UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 7, 2022 (
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +1
No change since last report
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On March 7, 2022, Nasdaq, Inc. (the “Company”) completed a public offering of $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.950% senior notes due 2052 (the “Senior Notes”). The offering of the Senior Notes was made pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-255666) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2021.
The Senior Notes were issued under the Indenture, dated June 7, 2013, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended by the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture”), dated March 7, 2022, by and between the Company and the Trustee. The Supplemental Indenture includes the form of the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes will accrue interest annually at a rate of 3.950% per annum and will be payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on March 7 and September 7 of each year, commencing on September 7, 2022. The Senior Notes will mature on March 7, 2052.
The Supplemental Indenture is filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. The description of the Supplemental Indenture is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.
In addition, in connection with the offering of the Senior Notes, the Company is filing a legal opinion regarding the validity of the Senior Notes, filed herewith as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 2.03. | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item 8.01. | Other Events. |
In connection with the offering of the Senior Notes, the Company entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated March 2, 2022, with the underwriters named therein.
The underwriting agreement and the press releases relating to the offering are filed as exhibits to this Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference. The description of the underwriting agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.
The Company expects to use the net proceeds of the Senior Notes to reduce indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes.
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: March 7, 2022 | NASDAQ, INC. | |||||
By: | /s/ John A. Zecca | |||||
Name: | John A. Zecca | |||||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer |
Exhibit 1.1
Execution Version
NASDAQ, INC.
$550,000,000 3.950% Senior Notes due 2052
Underwriting Agreement
March 2, 2022
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, NY 10036
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Nasdaq, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, as listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the Underwriters), for whom J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives (each, a Representative and, together, the Representatives), $550,000,000 principal amount of its 3.950% Senior Notes due 2052 (the 2052 Notes or the Securities). The Securities will be issued pursuant to the indenture (as supplemented by the thirteenth supplemental indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below), the Indenture), dated as of June 7, 2013, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the Trustee).
The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Securities, as follows:
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Securities Act), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-255666), including a prospectus (the Basic Prospectus). The Company has also filed, or proposes to file, with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act a prospectus supplement relating to the Securities (the Prospectus Supplement). Such registration statement, as amended at the time it becomes effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (Rule 430
Information), is referred to herein as the Registration Statement; and as used herein, the term Prospectus means the Basic Prospectus as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Securities and the term Preliminary Prospectus means the preliminary prospectus supplement dated March 2, 2022 specifically relating to the Securities together with the Basic Prospectus. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the Rule 462 Registration Statement), then any reference herein to the term Registration Statement shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any reference in this agreement (this Agreement) to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Basic Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to amend, amendment or supplement with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Exchange Act) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
At or prior to the time when sales of the Securities were first made (the Time of Sale), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively, the Time of Sale Information): the Preliminary Prospectus and each free-writing prospectus (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto, if any, as constituting part of the Time of Sale Information.
1. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters; Reimbursement of Company Expenses.
(a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amount of Securities set forth opposite such Underwriters name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price equal to 98.516% of the principal amount of the 2052 Notes (the Purchase Price). The Company will not be obligated to deliver any of the Securities except upon payment for all the Securities to be purchased as provided herein.
(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Securities purchased by it to or through any Underwriter.
(c) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arms-length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as financial advisors or fiduciaries to, or agents of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall not, either jointly or severally, have any responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by any Underwriter of the Company, and the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions, will be performed solely for the benefit of such Underwriter, and shall not be on behalf of the Company or any other person.
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(d) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell the Securities to or through any of their respective affiliates and that any such affiliate may offer and sell the Securities purchased by it to or through its affiliated Underwriter.
2. Payment and Delivery.
(a) Payment for and delivery of the Securities will be made at the offices of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on March 7, 2022, or at such other time or place on such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment and delivery is referred to herein as the Closing Date.
(b) Payment for the Securities shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account(s) specified by the Company to the Representatives, against delivery to the nominee of the Depository Trust Company (DTC), for the account of the Underwriters, of one or more global notes representing the Securities (collectively, the Global Note), with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of the Securities duly paid by the Company. The Global Note will be made available for inspection by the Representatives not later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:
(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Preliminary Prospectus.
(b) Time of Sale Information. The Time of Sale Information, at the Time of Sale did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Time of Sale Information. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Time of Sale Information and no statement of material fact included in the Time of Sale Information that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.
(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) below) an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus)
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other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Prospectus, (iv) the documents listed on Annex A hereto as constituting part of the Time of Sale Information and (v) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement is an automatic shelf registration statement as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Trust Indenture Act), and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act or (ii) any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(e) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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(f) Financial Statements. The financial statements and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and the supporting schedules, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commissions rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (i) there have not been any changes in the capital stock (other than as a result of transactions in connection with employee equity incentive plans, employee stock purchase plans or disclosed contractual obligations, in each case in existence on December 31, 2021), issuances of long-term debt, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(h) Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so organized or qualified, in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Securities Act (a Material Adverse Effect). The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed on Annex C to this Agreement and other than not-for-profit entities.
(i) Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading Capitalization and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each of the Companys subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (except in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors qualifying shares and except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement,
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the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus) and, except as set forth on Annex C to this Agreement, are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party, other than, with respect to any restriction on transfer, to the extent required by the Companys credit agreement dated as of December 21, 2020 or any other credit facility as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (together with any other documents, agreements or instruments delivered in connection therewith and each as amended prior to the date hereof, the Credit Facilities).
(j) Due Authorization. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture (collectively, the Transaction Documents) and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken.
(k) The Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and upon effectiveness of the Registration Statement and on the Closing Date was or will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability (collectively, the Enforceability Exceptions).
(l) The Securities. The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(m) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(n) Descriptions of the Transaction Documents. Each Transaction Document conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(o) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, (A) in the case of clause (i) above, for any such violation by a subsidiary that is not material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (B) in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of,
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or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required (i) under applicable state or foreign securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters.
(r) Legal Proceedings. Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or, to the best knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or by others and (i) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no contracts or other documents, statutes or regulations that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(s) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.
(t) Title to Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses; and the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement of or conflict with any such rights of others which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding), would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(u) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders or other affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that would be required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in each of the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(v) Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus none of them will be, an investment company or an entity controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(w) Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, except insofar as any failures to file such returns or pay such taxes would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and there are no tax deficiencies that have been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except to the extent of any tax deficiency that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(x) Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, and except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course.
(y) Compliance with ERISA. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), established or maintained by the Company and its ERISA affiliates (defined as any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Company, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code)) (each, a Plan), has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and the presently applicable provisions of ERISA; (ii) each Plan for which the Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, to the Companys knowledge, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification, (iii) to the Companys knowledge, no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to an applicable statutory, class or individual exemption; (iv) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412(a)(2)(A) of the Code or Section 302(a)(2) of ERISA, no failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards under Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA, whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (v) no reportable event (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA), other than an event for which reporting to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation has been waived, for which the Company would have had any liability has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; and (vi) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the PBGC, in the ordinary course and without default in respect of a Plan).
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(z) Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commissions rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Companys management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act.
(aa) Accounting Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain internal control over financial reporting designed to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managements general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus is prepared in accordance with the Commissions rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Companys internal controls.
(bb) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.
(cc) 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 designated by the Company or the relevant subsidiary of the Company at the time of grant 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, (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 The Nasdaq Stock Market and any other exchange on which the securities of the Company or the relevant subsidiary of the Company are traded, (iv) the per share exercise price of each Stock Option was equal to or greater than 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 U.S. generally accepted accounting principles in the consolidated financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Companys filings with the Commission
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in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company or any of its subsidiaries of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinating 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.
(dd) No Unlawful Payments. For the last five years, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, directors or officers, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee, agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an 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 of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offense under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
(ee) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been for the last five years 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 applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts business, 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 Anti-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 Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company is threatened.
(ff) Compliance with OFAC. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, directors or officers, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee, agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a specially designated national or blocked person), and, to the extent applicable, any Sanctions administered or enforced by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the European Union, Her Majestys Treasury (HMT), 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 target of Sanctions to the extent prohibited by applicable law, including, without limitation, the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic or so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a Sanctioned Country); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any
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Sanctioned Country to the extent such activity is prohibited under applicable Sanctions or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any party to this Agreement, including the Underwriters listed on Schedule 1, of Sanctions. For the past five years, except (x) as otherwise described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and (y) as disclosed by the Company in writing to the Underwriters on the date hereof, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in and will not engage 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 to the extent such action is prohibited under applicable Sanctions. It is acknowledged and agreed that the representation in this clause (ff) of this Agreement is only sought and given to the extent that to do so would be permissible pursuant to Regulation (EC) 2271/96.
(gg) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiarys capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiarys properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except where such prohibition (i) is required by the Credit Facilities or (ii) would not have a material effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Securities.
(hh) No Brokers Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finders fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.
(ii) No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Securities.
(jj) No Stabilization. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.
(kk) Margin Rules. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.
(ll) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in any of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(mm) Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.
(nn) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Companys directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 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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(oo) Status under the Securities Act. The Company is not an ineligible issuer and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined under the Securities Act, in each case at the times specified in the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.
(pp) Cyber Security; Data Protection. The Company and its subsidiaries information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, IT Systems) operate and perform in all material respects in conformance with their specifications or contracted requirements as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, and to the best knowledge of the Company, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants, other than those not reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain commercially reasonable risk-based controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all mission critical IT Systems and the integrity redundancy and risk-based security of all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (Personal Data) processed and stored thereon, and to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no material breaches, incidents, violations, outages, compromises or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability, nor any material 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 applicable judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, material 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.
4. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:
(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 2:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fees for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, to the Representatives, during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term Prospectus Delivery Period means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer.
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(c) Amendments or Supplements; Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus with respect to this offering, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.
(d) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been filed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(e) Time of Sale Information. If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which any of the Time of Sale Information as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement any of the Time of Sale Information to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to any of the Time of Sale Information as may be necessary so that the statements in any of the Time of Sale Information as so amended or supplemented will not, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading or so that any of the Time of Sale Information will comply with law.
