, that the Company will maintain at least one Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar in the continental United States. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Registrar.
4.Repurchase By the Company at the Option of the Holder upon a Fundamental Change.
At the option of the Holder, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Supplemental Indenture, upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, each Holder will have the right, at its option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of its Notes, or any portion of its Notes having a principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, at a Fundamental Change Repurchase Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes to be purchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, unless the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date occurs after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date corresponding to such Regular Record Date, in which case the Company will pay the accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes, on such Interest Payment Date, to the Holder of such Notes as of the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date, and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall not include such accrued and unpaid interest. To exercise its purchase right, a Holder must comply with the procedures set forth in Article 3 of the Supplemental Indenture.
5.Redemption at the Option of the Company.
Prior to March 15, 2024, the Company may not redeem the Notes. Subject to the terms of the Supplemental Indenture, on a Redemption Date occurring on or after March 15, 2024, and prior to the Maturity Date, the Company may redeem all, but not less than all, of the Notes if the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds 140% of the Conversion Price in effect on (i) each of at least 20 Trading Days during the 30 consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the applicable Redemption Notice Date; and (ii) the Trading Day immediately before the Redemption Notice Date. Any Redemption Date must be at least 30, but not more than 50, Scheduled Trading Days after the date on which the Company delivers the applicable Redemption Notice. The Redemption Price that the Company will pay for any Notes that it redeems will equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes to be purchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date, unless the Redemption Date occurs after a Regular Record Date and on or before the Interest Payment Date corresponding to such Regular Record Date, in which case the Redemption Price for any Notes to be redeemed will equal 100% of the principal amount of such Notes, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such Notes to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date will be payable, on or, at the Company’s election before, such Interest Payment Date, to the Holder of such Notes at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date.
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6.Conversion.
Subject to, and upon compliance with, the provisions of Article 10 of the Supplemental Indenture, a Holder may, at its option, convert all of its Notes, or any portion of its Notes having a principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, (i) subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 10.01(b) of the Supplemental Indenture, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding September 15, 2026, under the circumstances and during the periods set forth in Section 10.01(b) of the Supplemental Indenture, and (ii) irrespective of the conditions set forth in Section 10.01(b) of the Supplemental Indenture, on or after September 15, 2026 and prior to the Close of Business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, in each case, into Conversion Consideration, as provided in Article 10 of the Supplemental Indenture, based on the Conversion Rate. Notes may not be converted after the Close of Business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date.
7.Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.
The Notes are in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $1,000 of principal amount and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Supplemental Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Supplemental Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Notes in respect of which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been given and not withdrawn (except, in the case of a Note to be repurchased in part, the portion of the Note not to be repurchased), after the Company has delivered a Notice of Redemption (except to the extent that Notes are converted or the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price in accordance with Article 11 of the Supplemental Indenture) or in respect of which a Conversion Notice has been given (except, in the case of a Note to be converted in part, the portion of the Note not to be converted).
8.Amendment, Supplement and Waiver.
Subject to certain exceptions, the Supplemental Indenture permits the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes to be amended or supplemented with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. In certain circumstances, the Company and the Trustee may also amend or supplement the Supplemental Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder. Subject to certain exceptions, the Supplemental Indenture permits the waiver of certain Events of Default or the noncompliance with certain provisions of the Supplemental Indenture and of the Notes with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
9.Defaults and Remedies.
Subject to the immediately following paragraph, if an Event of Default specified in the Supplemental Indenture occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by delivering a written notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by delivering a written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all the
A-7
Notes to be due and payable immediately by delivering notice to the Company. In addition, certain specified Events of Default will cause the Notes to become immediately due and payable without the Trustee or Holders taking any action.
If the Company so elects, the sole remedy for an Event of Default relating to the Company’s failure to comply with the reporting obligations under Section 4.02 of the Supplemental Indenture will, for the 60 days after the occurrence of such Event of Default, consist exclusively of the right to receive an Extension Fee on the principal amount of the Notes.