(f) Ongoing Compliance. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the
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Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law.
(g) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the offering and distribution of the Securities; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
(h) Clear Market. During the period from the date hereof through the Closing Date, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company and having a tenor of more than one year.
(i) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the effective date (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.
(j) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading Use of Proceeds.
(k) No Stabilization. The Company will not (i) take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities or (ii) issue any press or other public announcement referring to the proposed offering of the Securities that does not adequately disclose the fact that stabilizing action may take place with respect to the Securities. The Company authorizes the Representatives to make adequate public disclosure of the information required in connection with any stabilization action by the Underwriters.
(l) Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:
(a) It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of, any free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that, solely as a result of use by such Underwriter, would not trigger an obligation to file such free writing prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex B hereto without the consent of the Company.
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(b) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).
(c) It is a person whose ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of its business and (ii) it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell the Securities other than to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses where the issue of the Securities would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the FSMA) by the Company.
(d) It has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Securities in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company.
(e) It has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
6. Conditions of Underwriters Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase Securities on the Closing Date as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.
(c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Time of Sale and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Securities or any other debt securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act; and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of the Securities or of any other debt securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).
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(d) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(g) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Time of Sale Information (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(e) Officers Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of an executive officer of the Company who has specific knowledge of the Companys financial matters and is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officer has carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and, to the best knowledge of such officer, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.
(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants comfort letters to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a cut-off date no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.
(g) Opinions of Counsel and 10b-5 Statement. (1) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement and (2) John A. Zecca, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer of the Company, shall have furnished to the Underwriters his written opinion, in each case dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(h) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(i) No Legal Impediment to Issuance. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.
(j) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company in writing or any standard form of telecommunication, from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
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(k) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(l) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading Use of Proceeds.
All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter expressly for use therein.
(b) Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the following: the statements set forth in (i) the third paragraph, (ii) the third sentence in the eighth paragraph and (iii) the ninth paragraph, in each case, of the Underwriting section in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement.
(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the Indemnified Person) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the Indemnifying Person) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been
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materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 7. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 7 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors and officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability or claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the
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statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
8. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on The Nasdaq Stock Market or The New York Stock Exchange or the over-the-counter market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery, of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
9. Defaulting Underwriter.
(a) If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a
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further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term Underwriter includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 9, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriters pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 10 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
10. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Securities and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing each of the Transaction Documents; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Companys counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties); (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with the approval of the Securities for book-entry transfer by DTC; (ix) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; and (x) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any road show presentation to potential investors.
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(b) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel incurred in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.
(c) If (i) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters or (ii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under Section 6 of this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.
11. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates, officers and directors of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.
12. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters.
13. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and (b) the term business day means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City.
14. Miscellaneous.
(a) Authority of the Representatives. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by the Representatives shall be binding upon the Underwriters.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives as follows:
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10179
Telephone: (212) 834-4533
Facsimile: (212) 834-6081
BofA Securities, Inc.
1540 Broadway
NY8-540-26-02
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New York, NY 10036
Facsimile: (646) 855-5958
Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal
dg.hg_ua_notices@bofa.com
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
(866) 271-7403
Attention: Debt Capital Markets
with a copy to Office of the General Counsel at
legalnotices@mizuhogroup.com
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Facsimile: (704) 410-0326
Attention: Transaction Management
in each case, with a copy to:
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
32 Old Slip
New York, New York 10005
Facsimile: (212) 269-5420
Attention: Corey Wright, Esq.
Notices to the Company shall be given to Nasdaq, Inc., 805 King Farm Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20850; Attention: Office of General Counsel; with a copy to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, One Manhattan West, New York, New York 10001, Attention: Gregory Fernicola and Yossi Vebman.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(e) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(f) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
(g) Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(i) 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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(ii) 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.
(iii) For purposes of this Section 14(g):
BHC Act Affiliate has the meaning assigned to the term affiliate in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
Covered Entity means any of the following:
(i) a covered entity as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a covered bank as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii) a covered FSI as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
Default Right has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
U.S. Special Resolution Regime means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank.]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.
Very truly yours, | ||||
NASDAQ, INC. | ||||
By: |
/s/ Ann M. Dennison | |||
Name: Ann M. Dennison | ||||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
[Signature Page to Nasdaq Underwriting Agreement]
Accepted: | ||
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC, as Representative | ||
By: |
/s/ Stephen L. Sheiner | |
Name: Stephen L. Sheiner | ||
Title: Executive Director | ||
BOFA SECURITIES, INC., as Representative | ||
By: |
/s/ Sandeep Chawla | |
Name: Sandeep Chawla | ||
Title: Managing Director | ||
MIZUHO SECURITIES USA LLC, as Representative | ||
By: |
/s/ Robert Fahrbach | |
Name: Robert Fahrbach | ||
Title: Managing Director | ||
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, as Representative | ||
By: |
/s/ Carolyn Hurley | |
Name: Carolyn Hurley | ||
Title: Managing Director |
[Signature Page to Nasdaq Underwriting Agreement]
Schedule 1
Underwriter |
Principal Amount of 2052 Notes |
|||
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
$ | 75,421,000.00 | ||
BofA Securities, Inc. |
$ | 75,418,000.00 | ||
Mizuho Securities USA LLC |
$ | 75,418,000.00 | ||
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
$ | 75,418,000.00 | ||
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
$ | 41,525,000.00 | ||
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
$ | 41,525,000.00 | ||
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) |
$ | 41,525,000.00 | ||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
$ | 29,150,000.00 | ||
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. |
$ | 29,150,000.00 | ||
ICBC Standard Bank Plc |
$ | 12,650,000.00 | ||
Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC |
$ | 12,650,000.00 | ||
TD Securities (USA) LLC |
$ | 12,650,000.00 | ||
Academy Securities, Inc. |
$ | 9,167,000.00 | ||
Loop Capital Markets LLC |
$ | 9,167,000.00 | ||
R. Seelaus & Co., LLC |
$ | 9,166,000.00 | ||
Total: |
$ | 550,000,000.00 |
ANNEX A
Additional Time of Sale Information
1. | Term sheet containing the terms of the Securities, substantially in the form of Annex B. |
ANNEX B
[attached]
ANNEX C
SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES OF NASDAQ, INC.*
U.S. Entities
1. | BoardVantage, Inc (organized in Delaware) |
2. | Boston Stock Exchange Clearing Corporation (organized in Massachusetts) |
3. | Cinnober Americas Inc. (organized in New York) |
4. | Consolidated Securities Source LLC (organized in Delaware) |
5. | Content Services, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
6. | Copeland Markets LLC (organized in Delaware) (44.5% owned, directly or indirectly, by Nasdaq, Inc.) |
7. | Curzon Street Acquisition, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
8. | Directors Desk, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
9. | Dorsey, Wright & Associates, LLC (organized in Virginia) |
10. | ETC Acquisition Corp. (organized in Delaware) |
11. | eVestment Alliance Holdings, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
12. | eVestment Alliance Holdings, LLC (organized in Georgia) |
13. | eVestment Alliance, LLC (organized in Georgia) |
14. | eVestment, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
15. | ExactEquity, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
16. | FinQloud LLC (organized in Delaware) |
17. | FINRA/Nasdaq Trade Reporting Facility LLC (organized in Delaware) |
18. | FRAMLxchange Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
19. | FTEN, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
20. | Global Network Content Services, LLC (organized in Florida) |
21. | GlobeNewswire, Inc. (organized in California) |
22. | Granite Redux, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
23. | GraniteBlock, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
24. | Inet Futures Exchange, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
25. | International Securities Exchange Holdings, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
26. | ISE ETF Ventures LLC (organized in Delaware) |
27. | Longitude LLC (organized in Delaware) |
28. | Nasdaq BX, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
29. | Nasdaq Capital Markets Advisory LLC (organized in Delaware) |
30. | Nasdaq Commodities Clearing LLC (organized in Delaware) |
31. | Nasdaq Corporate Services, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
32. | Nasdaq Corporate Solutions, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
33. | NASDAQ Energy Futures, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
34. | Nasdaq Execution Services, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
35. | Nasdaq Fund Secondaries, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
36. | NASDAQ Futures, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
37. | Nasdaq GEMX, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
38. | NASDAQ Global, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
39. | Nasdaq Governance Solutions, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
40. | Nasdaq Information, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
41. | Nasdaq International Market Initiatives, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
42. | Nasdaq ISE, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
43. | Nasdaq MRX, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
44. | NASDAQ OMX (San Francisco) Insurance LLC (organized in Delaware) |
45. | Nasdaq PHLX LLC (organized in Delaware) |
46. | Nasdaq SB Holdings, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
47. | Nasdaq SPS, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
48. | Nasdaq Technology Services, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
49. | NFSTX, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
50. | Norway Acquisition LLC (organized in Delaware) |
51. | OneReport, Inc, (organized in Vermont) |
52. | Operations & Compliance Network, LLC (organized in Delaware) |
53. | Public Plan IQ Limited Liability Company (organized in New Jersey) |
54. | QDiligence LLC (organized in Illinois) |
55. | Solovis, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
56. | Stock Clearing Corporation of Philadelphia (organized in Pennsylvania) |
57. | Strategic Financial Solutions, LLC (organized in Nevada) |
58. | Sybenetix Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
59. | The Center for Board Evaluation, Inc. (organized in North Carolina) |
60. | The Nasdaq Options Market LLC (organized in Delaware) |
61. | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (organized in Delaware) |
62. | U.S. Exchange Holdings, Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
63. | Verafin AcquisitionCo LLC (organized in Delaware) |
64. | Verafin USA Inc. (organized in Delaware) |
Non-U.S. Subsidiaries
1. | 2157971 Ontario Ltd. (organized in Canada) |
2. | AB Nasdaq Vilnius (organized in Lithuania) (96.35% owned, directly or indirectly, by Nasdaq, Inc.) |
3. | AS eCSD Expert (organized in Estonia) |
4. | AS Pensionikeskus AS (organized in Estonia) |
5. | Cinnober Financial Technology AB (organized in Sweden) |
6. | Curzon Street Holdings Limited (organized in the United Kingdom) |
7. | Ensoleillement Inc. (organized in Canada) |
8. | eVestment Alliance (UK) Limited (organized in the United Kingdom) |
9. | eVestment Alliance Australia Pty Ltd (organized in Australia) |
10. | eVestment Alliance Hong Kong Limited (organized in Hong Kong) |
11. | Indxis Ltd (organized in the United Kingdom) |
12. | Marketwire China Holding (HK) Ltd. (organized in Hong Kong) |
13. | Nasdaq (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd. (organized in Singapore) |
14. | Nasdaq AB (organized in Sweden) |
15. | Nasdaq Australia Holding Pty Ltd (organized in Australia) |
16. | NASDAQ Canada Inc. (organized in Canada) |
17. | Nasdaq Clearing AB (organized in Sweden) |
18. | Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S (organized in Denmark) |
19. | Nasdaq Corporate Solutions (India) Private Limited (organized in India) |
20. | Nasdaq Corporate Solutions International Limited (organized in the United Kingdom) |
21. | Nasdaq CSD SE (organized in Latvia) |
22. | Nasdaq CXC Limited (organized in Canada) |
23. | Nasdaq Exchange and Clearing Services AB (organized in Sweden) |
24. | Nasdaq France SAS (organized in France) |
25. | Nasdaq Germany GmbH (organized in Germany) |
26. | Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd (organized in Finland) |
27. | Nasdaq Holding AB (organized in Sweden) |
28. | Nasdaq Holding Denmark A/S (organized in Denmark) |
29. | Nasdaq Holding Luxembourg Sárl (organized in Luxembourg) |
30. | Nasdaq Iceland hf. (organized in Iceland) |
31. | Nasdaq International Ltd (organized in the United Kingdom) |
32. | NASDAQ Korea Ltd (organized in South Korea) |
33. | Nasdaq Ltd (organized in Hong Kong) |
34. | Nasdaq Nordic Ltd (organized in Finland) |
35. | NASDAQ OMX Europe Ltd (organized in the United Kingdom) |
36. | Nasdaq Oslo ASA (organized in Norway) |
37. | Nasdaq Pty Ltd (organized in Australia) |
38. | Nasdaq Riga, AS (organized in Latvia) (92.98% owned, directly or indirectly, by Nasdaq, Inc.) |
39. | Nasdaq Spot AB (organized in Sweden) |
40. | Nasdaq Stockholm AB (organized in Sweden) |
41. | Nasdaq Tallinn AS (organized in Estonia) |
42. | Nasdaq Technology (Japan) Ltd (organized in Japan) |
43. | Nasdaq Technology AB (organized in Sweden) |
44. | Nasdaq Technology Energy Systems AS (organized in Norway) |
45. | Nasdaq Technology Italy Srl (organized in Italy) |
46. | Nasdaq Teknoloji Servisi Limited Sirketi (organized in Turkey) |
47. | Nasdaq Treasury AB (organized in Sweden) |
48. | Nasdaq Vilnius Services UAB (organized in Lithuania) |
49. | Nasdaq Wizer Solutions AB (organized in Sweden) |
50. | Nasdaq Wizer Vilnius UAB (organized in Lithuania) |
51. | OMX Netherlands B.V. (organized in the Netherlands) |
52. | OMX Netherlands Holding B.V. (organized in the Netherlands) |
53. | OMX Treasury Euro AB (organized in Sweden) (99.9% owned, directly or indirectly, by Nasdaq, Inc.) |
54. | OMX Treasury Euro Holding AB (organized in Sweden) |
55. | Puro.earth (organized in Finland) (70% owned, directly or indirectly, by Nasdaq, Inc.) |
56. | Quandl, Inc. (organized in Canada, Federal) |
57. | RF Nordic Express AB (organized in Sweden) (50.1% owned, directly or indirectly, by Nasdaq, Inc.) |
58. | Shareholder.com B.V. (organized in the Netherlands) |
59. | Simplitium Ltd (organized in the United Kingdom) |
60. | SMARTS Broker Compliance Pty Ltd (organized in Australia) |
61. | SMARTS Market Surveillance Pty Ltd (organized in Australia) |
62. | Sybenetix Limited (organized in the United Kingdom) |
63. | Sybenetix Ukraine (organized in the Ukraine) |
64. | TopQ Software Limited (organized in the United Kingdom) |
65. | Verafin Solutions ULC (organized in Canada) |
66. | Whittaker & Garnier Limited (organized in the United Kingdom) |
* | The list of subsidiaries does not include not-for-profit entities or foreign branches of particular subsidiaries |
Exhibit 4.2
Execution Version
NASDAQ, INC.
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture
Dated as of March 7, 2022
3.950% Senior Notes due 2052
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.,
as Trustee
THIRTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of March 7, 2022 (herein called the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture), between Nasdaq, Inc. (formerly The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.), a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the Company), and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee under the Original Indenture referred to below (hereinafter called the Trustee), as paying agent (in such capacity, the Paying Agent) and as registrar and transfer agent (until such time as a successor may be appointed by the Company) (in such capacity, the Transfer Agent and, together with the Paying Agent, the Agents and each, an Agent).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture dated as of June 7, 2013 (herein called the Original Indenture and, together with the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture), to provide for the issuance from time to time in one or more series of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the Securities), the form and terms of which are to be established as set forth in Sections 2.01 and 3.01 of the Original Indenture;
WHEREAS, Section 14.01(p) of the Original Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Original Indenture to, among other things, establish the form and terms of the Securities of any series as permitted in Section 3.01 of the Original Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to create one series of the Securities to be designated as its 3.950% Senior Notes due 2052 in an initial aggregate principal amount of $550,000,000 (the Senior Notes) and all action on the part of the Company necessary to authorize the issuance of the Senior Notes under the Original Indenture and this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture has been duly taken;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue the Senior Notes in accordance with Section 2.4 of this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and treat the Senior Notes as a single series of Securities for all purposes, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Original Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Senior Notes, when executed by the Company and completed, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee as provided in the Original Indenture and this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, the valid and binding obligations of the Company and to constitute a valid and binding supplemental indenture and agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS THIRTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That in consideration of the premises and of the acceptance and purchase of the Senior Notes by the Holders thereof and of the acceptance of this trust by the Trustee, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee, for the equal benefit of Holders of the Senior Notes, as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS
Except to the extent such terms are otherwise defined in this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture or the context clearly requires otherwise, all terms used in this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture which are defined in the Original Indenture or the form of Senior Note, with respect to the Senior Notes, attached hereto as Exhibit A, have the meanings assigned to them therein.
In addition, as used in this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, the following terms have the following meanings:
Additional Amounts has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1(a) hereof.
Applicable Procedures has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.8(a) hereof.
Attributable Debt with regard to a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal Property means, at the time of determination, the present value of the total net amount of rent required to be paid under such lease during the remaining term thereof (including any period for which such lease has been extended), discounted at the rate of interest set forth or implicit in the terms of such lease (or, if not practicable to determine such rate, the weighted average interest rate per annum borne by the securities of all series then Outstanding under the Indenture) compounded semi-annually. In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such net amount shall be the lesser of (x) the net amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the net amount shall also include the amount of the penalty, but shall not include any rent that would be required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or (y) the net amount determined assuming no such termination.
Bankruptcy Laws means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors (or any law involving equivalent concepts applicable outside the United States).
Below Investment Grade Rating Event means the ratings of the Senior Notes are decreased from an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies to below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies on any date during the period commencing upon the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Companys intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following public notice of the occurrence of the related Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Senior Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Holders of the Senior Notes in writing at their request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprising or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).
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Business Day means any day except a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the applicable place of payment are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person or group of related Persons for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (a Group) other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; (b) the approval by the holders of the Companys common stock of any plan or proposal for the Companys liquidation or dissolution; (c) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any Person or Group becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of the Companys Voting Stock; or (d) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if (1) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of a holding company and (2)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Companys Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no Person or Group (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company.
Change of Control Triggering Event means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event occurring in respect of that Change of Control.
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means, at any date, the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves) of the Company and its Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom (a) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangibles and (b) all current liabilities (excluding any current liability for money borrowed having a maturity of less than 12 months but by its terms is renewable or extendible beyond 12 months from such date at the option of the borrower), all as reflected in the Companys most recent consolidated balance sheet as at the end of its fiscal quarter ending not more than 135 days prior to such date, prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.
Continuing Directors means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors who (a) was a member of the Board of Directors on the Issue Date or (b) was nominated or approved for election, elected or appointed to the Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of the Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, approval, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement issued by the Company in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director).
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Definitive Securities means certificated Securities registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.3(b) hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, except that each such Security shall not bear the Global Security Legend.
Depositary means, notwithstanding Section 3.03(h) of the Original Indenture, with respect to Securities issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one more Global Securities, DTC, together with any Person succeeding thereto by merger, consolidation or acquisition of all or substantially all of its assets, including substantially all of its securities payment and transfer operations.
DTC means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation, having a principal office at 55 Water Street, New York, New York 10041-0099.
Foreign Successor Issuer means any entity that is organized in a jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and becomes a successor of the Company as a result of a merger of the Company with and into such entity after the date hereof.
Global Security Legend means the legend set forth in Section 3.03(g) of the Original Indenture.
Indebtedness means any indebtedness (whether being principal, premium, interest or other amounts) for or in respect of any notes, bonds, debentures or other instruments for money borrowed or any borrowed money or any liability under or in respect of any bankers acceptance (other than a daylight overdraft).
Indirect Participant means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Security through a Participant.
Interest Payment Date means March 7 and September 7 of each year.
Investment Grade Rating means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moodys and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P or the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.
Issue Date means March 7, 2022, the date on which the Senior Notes are originally issued under this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture.
Lien means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, hypothecation, pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind.
Make-Whole Redemption Price has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.1 hereof.
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Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moodys Corporation, and its successors.
Par Call Date has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.1(a) hereof.
Participant means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.