Holders may not enforce the Supplemental Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Supplemental Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Supplemental Indenture or the Notes unless it receives indemnity or security satisfactory to it. Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Supplemental Indenture. Subject to certain exceptions, the Trustee may withhold from Holders notice of any continuing Event of Default or Default if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.
10.Persons Deemed Owners.
The Holder of this Note will be treated as the owner of this Note for all purposes.
11.Unclaimed Money or Notes.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent will return to the Company upon written request any money or securities held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the Notes that remain unclaimed for two years, subject to applicable unclaimed property law. After return to the Company, Holders entitled to the money or securities must look to the Company for payment as general creditors, unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
12.Trustee Dealings with the Company.
The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee.
13.Calculations in Respect of Notes.
Except as otherwise provided in the Supplemental Indenture, the Company will be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes and the Supplemental Indenture. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock or any other security, the Daily Settlement Amounts, the Daily Conversion Values, accrued interest payable on the Notes and the Conversion Rate in effect on any Conversion Date.
The Company will make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on all Holders.
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14.No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company will not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.
15.Authentication.
This Note will not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the Trustee’s certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
16.Abbreviations.
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
17.GOVERNING LAW.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
18.CUSIP Numbers.
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Note Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in any notices as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice, and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
The Company will furnish to any Holder, upon written request and without charge, a copy of the Supplemental Indenture which has in it the text of this Note. Requests may be made to:
Green Plains Inc.
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, NE 68106
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
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CONVERSION NOTICE
GREEN PLAINS INC.
2.25% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027
To convert this Note, check the box ☐
To convert the entire principal amount of this Note, check the box ☐
To convert only a portion of the principal amount of this Note, check the box ☐ and here specify the principal amount to be converted, which principal amount must equal $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof:
$
Signature Guaranteed
Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guarantee Medallion Program
By:
Authorized Signatory
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FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE
Wilmington Trust, National Association
Global Capital Markets
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Attention: Green Plains Inc. Administrator
The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from Green Plains Inc. (the “Company”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and specifying the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and requests and instructs the Company to pay to the Holder hereof in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture referred to in this Note (1) the entire principal amount of this Note, or the portion thereof (that is equal to $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, and (2) if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date does not occur during the period after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.
Principal amount to be repaid (if less than all): $ ,000
Signature Guaranteed
Participant in a Recognized Signature
Guarantee Medallion Program
By:
Authorized Signatory
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[Include for Global Note]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES OF GLOBAL NOTE
Initial Principal Amount of Global Note: $[___]
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Exhibit 5.1
Green Plains Inc.
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, Nebraska 68106
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Green Plains, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the offering by the Company (the “Offering”) of 8,751,500 shares, of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Shares”), by means of a prospectus supplement dated February 24, 2021 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), which supplements the prospectus dated February 16, 2021 (such prospectus, collectively with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”) contained in the registration statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-253148 (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Prospectus or in the Registration Statement, delivered to Husch Blackwell LLP by the Company which provides certain representations relevant to this opinion. The Shares are being sold pursuant to that certain underwriting agreement dated February 24, 2021 by and between the Company, and Jefferies LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”).
In our capacity as counsel to the Company, and for purposes of rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the following (the “Reviewed Documents”), with your consent:
(i)the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended by the First and Second Articles of Amendment, and a copy of the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended (collectively, the “Organizational Documents”);
(ii)a certificate dated as of February 26, 2021 of the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa certifying as to the good standing and authority of the Company to transact business or to conduct its affairs in the State of Iowa.
(iii)resolutions adopted at meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company on February 22, 2021 and the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company on February 24, 2021, each as certified by the Secretary of the Company as of a recent date (the “Resolutions”);
(iv)the Underwriting Agreement;
(v)the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(vi)a certificate executed by an officer of the Company addressed to Husch Blackwell LLP dated March 1, 2021;
(vii)the additional certificates and documents delivered on March 1, 2021 at the closing of the sale of the Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement; and
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(viii)such other documents provided by the Company as we have considered relevant to our analysis.