Permitted Liens means:
(a) Liens imposed by law or any governmental authority for taxes, assessments, levies or charges that are not yet overdue by more than 60 days or are being contested in good faith (and, if necessary, by appropriate proceedings) or for commitments that have not been violated;
(b) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, repairmens, landlords and similar Liens imposed by law, or which arise by operation of law and which are incurred in the ordinary course of business or where the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith (and, if necessary, by appropriate proceedings);
(c) Liens incurred or pledges or deposits made in compliance with workers compensation, pension liabilities, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations or other insurance-related obligations (including, without limitation, pledges or deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements);
(d) Liens incurred or pledges or deposits made to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, tenders, leases, statutory obligations, surety, customs and appeal bonds, performance bonds, customer deposits and other obligations of a similar nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e) judgment Liens in respect of judgments, decrees, orders of any court or in connection with legal proceedings or actions at law or in equity that do not constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture;
(f) Liens arising in connection with the operations of the Company or any Subsidiary relating to clearing, depository, matched principal, regulated exchange or settlement activities, including without limitation, Liens on securities sold by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements, sell-buy-back and buy-sell-back agreements, securities lending and borrowing agreements and any other similar agreement or transaction entered into in the ordinary course of clearing, depository, matched principal and settlement operations or in the management of liabilities;
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(g) Liens on (1) any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof, provided that such Lien may only extend to such property or asset or (2) property of a Significant Subsidiary where (A) such Significant Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary after March 2, 2022, (B)(i) the Lien exists at the time such Significant Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary or (ii) was incurred pursuant to contractual commitments entered into before such Subsidiary became a Subsidiary, (C) the Lien was not created in contemplation of such Significant Subsidiary becoming a Subsidiary and (D) the principal amount secured by the Lien at the time such Significant Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary is not subsequently increased or extended to any other assets other than those owned by the entity becoming a Subsidiary;
(h) any Lien existing on the Issue Date;
(i) Liens upon fixed, capital, real and/or tangible personal property acquired after March 2, 2022 (by purchase, construction, development, improvement, capital lease, Synthetic Lease or otherwise) by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, each of which Liens was created for the purpose of securing Indebtedness representing, or incurred to finance, refinance or refund, the cost (including the cost of construction, development or improvement) of such property; provided that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any property other than the property so acquired and improvements thereon;
(j) Liens in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(k) Liens arising from the sale of accounts receivable for which fair equivalent value is received;
(l) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements) in whole or in part, of any Liens referred to in the foregoing clauses (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k); provided that the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby and not otherwise authorized as a Permitted Lien shall not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness, plus any premium or fee payable in connection with any such extension, renewal or replacement, so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement;
(m) Liens securing obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in respect of any swap agreements or other hedging arrangements entered into (1) in the ordinary course of business and for non-speculative purposes or (2) solely in order to serve clearing, depository, regulated exchange or settlement activities in respect thereof;
(n) easements, zoning restrictions, minor title defects, irregularities or imperfections, restrictions on use, rights of way, leases, subleases and similar charges and other similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations (other than customary maintenance requirements) and which could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
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(o) Liens created in connection with any share repurchase program in favor of any broker, dealer, custodian, trustee or agent administering or effecting transactions pursuant to a share repurchase program; and
(p) Liens consisting of an agreement to sell, transfer or dispose of any asset or property (to the extent such sale, transfer or disposition is not prohibited by Section 6.04 of the Original Indenture).
Person means any individual, firm, limited liability company, corporation, partnership, association, joint venture, tribunal, trust, government or political subdivision or agency or instrumentality thereof, or any other entity or organization and includes a person as used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
Principal Property means the land, improvements, buildings and fixtures (including any leasehold interest therein) constituting a corporate office, facility or other capital asset which is owned or leased by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries the net book value of which on the date as of which the determination is being made exceeds 2% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, unless the Board of Directors has determined in good faith that such office, facility or capital asset is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole. With respect to any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction or series of related Sale and Lease-Back Transactions, the determination of whether any property is a Principal Property shall be determined by reference to all properties affected by such transaction or series of transactions.
Rating Agencies means (a) each of Moodys and S&P and (b) if any of Moodys or S&P ceases to rate the Senior Notes or fails to make a rating of the Senior Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Companys control, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, that the Company selects (as certified by an executive officer of the Company) as a replacement agency for Moodys or S&P, or both of them, as the case may be.
Record Date means March 1 and September 1, whether or not a Business Day, immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date.
Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1(a) hereof.
S&P means S&P Global Ratings (a division of S&P Global Inc.) or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
Sale and Lease-Back Transaction means any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries of any Principal Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, which Principal Property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Significant Subsidiary to such Person.
Senior Notes has the meaning given to such term in the preamble hereof.
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Significant Subsidiary with respect to any Person, means any Subsidiary of such Person that satisfies the criteria for a significant subsidiary set forth in Rule l-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.
Subject Lien has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.2(a) hereof.
Subsidiary means any corporation, limited liability company or other similar type of business entity in which the Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries together own more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the board of directors or similar governing body of such corporation, limited liability company or other similar type of business entity, directly or indirectly.
Substitute Rating Agency means, in the Companys discretion at any time and from time to time, Fitch, Inc. or any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified to the Trustee by a resolution of the Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Moodys or S&P, or either of them, as the case may be.
Synthetic Lease means any tax retention or other synthetic lease which is treated as an operating lease under United States generally accepted accounting principles, but the liabilities under which are or would be characterized as indebtedness for tax purposes.
Taxes has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.1(a) hereof.
Treasury Rate has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.1(a).
Voting Stock of any specified Person as of any date means the capital stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such Person.
ARTICLE TWO
TERMS AND ISSUANCE OF THE SENIOR NOTES
Section 2.1. Issue of Senior Notes. A series of Securities which shall be designated the 3.950% Senior Notes due 2052 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of, and shall in all respects be subject to the terms, conditions and covenants of, the Original Indenture and this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture (including the form of such Senior Notes set forth hereto as Exhibit A). The aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture shall not, except as permitted by the provisions of the Original Indenture, initially exceed $550,000,000; provided that the Company may from time to time or at any time, without the consent of the Holders of the Senior Notes, issue additional Senior Notes of the same or a different series in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided that if any such additional Senior Notes are not fungible with the Senior Notes (or any other tranche of additional Senior Notes) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then such additional Senior Notes will have different CUSIP numbers than the Senior Notes (or any such other tranche of additional Senior Notes).
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Section 2.2. Interest Rate Adjustment
(a) The interest rate payable on the Senior Notes will be subject to adjustment from time to time if either Moodys or S&P, or, in either case, any Substitute Rating Agency downgrades (or subsequently upgrades) the credit rating assigned to the Senior Notes, in the manner described below.
(b) If the rating from Moodys (or any Substitute Rating Agency) of the Senior Notes is decreased to a rating set forth in the immediately following table, the interest rate on the Senior Notes will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on the Senior Notes on the Issue Date plus the percentage set forth opposite the ratings from the table below:
Moodys Rating* |
Percentage | |||
Ba1 |
0.25 | % | ||
Ba2 |
0.50 | % | ||
Ba3 |
0.75 | % | ||
B1 or below |
1.00 | % |
* | Including the equivalent ratings of any Substitute Rating Agency. |
(c) If the rating from S&P (or any Substitute Rating Agency) of the Senior Notes is decreased to a rating set forth in the immediately following table, the interest rate on the Senior Notes will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on the Senior Notes on the Issue Date plus the percentage set forth opposite the ratings from the table below:
S&P Rating* |
Percentage | |||
BB+ |
0.25 | % | ||
BB |
0.50 | % | ||
BB- |
0.75 | % | ||
B+ or below |
1.00 | % |
* | Including the equivalent ratings of any Substitute Rating Agency. |
(d) If at any time the interest rate on the Senior Notes has been adjusted upward and either Moodys or S&P (or, in either case, a Substitute Rating Agency), as the case may be, subsequently increases its rating of the Senior Notes to any of the threshold ratings set forth above, the interest rate on the Senior Notes shall be decreased such that the interest rate for the Senior Notes shall equal the interest rate payable on the Senior Notes on the Issue Date plus the percentages set forth opposite the ratings from the tables in Sections 2.2(b) and (c) in effect immediately following the increase in rating. If Moodys (or any Substitute Rating Agency) subsequently increases its rating of the Senior Notes to Baa3 (or its equivalent, in the case of a
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Substitute Rating Agency) or higher, and S&P (or any Substitute Rating Agency) increases its rating to BBB- (or its equivalent, in the case of a Substitute Rating Agency) or higher, the interest rate on the Senior Notes will be decreased to the interest rate payable on the Senior Notes on the Issue Date. In addition, the interest rate on the Senior Notes will permanently cease to be subject to any adjustment described above (notwithstanding any subsequent decrease in the ratings by either or both Rating Agencies) if the Senior Notes become rated Baa1 and BBB+ (or the equivalent of either such rating, in the case of a Substitute Rating Agency) or higher by each of Moodys and S&P (or, in either case, a Substitute Rating Agency thereof), respectively (or by one Rating Agency in the event the Senior Notes are only rated by one Rating Agency and the Company has not obtained ratings from a Substitute Rating Agency).
(e) Each adjustment required by any decrease or increase in a rating set forth above, whether occasioned by the action of Moodys or S&P (or, in either case, a Substitute Rating Agency), shall be made independent of any and all other adjustments, provided, however, that in no event shall (1) the interest rate for the Senior Notes be reduced to below the interest rate payable on the Senior Notes on the Issue Date or (2) the total increase in the interest rate on the Senior Notes exceed 2.00% above the interest rate payable on the Senior Notes on the Issue Date.
(f) No adjustments in the interest rate of the Senior Notes shall be made solely as a result of a Rating Agency ceasing to provide a rating of the Senior Notes. If at any time Moodys or S&P ceases to provide a rating of the Senior Notes for any reason, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a rating of the Senior Notes from a Substitute Rating Agency, to the extent one exists, and if a Substitute Rating Agency exists, for purposes of determining any increase or decrease in the interest rate on the Senior Notes pursuant to the tables above, (a) such Substitute Rating Agency will be substituted for the last Rating Agency to provide a rating of the Senior Notes but which has since ceased to provide such rating, (b) the relative rating scale used by such Substitute Rating Agency to assign ratings to senior unsecured debt will be determined in good faith by an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company and, for purposes of determining the applicable ratings included in the applicable table above with respect to such Substitute Rating Agency, such ratings will be deemed to be the equivalent ratings used by Moodys or S&P, as applicable, in such table and (c) the interest rate on the Senior Notes will increase or decrease, as the case may be, such that the interest rate equals the interest rate payable on the Senior Notes on the Issue Date plus the appropriate percentage, if any, set forth opposite the rating from such Substitute Rating Agency in the applicable table above (taking into account the provisions of clause (b) above) (plus any applicable percentage resulting from a decreased rating by the other Rating Agency). For so long as only one of Moodys or S&P provides a rating of the Senior Notes and no Substitute Rating Agency is offered to replace the other Rating Agency, any subsequent increase or decrease in the interest rate of the Senior Notes necessitated by a reduction or increase in the rating by the agency providing the rating shall be twice the percentage set forth in the applicable table above. For so long as none of Moodys, S&P or a Substitute Rating Agency provides a rating of the Senior Notes, the interest rate on the Senior Notes will increase to, or remain at, as the case may be, 2.00% above the interest rate payable on the Senior Notes on the Issue Date.
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(g) Any interest rate increase or decrease described in this Section 2.2 will take effect on the next Business Day after the day on which the rating change has occurred.
(h) If the interest rate payable on the Senior Notes is increased as described above, the term interest, as used with respect to the Senior Notes, will be deemed to include any such additional interest unless the context otherwise requires.
(i) The Company shall promptly notify the Paying Agent on becoming aware of any decrease in the rating assigned to the Senior Notes by either Moodys or S&P (or any Substitute Rating Agency). The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to any act or omission of any Rating Agency or any rating with respect to the Senior Notes or the selection of a Substitute Rating agency. The Trustee shall have no obligation to independently determine or verify if an event has occurred or notify the holders of any event dependent upon the rating of the Senior Notes, or if the rating on the Senior Notes has been changed, suspended or withdrawn by any Rating Agency.
Section 2.3. Form of Senior Notes; Incorporation of Terms.
(a) Each of the Senior Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Securities and, together with the Authenticating Agents certificate of authentication thereon, shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. The Senior Notes may have such notations, legends or endorsements approved as to form by the Company and required, as applicable, by law, stock exchange or depository rules and agreements to which the Company is subject and/or usage. The terms of the Senior Notes set forth in Exhibit A are herein incorporated by reference and are part of the terms of this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture. The Senior Notes shall be issued in fully registered form without coupons only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(b) Each of the Senior Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, attached hereto (including the Global Security Legend thereon). Senior Notes issued in definitive certificated form in accordance with the terms of the Original Indenture and this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, if any, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but without the Global Security Legend thereon). Each Global Security shall represent such of the outstanding Senior Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Senior Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Senior Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Senior Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Transfer Agent in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.9 hereof.
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Section 2.4. Execution and Authentication. The Trustee, upon a Company Order and pursuant to the terms of the Original Indenture and this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, shall authenticate and deliver the Senior Notes for original issue in an initial aggregate principal amount of $550,000,000. Such Company Order shall specify the amount of the Senior Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Senior Notes is to be authenticated and the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes outstanding on the date of authentication. All of the Senior Notes issued under this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture shall be treated as a single series for all purposes under the Original Indenture and this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments and offers to purchase.
Section 2.5. Depositary for Global Securities. The Depositary for the Senior Notes issued under this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture shall be DTC in the City of New York.
Section 2.6. [Reserved].
Section 2.7. Place of Payment. The Place of Payment in respect of the Senior Notes shall initially be at the office or agency of the Paying Agent at 600 South 4th Street, 7th Floor, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415, until such time as the Company designates an alternate place of payment. The Paying Agent for the Senior Notes shall be the Trustee.
Section 2.8. Transfer and Exchange.
(a) The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Securities shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of the Original Indenture, this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and the then applicable procedures of the Depositary (the Applicable Procedures). In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Transfer Agent either (A)(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Security in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or, if Definitive Securities are at such time permitted to be issued pursuant to this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Original Indenture, (B)(1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Security in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Security shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Securities contained in the Original Indenture, this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Senior Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Securities pursuant to Section 2.9 hereof.
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(b) Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Securities and such Holders compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.8(b), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Securities. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Transfer Agent the Definitive Securities duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. The Authenticating Agent shall cancel any such Definitive Securities so surrendered, and the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of a Company Order pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Original Indenture, the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a new Definitive Security in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Security issued pursuant to this Section 2.8(b) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the Holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Paying Agent shall deliver such Definitive Securities to the Persons in whose names such Definitive Securities are so registered. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to Section 3.06 of the Original Indenture.
(c) The Company hereby appoints the Trustee as the Registrar for the Senior Notes issued under this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Trustee accepts such appointment.
Section 2.9. Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Securities. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Security have been exchanged for Definitive Securities or a particular Global Security has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Security shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Registrar in accordance with Section 3.09 of the Original Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security or for Definitive Securities, the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Registrar or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security, such other Global Security shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Registrar or by the Depositary at the direction of the Registrar to reflect such increase.
Section 2.10. Events of Default.
(a) The provisions of Section 7.01 of the Original Indenture as they relate to the Senior Notes, shall be replaced in their entirety with the following:
Section 7.01. Events of Default. Except where otherwise indicated by the context or where the term is otherwise defined for a specific purpose, the term Event of Default as used in this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series shall mean one of the following described events unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the manner contemplated in Section 3.01 hereof:
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(a) the Company does not pay interest on any of the Senior Notes within 30 days of their due date;
(b) the Company fails to pay the principal (or premium, if any) of any Senior Notes when such principal becomes due and payable, at Maturity, upon acceleration, upon redemption or otherwise;
(c) failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 6.04 hereof;
(d) the Company remains in breach of a covenant or warranty in respect of this Indenture or the Senior Notes (other than a covenant included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of debt securities of another series) for 90 days after the Company receives a written notice of default, which notice must be sent by either the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Senior Notes;
(e) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under the federal Bankruptcy Laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or of substantially all the property of the Company or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;
(f) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case under the federal Bankruptcy Laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by the Company to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by the Company to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or of substantially all the property of the Company or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any action;
(g) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary defaults on any of its indebtedness having an aggregate amount of at least $200,000,000, constituting a default either of payment of principal when due and payable or which results in acceleration of the indebtedness unless the default has been cured or waived or the indebtedness discharged in full within 60 days after the Company has been notified of the default by the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Notes; or
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(h) one or more final judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $200,000,000 above available insurance or indemnity coverage shall be rendered against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed.
(b) The provisions of Section 7.02(a) of the Original Indenture as they relate to the Senior Notes, shall be replaced in their entirety with the following:
(a) Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 hereof with respect to any series of Securities, if any one or more of the above-described Events of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f) hereof) shall happen with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case, during the continuance of any such Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding may declare the principal (or premium if any) (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and all accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities of such series then Outstanding to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f) hereof occurs and is continuing, then in every such case, the principal amount of all of the Securities of that series then Outstanding shall automatically, and without any declaration or any other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become due and payable immediately. Upon payment of such amounts in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to Section 7.01 hereof and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof), all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of such series shall terminate.
ARTICLE THREE
COVENANTS
Section 3.1. Payments of Additional Amounts by a Foreign Successor Issuer.
(a) All payments made under or with respect to the Senior Notes by any Foreign Successor Issuer will be made free and clear of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other governmental charge (including, without limitation, penalties, interest and other similar liabilities related thereto) of
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whatever nature (collectively, Taxes) imposed or levied by or on behalf of any jurisdiction in which such Foreign Successor Issuer is organized, resident or doing business for tax purposes or from or through which such Foreign Successor Issuer makes any payment on the Senior Notes, or, in each case, any department or political subdivision thereof (each, a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction), unless such Foreign Successor Issuer or any other applicable withholding agent is required to withhold or deduct Taxes by law. For the avoidance of doubt a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction shall not include the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia. If a Foreign Successor Issuer or any other applicable withholding agent is required by law to make any such withholding or deduction, the Foreign Successor Issuer, subject to the exceptions listed below, will pay such additional amounts (Additional Amounts) as may be necessary to ensure that the net amount received by each beneficial owner of the Senior Notes after such withholding or deduction (including withholding or deduction attributable to Additional Amounts payable hereunder) will not be less than the amount the beneficial owner would have received if such Taxes had not been withheld or deducted (provided that if the applicable withholding agent is a Person other than a Foreign Successor Issuer, the Additional Amounts payable by the Foreign Successor Issuer under this Section 3.1 shall not exceed the Additional Amounts that would have been payable by the Foreign Successor Issuer under this Section 3.1 had the Foreign Successor Issuer been the applicable withholding agent (i.e., had the Foreign Successor Issuer made payments directly to the applicable beneficial owner of the Senior Notes)).
(b) A Foreign Successor Issuer will not, however, pay Additional Amounts to a Holder or beneficial owner of Senior Notes:
(i) to the extent the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed, withheld or deducted but for the Holders or beneficial owners present or former connection with the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (other than any connection resulting from the acquisition, ownership, holding or disposition of Senior Notes, the receipt of payments thereunder and/or the exercise or enforcement of rights under any Senior Notes);
(ii) to the extent the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed, withheld or deducted but for the failure of the Holder or beneficial owner of Senior Notes, following the Foreign Successor Issuers written request addressed to the Holder or beneficial owner, to the extent such Holder or beneficial owner is legally eligible to do so, to comply with any certification, identification, information or other reporting requirements, whether required by statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of deduction or withholding of, Taxes imposed by the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction (including, without limitation, a certification that the Holder or beneficial owner is not resident in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction);
(iii) with respect to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property, wealth or any similar Taxes;
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(iv) if such Holder is a fiduciary or partnership or Person other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment and the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed on such payment had the Holder been the beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner, as the case may be, of such Senior Note (but only if there is no material cost or expense associated with transferring such Senior Note to such beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner and no restriction on such transfer that is outside the control of such beneficiary, partner or sole beneficial owner);
(v) to the extent the Taxes giving rise to such Additional Amounts would not have been imposed, withheld or deducted but for the presentation by the Holder or beneficial owner of any Senior Note, where presentation is required, for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;
(vi) with respect to any withholding or deduction required pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to current Section 1471(b) of the Code (or any amended or successor version as described above) or any related fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or official administrative practice adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with implementing any of the foregoing; or
(vii) any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi).