In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies, the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents, that the form and content of all documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such documents as executed and delivered, and the enforceability of all documents submitted to us against parties other than the Company. We have assumed that there has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the documents we have reviewed, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of such documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and certificates of public officials, without independent verification of their accuracy.
Further, our opinion is based on the assumptions that:
(i)the Company is operated, and will continue to be operated, in the manner described in the Reviewed Documents;
(ii)all statements of fact contained in the Reviewed Documents are true and complete in all material respects; and
(iii)any statement made in any of the Reviewed Documents referred to herein “to the knowledge of” or “to the best of the knowledge of” any person or party or similarly qualified is correct without such qualification.
On the basis of such examination, our reliance upon the assumptions in this opinion and our consideration of those questions of law we considered relevant, and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in this opinion, we are of the opinion that, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers, and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the issue and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We are opining herein solely as to the internal laws of the State of Iowa, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the Registration Statement, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares. This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to advise
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you of facts, circumstances, events or developments that hereafter may be brought to our attention and that may alter, affect or modify the opinions expressed herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Husch Blackwell LLP under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus constituting a part of such Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or under the rules and regulations of the Commission relating thereto.
Very truly yours,
Husch Blackwell LLP
/s/ Husch Blackwell LLP
Husch Blackwell LLP
Exhibit 5.2
Green Plains Inc.
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, Nebraska 68106
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Green Plains, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company (the “Offering”) of $230,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027, convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Notes”), by means of a prospectus supplement dated February 24, 2021 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), which supplements the prospectus dated February 16, 2021 (such prospectus, collectively with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”) contained in the registration statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-253148 (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Prospectus or in the Registration Statement, delivered to Husch Blackwell LLP by the Company which provides certain representations relevant to this opinion. The Notes are being sold pursuant to that certain underwriting agreement dated February 24, 2021 by and between the Company, and Jefferies LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”).
In our capacity as counsel to the Company, and for purposes of rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the following (the “Reviewed Documents”), with your consent:
(i)the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended by the First and Second Articles of Amendment, and a copy of the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended (collectively, the “Organizational Documents”);
(ii)a certificate dated as of February 26, 2021 of the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa certifying as to the good standing and authority of the Company to transact business or to conduct its affairs in the State of Iowa;
(iii)a copy of the Indenture dated as of March 1, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”) by and between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2021 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) by and between the Company and the Trustee, relating to the Notes;
(iv)a copy of the form of Global Note, dated as of March 1, 2021, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depositary Trust Company, representing the Securities (the “Global Note”);
(v)resolutions adopted at meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company on February 22, 2021 and the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company on February 24, 2021, each as certified by the Secretary of the Company as of a recent date (the “Resolutions”);
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(vi)the Underwriting Agreement;
(vii)the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(viii)a certificate executed by an officer of the Company addressed to Husch Blackwell LLP dated March 1, 2021;
(ix)the additional certificates and documents delivered on March 1, 2021 at the closing of the sale of the Notes pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement; and
(x)such other documents provided by the Company as we have considered relevant to our analysis.
In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies, the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents, that the form and content of all documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such documents as executed and delivered, and the enforceability of all documents submitted to us against parties other than the Company. We have assumed that there has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the documents we have reviewed, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of such documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and certificates of public officials, without independent verification of their accuracy.
Further, our opinion is based on the assumptions that:
(i)the Company is operated, and will continue to be operated, in the manner described in the Reviewed Documents;
(ii)all statements of fact contained in the Reviewed Documents are true and complete in all material respects; and
(iii)any statement made in any of the Reviewed Documents referred to herein “to the knowledge of” or “to the best of the knowledge of” any person or party or similarly qualified is correct without such qualification.
On the basis of such examination, our reliance upon the assumptions in this opinion and our consideration of those questions of law we considered relevant, and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in this opinion, we are of the opinion that:
1.The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and, so far as known to us, delivered by the Company, and the issuance of the Notes has been duly authorized by the Company.