(c) A Foreign Successor Issuer will (i) make any such withholding or deduction required by applicable law and (ii) remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law. The Foreign Successor Issuer will make reasonable efforts to obtain certified copies of tax receipts evidencing the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld from each Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes. The Foreign Successor Issuer will provide to the Trustee, within a reasonable time after the date the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld are due pursuant to applicable law, either a certified copy of tax receipts evidencing such payment, or, if such tax receipts are not reasonably available to the Foreign Successor Issuer, such other documentation that provides reasonable evidence of such payment by the Foreign Successor Issuer.
(d) At least 30 calendar days prior to each date on which any payment under or with respect to the Senior Notes is due and payable, if the Foreign Successor Issuer will be obligated to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such payment (unless such obligation to pay Additional Amounts arises after the 35th day prior to the date on which payment under or with respect to the Senior Notes is due and payable, in which case it will be promptly thereafter), the Foreign Successor Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that such Additional Amounts will be payable and the amounts so payable and will set forth such other information necessary to enable the Trustee to pay such Additional Amounts to Holders on the payment date. The Foreign Successor Issuer will promptly publish a notice in accordance with the Section 16.04 of the Original Indenture stating that such Additional Amounts will be payable and describing the obligation to pay such amounts.
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(e) In addition, a Foreign Successor Issuer will pay any stamp, issue, registration, court, documentation, excise or other similar taxes, charges and duties, including interest and penalties with respect thereto, imposed by any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction at any time after the merger described above in respect of the execution, issuance, registration or delivery of the Senior Notes or any other document or instrument referred to thereunder and any such taxes, charges or duties imposed by any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction at any time after the merger described above as a result of, or in connection with, any payments made pursuant to the Senior Notes and/or the enforcement of the Senior Notes and/or any other such document or instrument.
(f) The obligations described under this heading will survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of the Indenture and will apply mutatis mutandis to any successor Person to any Foreign Successor Issuer (other than a Person organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia) and to any jurisdiction in which such successor Person is organized, resident or doing business for tax purposes or any jurisdiction from or through which payment is made by such successor or its respective agents or, in each case, any department or political subdivision thereof.
(g) Whenever this Indenture or the Senior Notes refer to, in any context, the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Senior Note, such reference includes the payment of Additional Amounts as described hereunder, to the extent that in such context Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to this Section 3.1.
Section 3.2. Limitations on Liens.
(a) The Company shall not (nor shall it permit any of its Significant Subsidiaries to) create or permit to exist any Lien on any Principal Property of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (or on any stock of a Significant Subsidiary), whether owned on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired, to secure any Indebtedness (any such Lien, a Subject Lien), unless the Company contemporaneously secures the Senior Notes (together with, if the Company so determines, any other Indebtedness of or guaranty by the Company or such Significant Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created that is not subordinated to the Senior Notes) equally and ratably with (or, at the option of the Company, prior to) that obligation.
(b) The foregoing restriction, however, shall not apply to (i) Permitted Liens and (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness if at the time of determination, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and to the retirement of Indebtedness which is being retired substantially concurrently therewith, the sum of (1) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by Subject Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and (2) the Attributable Debt in respect of all Sale and Lease-Back Transactions not otherwise permitted under the first sentence of Section 3.3 hereof does not exceed fifteen percent of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
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Section 3.3. Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Significant Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal Property, other than (x) any such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction involving a lease for a term of not more than three years or (y) any such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction between the Company and one of its Subsidiaries or between its Subsidiaries, unless:
(a) the Company or such Significant Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Principal Property involved in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction at least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, without equally and ratably securing the Senior Notes, pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof; or
(b) the proceeds of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction are at least equal to the fair market value of the affected Principal Property (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) and the Company applies an amount equal to the net proceeds of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction within 365 days of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction to any (or a combination) of:
(i) the prepayment or retirement of the Senior Notes;
(ii) the prepayment or retirement (other than any mandatory retirement, mandatory prepayment or sinking fund payment or by payment at Maturity) of other Indebtedness of the Company or of one of its Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Senior Notes or Indebtedness owed to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) that matures more than 12 months after its creation (including any such Indebtedness that by its terms is renewable or extendible beyond 12 months from the date of its creation, at the option of the Company); or
(iii) the purchase, construction, development, expansion or improvement of other comparable property.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries shall be allowed to enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction if, after giving effect to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries secured by Subject Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and (ii) the Attributable Debt in respect of all Sale and Lease-Back Transactions not otherwise permitted under the first sentence of this Section 3.3, does not exceed fifteen percent of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
Section 3.4. Limitations on Mergers and Other Transactions. With respect to the Senior Notes, the provisions of Section 6.04 of the Original Indenture shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:
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Section 6.04. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
(a) The Company shall not consolidate or merge with another entity or sell, transfer or otherwise convey all or substantially all of its assets to another entity, unless in each case:
(1) the resulting entity (if other than the Company) (x) is a Person organized under the laws of any U.S. jurisdiction, the United Kingdom or any other country that is a member of the European Union on the Issue Date and (y) delivers a supplemental indenture by which such surviving entity expressly assumes the Companys obligations under the Indenture; and
(2) immediately following the consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, no Event of Default (as defined below) (and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default) shall have occurred and be continuing.
(b) Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety to another Person in accordance with Section 6.04(a) hereof, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such merger, sale or conveyance, is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
Section 3.5. Repurchase upon Change of Control Triggering Event.
(a) If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs with respect to the Senior Notes, unless the Company has exercised its right pursuant to Section 4.1, Section 4.2 or Section 4.4 hereof to redeem the Senior Notes, the Company will make an offer to each Holder of the Senior Notes to repurchase all or, at such Holders option, any part (equal to $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holders Senior Notes (the Change of Control Offer) for payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Senior Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of purchase (the Change of Control Payment).
(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event with respect to the Senior Notes or, at the Companys option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute a Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to Holders of the Senior Notes, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase such Senior Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the Change of Control Payment Date), pursuant to the procedures required
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by such Senior Notes and described in such notice. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. Upon ten (10) Business Days advance written notice to the Trustee, the Company may request the Trustee to send the notice to Holders described in this Section 3.5(b) in the name of and at the expense of the Company.
(c) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of such Senior Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Senior Notes or the Indenture, the Company will comply with those securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Senior Notes or the Indenture by virtue of such conflict.
(d) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:
(i) accept for payment all Senior Notes or portions of Senior Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Senior Notes or portions of Senior Notes properly tendered; and
(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee or the Paying Agent properly accepted together with an Officers Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes or portions of Senior Notes being purchased by the Company.
(e) The Paying Agent shall promptly mail, to each Holder who properly tendered Senior Notes, the purchase price for such Senior Notes, and the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each such Holder a new Security equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Senior Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Security will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(f) The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such a Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Senior Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its Change of Control Offer. In the event that such third party terminates or defaults on its Change of Control Offer, the Company shall make a Change of Control Offer treating the date of such termination or default as though it were the date of the Change of Control Triggering Event.
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(g) The Company will not purchase any Senior Notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an Event of Default under the Indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment.
ARTICLE FOUR
Section 4.1. Optional Redemption by Company.
(a) Prior to September 7, 2051 (six months before their maturity date (the Par Call Date)), the Company may redeem the Senior Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time at a redemption price (the Make Whole Redemption Price) (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
(i) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Senior Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and
(ii) 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed; and
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.
If the Redemption Date is after a Record Date and on or prior to a corresponding Interest Payment Date, interest will be paid on the Redemption Date to the holder of record on the Record Date. On and after a Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Senior Notes called for redemption (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Make-Whole Redemption Price and accrued interest). On or before a Redemption Date, the Company will deposit with the Paying Agent (or the Trustee) money sufficient to pay the Make-Whole Redemption Price of and accrued interest on the Senior Notes to be redeemed on that date.
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs:
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as Selected Interest Rates (Daily)H.15 (or any successor designation or publication) (H.15) under the caption U.S. government securitiesTreasury constant maturitiesNominal (or any successor caption or heading). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the Remaining Life); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the remaining Life, the two yields one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on
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H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity onH.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury
securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
The Companys actions and determinations in determining the Make Whole Redemption Price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Senior Notes, in whole, at any time, or in part, from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
(c) Notice of any redemption pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall be given as provided in Section 4.03 of the Original Indenture, with a copy to the Paying Agent; provided, that, with respect to the Senior Notes, the number 30 referenced in Section 4.03(a) of the Original Indenture shall be replaced with the number 10. Any notice of redemption will be given prior to the applicable Redemption Date and any such notice of redemption may, at the Companys discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to,
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completion of securities offerings or other corporate transactions. If the Company requests the Trustee to provide such notice of redemption pursuant to Section 4.03 of the Original Indenture, the Trustee shall receive written notice from the Company at least 10 days prior to when such notice of redemption is to be delivered (unless a shorter period is agreed by the Trustee). The Trustee shall not be responsible for the calculation of such Make-Whole Redemption Price. The Company shall calculate such Make-Whole Redemption Price and promptly notify the Trustee in writing thereof.
(d) In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Senior Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Senior Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Senior Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Senior Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Senior Note to be redeemed. A new Senior Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Senior Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Senior Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Senior Note. For so long as the Senior Notes are held by DTC (or another depositary), the redemption of the Senior Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.
Section 4.2. Tax Redemption.
If, as a result of:
(i) any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder) of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction which is announced and becomes effective after the date on which a Foreign Successor Issuer becomes a Foreign Successor Issuer (or, where a jurisdiction in question does not become a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction until a later date, such later date); or
(ii) any amendment to, or change in, the official application or official interpretation of the laws, regulations or rulings of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction which is announced and becomes effective after the date on which a Foreign Successor Issuer becomes a Foreign Successor Issuer (or, where a jurisdiction in question does not become a Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction until a later date, such later date),
such Foreign Successor Issuer would be obligated to pay, on the next date for any payment, Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof with respect to the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, which such Foreign Successor Issuer reasonably determines it cannot avoid by the use of reasonable measures available to it, then such Foreign Successor Issuer may redeem all, but not less than all, of the Senior Notes, at any time thereafter, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price of 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date. Prior to the giving of any notice of redemption described in this paragraph, a Foreign Successor Issuer will deliver to the Trustee:
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(i) a certificate signed by an officer of such Foreign Successor Issuer stating that the obligation to pay the Additional Amounts cannot be avoided by such Foreign Successor Issuers taking reasonable measures available to it; and
(ii) a written opinion of independent legal counsel to such Foreign Successor Issuer of recognized standing to the effect that such Foreign Successor Issuer has or will become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of a change, amendment, official interpretation or application described above.
Section 4.3. Notice of Redemption. A Foreign Successor Issuer will deliver a notice of any optional redemption of the Senior Notes described above to each registered holder of the Senior Notes in accordance with Section 4.03 of the Original Indenture. No such notice of redemption may be given more than 60 days before or 365 days after the Foreign Successor Issuer first becomes liable to pay any Additional Amounts. If the Foreign Successor Issuer requests the Trustee to provide the notice in accordance with Section 4.03 of the Original Indenture, the Trustee shall receive written notice from the Company at least 10 days prior to when such notice of redemption is to be delivered (unless a shorter period is agreed by the Trustee).
ARTICLE FIVE
RANKING
Section 5.1. Senior in Right of Payment. The Senior Notes shall be direct senior obligations of the Company and shall rank (a) senior in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness that is, by its terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Notes and (b) pari passu in right of payment with all other senior indebtedness of the Company.
ARTICLE SIX
AMENDMENTS
Section 6.1. Amendments. The Original Indenture is hereby amended, with respect to the Senior Notes, by the following:
(a) The Original Indenture is hereby amended, with respect to the Senior Notes, by replacing the text of Sections 14.02(a)(i)-(iv) thereof with the following text:
(i) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Senior Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any amendment of this Indenture or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with provisions of this Indenture or Defaults under this Indenture;
(ii) reduce the rate of interest on any Senior Note or change the time for payment of interest;
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(iii) reduce the principal, or premium, if any, due on, the Senior Notes or change the Stated Maturity thereof;
(iv) change the Place of Payment where, or the Currency in which, any Senior Note or any premium or interest thereon is payable;
(v) change the provisions relating to waiver of defaults under this Indenture (including, without limitation, Sections 6.06 and 7.06 hereof);
(vi) modify the provisions of this Indenture relating to the ranking of the Senior Notes in a manner adverse to Holders;
(vii) impair the right of Holders to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date); or
(viii) modify any of the provisions of this Section 14.02(a), or, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby.
(b) The Original Indenture is hereby amended, with respect to the Senior Notes, by adding the following text as new Section 11.01(o):
(o) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
ARTICLE SEVEN
DEFEASANCE/SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 7.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture/Defeasance. The Senior Notes will be subject to Article 12 of the Original Indenture; provided, however, that in connection with any deposit of funds with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.02 of the Original Indenture upon any redemption that requires the payment of a premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit on the Redemption Date (any such amount, the Applicable Premium Deficit) only required to be deposited with the Trustee at or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date (it being understood that any satisfaction and discharge shall be subject to the condition subsequent that such deficit is in fact paid) and if deposited with the Trustee on the Redemption Date, in accordance with Section 4.04 of the Original Indenture. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officers Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption.
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Section 7.2. Covenant Defeasance. With respect to the Senior Notes, the Company shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 3.2 and 3.3 of this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture if the Company satisfies the conditions applicable to covenant defeasance applicable to subsection (b) of the first paragraph of Section 12.03 of the Original Indenture.
Section 7.3. Opinion Related To Defeasance. The Original Indenture is hereby amended, with respect to the Senior Notes, by replacing the text of Section 12.03(c) thereof with the following text:
The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that beneficial holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Companys exercise of its option under this Section and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such action had not been exercised and, in the case of the Securities of such series being Discharged, accompanied by a ruling to that effect received from or published by the Internal Revenue Service.
ARTICLE EIGHT
PAYING AGENT AND TRANSFER AGENT
Section 8.1. Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association hereby agrees to act as Paying Agent and Transfer Agent in respect of the Senior Notes.
Section 8.2. An Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties hereunder at any time, other than on a day during the forty-five (45) day period preceding and fifteen (15) day period following any payment date for the Senior Notes, (i) by giving thirty (30) calendar days prior written notice of such resignation to the Company or (ii) upon notice to the Company with immediate effect in order to comply with law or regulation. If the Company fails to appoint a successor Agent within thirty (30) days after such notice, the applicable Agent may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor agent or for other appropriate relief. The costs and expenses (including its attorneys fees and expenses) incurred by the applicable Agent in connection with such proceeding shall be paid by the Company. The Company may, at any time and for any reason upon at least thirty (30) calendar days prior written notice to the applicable Agent, remove any Agent and appoint a successor Agent by written instrument in duplicate signed on behalf of the Company, one copy of which shall be delivered to the applicable Agent being removed and one copy to the successor Agent.
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Section 8.3. Any entity into which any Agent in its individual capacity may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which an Agent in its individual capacity shall be a party, or any corporation to which substantially all of the corporate trust business of an Agent in its individual capacity may be transferred shall be the applicable Agent under this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture without further action.
ARTICLE NINE
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1. Execution as Supplemental Indenture. This Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture and, as provided in the Original Indenture, this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof.
Section 9.2. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof, or with a provision of the Original Indenture, which is required to be included in this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, or in the Original Indenture, respectively, by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control to the extent it is applicable.
Section 9.3. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 9.4. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements by the Company and the Trustee in this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 9.5. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture or in the Senior Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 9.6. Benefits of Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture. Nothing in this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture or in the Senior Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture.
Section 9.7. Execution and Counterparts. This Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. This Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party when executed
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and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) an original manual signature; (ii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or (iii) any other electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including any relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code/UCC (collectively, Signature Law), in each case to the extent applicable. Each faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any other party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the UCC or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings.
Section 9.8. Governing Law. This Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Senior Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Section 9.9. 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 and 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 Thirteenth Supplemental 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.
Section 9.10. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, (i) any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, (ii) any act of God, (iii) natural disaster, (iv) war, (v) terrorism, (vi) civil unrest, (vii) accidents, (viii) labor dispute, (ix) disease, (x) epidemic or pandemic, (xi) quarantine, (xii) national emergency, (xiii) loss or malfunction of utility or computer software or hardware, (xiv) communications system failure, (xv) malware or ransomware or (xvi) unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex system or other wire or other funds transfer systems, or (xvii) unavailability of any securities clearing system; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 9.11. Trustees Disclaimer. The Trustee accepts the amendments of the Original Indenture effected by this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, but on the terms and conditions set forth in the Original Indenture, including the terms and provisions defining and limiting the liabilities and responsibilities of the Trustee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to any of the recitals or statements contained herein, all of which recitals or statements are made
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solely by the Company, or for or with respect to (i) the validity or sufficiency of this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture or any of the terms or provisions hereof, (ii) proper authorization hereof by the Company by action or otherwise, (iii) the due execution hereof by the Company or (iv) the consequences of any amendment herein provided for, and the Trustee makes no representation with respect to any such matters.
Section 9.12. Company Representation. The Company hereby represents and warrants that this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture is its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
Section 9.13. Ratification of Original Indenture. The Original Indenture, as supplemented by this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed. For the avoidance of doubt, each of the Company and each Holder of Senior Notes, by its acceptance of such Securities, acknowledges and agrees that all of the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits, including the right to be indemnified, afforded to the Trustee under the Original Indenture are deemed to be incorporated herein, and shall be enforceable by the Trustee hereunder, in each of its capacities hereunder as if set forth herein in full.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
NASDAQ, INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Ann Dennison | |||
Name: | Ann Dennison | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent | ||||
By: | /s/ Jessica Wuomos | |||
Name: | Jessica Wuomos | |||
Title: | Vice President |
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EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF 3.950% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2052]
[Insert any legend required by the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.]
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (DTC) 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 DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.
A-1
NASDAQ, INC.
3.950% Senior Notes due 2052
No. ______ | $ |
CUSIP: 631103 AM0
NASDAQ, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the Company, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of $ on March 7, 2052, and to pay interest thereon from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid, from the Issue Date semi-annually on March 7 and September 7 in each year, commencing September 7, 2022 and at the Maturity thereof, at the rate of 3.950% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, provided that any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate 3.950% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest, which shall be March 1 or September 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency maintained for that purpose in New York, New York, in such currency of the United States of America, as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, against surrender of this Security in the case of any payment due at the Maturity of the principal hereof (other than any payment of interest that first becomes payable on a day other than an Interest Payment Date); provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Register; and provided, further, that if this Security is a Global Security, payment may be made pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary as permitted in the Indenture.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent on its behalf referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
A-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
NASDAQ, INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: | ||
Title: |
A-3
TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Date of authentication:
COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee | ||
By: |
| |
Authorized Signatory |
A-4
[FORM OF REVERSE OF 3.950% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2052]
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the Securities), of the series hereinafter specified, issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 7, 2013 (the Original Indenture), as supplemented by the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 7, 2022 (the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and as so supplemented, the Indenture), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Trustee (herein called the Trustee, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), paying agent, registrar and transfer agent, and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which this Security are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $ , provided that the Company may, without the consent of any Holder, at any time and from time to time increase the initial principal amount.
The Securities of this series are subject to redemption as provided in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 of the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security and certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the unpaid principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions (i) permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture with respect to such series and (ii) permitting the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of any series to be affected under the Indenture (with each such series considered separately for this purpose), on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
A-5
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the Registrar, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder who, as a result of trading or otherwise, holds a principal amount of the Securities that is less than the minimum denomination of the Securities is required to purchase an additional principal amount of the Securities such that its holdings of the Securities amounts to the minimum specified denomination. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of the Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
A-6
This Security is a Global Security and is subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to Global Securities, including the limitations in Section 3.06 of the Original Indenture and Section 2.8 of the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture on transfers and exchanges of Global Securities.