2.Upon the issuance and sale of the Notes as described in the Prospectus, and when the Global Note has been executed by the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Notes evidenced by the Global Note will
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be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinion is subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; (iii) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy; and (iv) we express no opinion as to (a) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (b) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies or judicial relief, (c) waivers of rights or defenses, (d) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) any provision permitting, upon acceleration of any Share or Depositary Share, collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (f) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest, (g) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (h) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (i) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (j) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (k) grants of setoff rights, (l) proxies, powers and trusts, (m) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, (n) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, and (o) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.
We are opining herein solely as to the internal laws of the State of Iowa and the State of Nebraska, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the Registration Statement, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the Indenture and the Notes. This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of facts, circumstances, events or developments that hereafter may be brought to our attention and that may alter, affect or modify the opinions expressed herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Husch Blackwell LLP under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus constituting a part of such Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or under the rules and regulations of the Commission relating thereto.
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Very truly yours,
Husch Blackwell LLP
/s/ Husch Blackwell LLP
Husch Blackwell LLP
Exhibit 23.1
Green Plains Inc.
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, Nebraska 68106
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Green Plains, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the offering by the Company (the “Offering”) of 8,751,500 shares, of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Shares”), by means of a prospectus supplement dated February 24, 2021 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), which supplements the prospectus dated February 16, 2021 (such prospectus, collectively with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”) contained in the registration statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-253148 (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Prospectus or in the Registration Statement, delivered to Husch Blackwell LLP by the Company which provides certain representations relevant to this opinion. The Shares are being sold pursuant to that certain underwriting agreement dated February 24, 2021 by and between the Company, and Jefferies LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”).
In our capacity as counsel to the Company, and for purposes of rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the following (the “Reviewed Documents”), with your consent:
(i)the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended by the First and Second Articles of Amendment, and a copy of the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended (collectively, the “Organizational Documents”);
(ii)a certificate dated as of February 26, 2021 of the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa certifying as to the good standing and authority of the Company to transact business or to conduct its affairs in the State of Iowa.
(iii)resolutions adopted at meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company on February 22, 2021 and the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company on February 24, 2021, each as certified by the Secretary of the Company as of a recent date (the “Resolutions”);
(iv)the Underwriting Agreement;
(v)the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(vi)a certificate executed by an officer of the Company addressed to Husch Blackwell LLP dated March 1, 2021;
(vii)the additional certificates and documents delivered on March 1, 2021 at the closing of the sale of the Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement; and
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(viii)such other documents provided by the Company as we have considered relevant to our analysis.
In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies, the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents, that the form and content of all documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such documents as executed and delivered, and the enforceability of all documents submitted to us against parties other than the Company. We have assumed that there has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the documents we have reviewed, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of such documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and certificates of public officials, without independent verification of their accuracy.
Further, our opinion is based on the assumptions that:
(i)the Company is operated, and will continue to be operated, in the manner described in the Reviewed Documents;
(ii)all statements of fact contained in the Reviewed Documents are true and complete in all material respects; and
(iii)any statement made in any of the Reviewed Documents referred to herein “to the knowledge of” or “to the best of the knowledge of” any person or party or similarly qualified is correct without such qualification.
On the basis of such examination, our reliance upon the assumptions in this opinion and our consideration of those questions of law we considered relevant, and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in this opinion, we are of the opinion that, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers, and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the issue and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We are opining herein solely as to the internal laws of the State of Iowa, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the Registration Statement, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares. This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to advise
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you of facts, circumstances, events or developments that hereafter may be brought to our attention and that may alter, affect or modify the opinions expressed herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Husch Blackwell LLP under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus constituting a part of such Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or under the rules and regulations of the Commission relating thereto.
Very truly yours,
Husch Blackwell LLP
/s/ Husch Blackwell LLP
Husch Blackwell LLP
Exhibit 23.2
Green Plains Inc.