Interest on the principal balance of the Securities of this series shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
If any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the relevant payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest will accrue because of such delayed payment.
THE SECURITIES OF THIS SERIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
All capitalized terms used but not defined in this Security shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
A-7
Exhibit 5.1
SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
ONE MANHATTAN WEST
NEW YORK, NY 10001
FIRM/AFFILIATE | ||||
OFFICES | ||||
TEL: (212) 735-3000 | ||||
FAX: (212) 735-2000 |
BOSTON | |||
www.skadden.com |
CHICAGO | |||
HOUSTON | ||||
LOS ANGELES | ||||
PALO ALTO | ||||
Direct Dial | WASHINGTON, D.C. | |||
212.735.2918 | WILMINGTON | |||
Direct Fax | ||||
917.777.2918 |
BEIJING | |||
Email Address |
BRUSSELS | |||
Gregory.Fernicola@skadden.com |
FRANKFURT | |||
HONG KONG | ||||
LONDON | ||||
MOSCOW | ||||
MUNICH | ||||
PARIS | ||||
SÃO PAULO | ||||
SEOUL | ||||
SHANGHAI | ||||
SINGAPORE | ||||
March 7, 2022 | TOKYO | |||
TORONTO |
Nasdaq, Inc.
151 W. 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
Re: | Nasdaq, Inc. |
Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special United States counsel to Nasdaq, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in connection with the public offering of $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Companys 3.950% Senior Notes due 2052 (the Notes) to be issued under the Indenture, dated as of June 7, 2013, as supplemented by the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 7, 2022 (as so supplemented, the Indenture), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee (in such capacity, the Trustee) and as paying agent, registrar and transfer agent.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act).
In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:
(a) the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-255666) of the Company relating to debt securities and other securities of the Company filed on April 30, 2021 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the Rules and Regulations), including the information deemed to be a part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations (such registration statement being hereinafter referred to as the Registration Statement);
Nasdaq, Inc.
March 7, 2022
Page 2
(b) the prospectus, dated April 30, 2021 (the Base Prospectus), which forms a part of and is included in the Registration Statement;
(c) the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated February March 2, 2022 (together with the Base Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus), relating to the offering of the Notes, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;
(d) the prospectus supplement, dated March 2, 2022 (together with the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus), relating to the offering of the Notes, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;
(e) an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement, dated March 2, 2022 (the Underwriting Agreement), between the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several Underwriters named therein (the Underwriters), relating to the sale by the Company to the Underwriters of the Notes;
(f) an executed copy of the Indenture;
(g) the global certificates evidencing the Securities executed by the Company and registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the Note Certificates), delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and delivery;
(h) an executed copy of a certificate of Erika Moore, Secretary of the Company, dated the date hereof (the Secretarys Certificate);
(i) a copy of the Companys Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of February 22, 2022, and certified pursuant to the Secretarys Certificate;
(j) a copy of the Companys bylaws, as amended and in effect as of the date hereof and certified pursuant to the Secretarys Certificate;
(k) an executed copy of a certificate of Ann Dennison and Scott Kaplan, dated March 2, 2022 (the Pricing Certificate); and
(l) copies of certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, adopted on February 23, 2022, certified pursuant to the Secretarys Certificate.
We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.
Nasdaq, Inc.
March 7, 2022
Page 3
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including electronic signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photocopies copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others and of public officials, including those in the Pricing Certificate and Secretarys Certificate and the factual representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement.
We do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) the laws, of the State of New York and (ii) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL) (all of the foregoing being referred to as Opined on Law).
As used herein, Transaction Documents means the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Note Certificates.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Note Certificates have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company and duly executed by the Company under the DGCL, and when duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, the Note Certificates will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of New York.
The opinions stated herein are subject to the following qualifications:
(a) we do not express any opinion with respect to the effect on the opinions stated herein of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, preference and other similar laws or governmental orders affecting creditors rights generally, and the opinions stated herein are limited by such laws and orders and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law);
(b) we do not express any opinion with respect to any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to any party to any of the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any such party or any of its affiliates as a result of the specific assets or business operations of such party or such affiliates;
(c) except to the extent expressly stated in the opinions contained herein, we have assumed that each of the Transaction Documents constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each party to such Transaction Document, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms;
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(d) we do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of any provision contained in any Transaction Document relating to any indemnification, contribution, non-reliance, exculpation, release, limitation or exclusion of remedies, waiver or other provisions having similar effect that may be contrary to public policy or violative of federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations, or to the extent any such provision purports to, or has the effect of, waiving or altering any statute of limitations;
(e) we do not express any opinion whether the execution or delivery of any Transaction Document by the Company, or the performance by the Company of its obligations under any Transaction Document, will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any covenant, restriction or provision with respect to financial ratios or tests or any aspect of the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and
(f) to the extent that any opinion relates to the enforceability of the choice of New York law and choice of New York forum provisions contained in any Transaction Document, the opinions stated herein are subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be subject to, in each case, (i) the exceptions and limitations in New York General Obligations Law sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 and (ii) principles of comity and constitutionality.
In addition, in rendering the foregoing opinions we have assumed that, at all applicable times:
(a) neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents nor the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder, including the issuance and sale of the Notes: (i) conflicted or will conflict with the certificate of incorporation of the Company, (ii) constituted or will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any lease, indenture, agreement or other instrument to which the Company or its property is subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (ii) with respect to those agreements or instruments expressed to be governed by the laws of the State of New York which are listed in Part II of the Registration Statement or the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Commission on February 23, 2022), (iii) contravened or will contravene any order or decree of any governmental authority to which the Company or its property is subject or (iv) violated or will violate any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or its property is subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (iv) with respect to the Opined-on Law);
(b) neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents nor the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder, including the issuance and sale of the Notes, required or will require the consent, approval, licensing or authorization of, or any filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority under any law, rule or regulation of any jurisdiction; and
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(c) (i) the Base Indenture constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each party thereto, enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture and (ii) subsequent to the effectiveness of the Base Indenture and immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture has not been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified other than by the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture in any way that affects or relates to the Securities.
We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the heading Legal Matters in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. 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 Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. We also hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K being filed on the date hereof and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Exhibit 99.1
NASDAQ, INC. ANNOUNCES PROPOSED SENIOR NOTES OFFERING
NEW YORK, March 2, 2022 Nasdaq, Inc. (the Company) (Nasdaq: NDAQ) today announced that it plans to offer, subject to market and other conditions, senior notes (the Offering). The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the Offering to reduce indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC will act as joint book-running managers for the Offering.
The Offering will be made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, previously filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Before investing, you should read the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, as well as other documents the Company has filed with the SEC, for a more complete understanding of the Company and the Offering. These documents are available for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
Alternatively, copies may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk 3rd Floor. Telephone: (212) 834-4533; BofA Securities, Inc. at NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department, Email: dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; Mizuho Securities USA LLC at 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 Attention: Debt Capital Markets. Telephone: (866) 271-7403; or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Attention: WFS Customer Service, 608 2nd Avenue South, Suite 1000, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, by email at wfscustomerservice@wellsfargo.com or by calling 1-800-645-3751.
This press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Information set forth in this communication contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Offering, the Companys plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond the Companys control. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Companys ability to implement its strategic initiatives, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations, government and industry regulation, interest rate risk, U.S. and global competition, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Companys business, operations, results of operations, financial condition, workforce or the operations or decisions of its customers, suppliers or business partners, and other factors detailed in the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q which are available on the Companys investor relations website at http://ir.nasdaq.com and the SECs website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
ABOUT NASDAQ
Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Its diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.
Nasdaq Media Relations Contact:
Will Briganti
+1.646.964.8169
William.Briganti@nasdaq.com
Nasdaq Investor Relations Contact:
Ed Ditmire, CFA
+1.212.401.8737
Ed.Ditmire@nasdaq.com
NDAQF
Exhibit 99.2
NASDAQ, INC. PRICES $550 MILLION SENIOR NOTES OFFERING
NEW YORK, March 2, 2022 Nasdaq, Inc. (the Company) (Nasdaq: NDAQ) today announced that it priced a public offering of $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.950% senior notes due 2052 (the Offering). The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the Offering to reduce indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes. The Offering is expected to close on March 7, 2022, subject to customary closing conditions.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB will act as joint book-running managers for the Offering. ICBC Standard Bank plc, Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC, Academy Securities, Inc., Loop Capital Markets LLC and R. Seelaus & Co., LLC are acting as co-managers for the Offering.
The Offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, previously filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Before investing, you should read the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, as well as other documents the Company has filed with the SEC, for a more complete understanding of the Company and the Offering. These documents are available for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
Alternatively, copies may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk 3rd Floor. Telephone: (212) 834-4533; BofA Securities, Inc. at NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department, Email: dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; Mizuho Securities USA LLC at 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 Attention: Debt Capital Markets. Telephone: (866) 271-7403; or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Attention: WFS Customer Service, 608 2nd Avenue South, Suite 1000, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, by email at wfscustomerservice@wellsfargo.com or by calling 1-800-645-3751.
This press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Information set forth in this communication contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Offering, the Companys plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond the Companys control. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Companys ability to implement its strategic initiatives, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations, government and industry regulation, interest rate risk, U.S. and global competition, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Companys business, operations, results of operations, financial condition, workforce or the operations or decisions of its customers, suppliers or business partners, and other factors detailed in the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q which are available on the Companys investor relations website at http://ir.nasdaq.com and the SECs website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
ABOUT NASDAQ
Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Its diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.
Nasdaq Media Relations Contact:
Will Briganti
+1.646.964.8169
William.Briganti@nasdaq.com
Nasdaq Investor Relations Contact:
Ed Ditmire, CFA
+1.212.401.8737
Ed.Ditmire@nasdaq.com
NDAQF