1811 Aksarben Drive
Omaha, Nebraska 68106
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Green Plains, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company (the “Offering”) of $230,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027, convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Notes”), by means of a prospectus supplement dated February 24, 2021 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), which supplements the prospectus dated February 16, 2021 (such prospectus, collectively with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”) contained in the registration statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-253148 (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Prospectus or in the Registration Statement, delivered to Husch Blackwell LLP by the Company which provides certain representations relevant to this opinion. The Notes are being sold pursuant to that certain underwriting agreement dated February 24, 2021 by and between the Company, and Jefferies LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”).
In our capacity as counsel to the Company, and for purposes of rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the following (the “Reviewed Documents”), with your consent:
(i)the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended by the First and Second Articles of Amendment, and a copy of the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended (collectively, the “Organizational Documents”);
(ii)a certificate dated as of February 26, 2021 of the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa certifying as to the good standing and authority of the Company to transact business or to conduct its affairs in the State of Iowa;
(iii)a copy of the Indenture dated as of March 1, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”) by and between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 1, 2021 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) by and between the Company and the Trustee, relating to the Notes;
(iv)a copy of the form of Global Note, dated as of March 1, 2021, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depositary Trust Company, representing the Securities (the “Global Note”);
(v)resolutions adopted at meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company on February 22, 2021 and the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company on February 24, 2021, each as certified by the Secretary of the Company as of a recent date (the “Resolutions”);
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(vi)the Underwriting Agreement;
(vii)the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(viii)a certificate executed by an officer of the Company addressed to Husch Blackwell LLP dated March 1, 2021;
(ix)the additional certificates and documents delivered on March 1, 2021 at the closing of the sale of the Notes pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement; and
(x)such other documents provided by the Company as we have considered relevant to our analysis.
In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies, the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents, that the form and content of all documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such documents as executed and delivered, and the enforceability of all documents submitted to us against parties other than the Company. We have assumed that there has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the documents we have reviewed, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of such documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and certificates of public officials, without independent verification of their accuracy.
Further, our opinion is based on the assumptions that:
(i)the Company is operated, and will continue to be operated, in the manner described in the Reviewed Documents;
(ii)all statements of fact contained in the Reviewed Documents are true and complete in all material respects; and
(iii)any statement made in any of the Reviewed Documents referred to herein “to the knowledge of” or “to the best of the knowledge of” any person or party or similarly qualified is correct without such qualification.
On the basis of such examination, our reliance upon the assumptions in this opinion and our consideration of those questions of law we considered relevant, and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in this opinion, we are of the opinion that:
1.The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and, so far as known to us, delivered by the Company, and the issuance of the Notes has been duly authorized by the Company.
2.Upon the issuance and sale of the Notes as described in the Prospectus, and when the Global Note has been executed by the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Notes evidenced by the Global Note will
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be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinion is subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; (iii) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy; and (iv) we express no opinion as to (a) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (b) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies or judicial relief, (c) waivers of rights or defenses, (d) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) any provision permitting, upon acceleration of any Share or Depositary Share, collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (f) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest, (g) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (h) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (i) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (j) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (k) grants of setoff rights, (l) proxies, powers and trusts, (m) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, (n) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, and (o) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.
We are opining herein solely as to the internal laws of the State of Iowa and the State of Nebraska, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the Registration Statement, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the Indenture and the Notes. This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of facts, circumstances, events or developments that hereafter may be brought to our attention and that may alter, affect or modify the opinions expressed herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Husch Blackwell LLP under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus constituting a part of such Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or under the rules and regulations of the Commission relating thereto.
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Very truly yours,
Husch Blackwell LLP
/s/ Husch Blackwell LLP
Husch Blackwell LLP
Exhibit 99.1
Green Plains Completes Concurrent Offerings of Common Stock and Convertible Senior Notes Due 2027
OMAHA, Neb., Mar. 1, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) today announced the completion of its underwritten public offerings of 8,751,500 shares of common stock, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, and $230 million aggregate principal amount of 2.25% convertible senior notes due 2027, which includes the full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional notes. The shares of common stock and notes were offered and sold in a public offering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The company’s estimated net proceeds from the common stock offering were approximately $191.1 million and the notes offering were approximately $222.5 million after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and our estimated offering expenses.
The company used approximately $156.5 million of the net proceeds of the notes offering to repurchase approximately $135.7 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.125% convertible notes due 2022 (the “2022 notes”), in privately negotiated transactions concurrently with this offering. The company intends to use the balance of the net proceeds from the notes offering and the proceeds from the common stock offering for general corporate purposes and to repay its 2022 notes remaining outstanding at their maturity date.
The notes will bear interest at a rate of 2.25% per year, payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning September 15, 2021, and mature on March 15, 2027. The notes will be general senior, unsecured obligations of the company. On and after March 15, 2024, and prior to the maturity date, the company may redeem, for cash, all, but not less than all, of the notes if the last reported sale price of the company’s common stock equals or exceeds 140% of the applicable conversion price on (i) at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the date the company delivers notice of the redemption; and (ii) the trading day immediately before the date of the redemption notice. The redemption price will equal 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture for the notes), holders of the notes will have the right, at their option, to require the company to repurchase their notes for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.
The notes will be convertible, at the option of the holders, into consideration consisting of, at the company’s election, cash, shares of the company’s common stock, or a combination of cash and stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares). However, before September 15, 2026, the notes will not be convertible unless certain conditions are satisfied. The initial conversion rate will be 31.6206 shares of the company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $31.62 per share of the company’s common stock), representing an approximately 37.5% premium over the offering price of the company’s common stock. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. In addition, the company may be obligated to increase the conversion rate for any conversion that occurs in connection with certain corporate events, including the company’s calling the notes for redemption.
Jefferies and BofA Securities acted as joint book-running managers for the offering. Roth Capital Partners, Stephens Inc., Truist Securities, Inc. and Craig-Hallum Capital Group are acting as co-managers of the common stock offering and BMO Capital Markets Corp. and Truist Securities, Inc. are acting as co-managers of the convertible notes offering.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities referred to in this press release, nor will there be any sale of any such securities, in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus. An electronic copy of the prospectus supplement, together with the accompanying prospectus, is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of these documents can be obtained by contacting: Jefferies LLC, by mail at 520 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by telephone at (877) 547-6340, or by email to Prospectus_Department@Jefferies.com; or BofA Securities, Inc., by mail at NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, or email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com.
About Green Plains Inc.
Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) is a leading biorefining company focused on the development and utilization of fermentation, agricultural and biological technologies in the processing of annually renewable crops into sustainable value-
added ingredients. This includes the production of cleaner low carbon biofuels, renewable feedstocks for advanced biofuels and high purity alcohols for use in cleaners and disinfectants. Green Plains is an innovative producer of Ultra-High Protein and novel ingredients for animal and aquaculture diets to help satisfy a growing global appetite for sustainable protein. The Company also owns a 48.9% limited partner interest and a 2.0% general partner interest in Green Plains Partners LP.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views, which are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, anticipated financial and operating results, plans and objectives that are not historical in nature. These statements may be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied include: disruption caused by health epidemics, such as the coronavirus outbreak, competition in the industries in which Green Plains operates; commodity market risks, financial market risks; counterparty risks; risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, including changes to tax laws; risks related to closing and achieving anticipated results from acquisitions and disposals. Other factors can include risks associated with Green Plains’ ability to realize higher margins anticipated from the company’s high protein feed, clean sugar, specialty alcohol and carbon sequestrations initiatives; to achieve anticipated savings from Project 24; to successfully pursue its ongoing transformation strategy and other risks discussed in Green Plains’ reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Green Plains assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Green Plains Inc. Contacts
Investors: Phil Boggs | Senior Vice President, Investor Relations | 402.884.8700 | phil.boggs@gpreinc.com
Media: Leighton Eusebio | Manager, Public Relations | 402.952.4971 | leighton.eusebio@gpreinc.com
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