UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 15, 2021

 

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-40853   86-1185492

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

     
One Vanderbilt Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, New York
  10017
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

212-896-2098

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share   KD   New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrar 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 (§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 October 15, 2021, Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (“Kyndryl”) entered into an indenture (the “Indenture”) and a first supplemental indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture”) to the Indenture with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to which Kyndryl issued (i) $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.050% Senior Notes due 2026, (ii) $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.700% Senior Notes due 2028, (iii) $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.150% Senior Notes due 2031 and (iv) $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.100% Senior Notes due 2041 (collectively, the “Notes”).

 

The Notes are Kyndryl’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of Kyndryl’s other senior unsecured indebtedness. The Notes are initially guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis (the “Guarantee”) by International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”) and IBM will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under the Guarantee without any action required on the part of the Trustee, or any holder of the Notes at such time as the previously announced separation of Kyndryl (the “Separation”) has been completed. The Separation is expected to occur on November 3, 2021.

 

The Notes are subject to customary affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events of default for financings of this type. The Notes are redeemable at the times, prices and under the circumstances described in the Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture. The holders of the Notes have the right to require Kyndryl to repurchase the Notes at their option at specified redemption prices and dates if certain change of control events and certain rating downgrade events occur.

 

In addition, Kyndryl entered into a registration rights agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), with the representatives of the initial purchasers of the Notes, which sets forth, among other things, Kyndryl’s obligations to register the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Kyndryl is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to file and have declared effective a registration statement with respect to a registered offer to exchange each series of Notes for new notes with substantially identical terms by October 15, 2022. If the exchange offer is not completed on or before October 15, 2022 and under certain other circumstances, Kyndryl is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to file and have declared effective a shelf registration statement relating to the resale of the Notes.

 

This summary description of the Indenture, Supplemental Indenture and Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of these agreements, which are filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 to this report, respectively, and are incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The information set forth above in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Statements in this report regarding the Separation constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include without limitation statements relating to the expected timing of the Separation, as well as other statements representing management’s beliefs about future events, transactions, strategies, operations and financial results. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact (including statements containing the words “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends” or “estimates” or similar expressions) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Kyndryl’s current assumptions regarding future business and financial performance. These statements, by their nature, address matters that are uncertain to different degrees. These statements involve a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including without limitation the risk that the Separation will not be completed within the anticipated time period or at all, the risk of disruption or unanticipated costs in connection with the Separation and the risk that the Separation will not achieve its intended benefits. Additional factors that may cause actual outcomes to differ from the forward-looking statements herein are contained in the “Risk Factors” section of Kyndryl’s Information Statement included as Exhibit 99.1 to Kyndryl’s Registration Statement on Form 10, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 12, 2021, as such factors may be updated from time to time in Kyndryl’s periodic filings with the SEC. Copies of the Registration Statement and Kyndryl’s periodic filings are available from the SEC or from Kyndryl’s website. Except as required by law, Kyndryl disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this report.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)            Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
   
4.1   Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021, between Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
   
4.2   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021, between Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
   
4.3   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021, among Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. and the representatives of the initial purchasers of the notes.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

  KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
     
Date: October 15, 2021 By: /s/ Simon J. Beaumont
  Name: Simon J. Beaumont
  Title: President

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 4.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.

 

and

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

 

as Trustee

 

 

Indenture

 

Dated as of October 15, 2021

 

Senior Debt Securities

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

   
ARTICLE One DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 1
Section 1.01. Definitions. 1
Section 1.02. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. 8
Section 1.03. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. 8
Section 1.04. Acts of Holders; Record Dates. 9
Section 1.05. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company. 11
Section 1.06. Notice to Holders; Waiver. 12
Section 1.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. 12
Section 1.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. 13
Section 1.09. Successors and Assigns. 13
Section 1.10. Separability Clause. 13
Section 1.11. Benefits of Indenture. 13
Section 1.12. Governing Law. 13
Section 1.13. Legal Holidays. 14
Section 1.14. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations. 14
Section 1.15. Indenture May be Executed in Counterparts. 14
Section 1.16. Obligation to Disclose Beneficial Ownership of Securities. 15
Section 1.17. Acceptance of Trust. 15
   
ARTICLE Two SECURITY FORMS 15
Section 2.01. Forms Generally. 15
Section 2.02. Form of Face of Security. 16
Section 2.03. Form of Reverse of Security. 17
Section 2.04. Form of Legend for Global Securities. 22
Section 2.05. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. 22
Section 2.06. Form of Conversion Notice. 23
   
ARTICLE Three THE SECURITIES 24
Section 3.01. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. 24
Section 3.02. Denominations. 27
Section 3.03. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. 27
Section 3.04. Temporary Securities. 29
Section 3.05. Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange. 29
Section 3.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. 31
Section 3.07. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. 32
Section 3.08. Persons Deemed Owners. 33
Section 3.09. Cancellation. 34
Section 3.10. Computation of Interest. 35
Section 3.11. CUSIP Numbers. 35
   
ARTICLE Four SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 35
Section 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. 35
Section 4.02. Application of Trust Money. 36
Section 4.03. Repayment to the Company. 36

 

i 

 

 

ARTICLE Five REMEDIES 37
Section 5.01. Events of Default. 37
Section 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. 38
Section 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. 39
Section 5.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. 39
Section 5.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. 40
Section 5.06. Application of Money Collected. 40
Section 5.07. Limitation on Suits. 40
Section 5.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert. 41
Section 5.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. 41
Section 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. 41
Section 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. 41
Section 5.12. Control by Holders. 42
Section 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults. 42
Section 5.14. Undertaking for Costs. 42
Section 5.15. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws. 42
   
ARTICLE Six THE TRUSTEE 43
Section 6.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. 43
Section 6.02. Notice of Defaults. 44
Section 6.03. Certain Rights of Trustee. 44
Section 6.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. 46
Section 6.05. May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee Under Other Indentures. 46
Section 6.06. Money Held in Trust. 46
Section 6.07. Compensation and Reimbursement. 46
Section 6.08. Conflicting Interests. 47
Section 6.09. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. 47
Section 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. 48
Section 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. 49
Section 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. 50
Section 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. 50
Section 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. 50
   
ARTICLE Seven HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY 52
Section 7.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. 52
Section 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. 52
Section 7.03. Reports by Trustee. 52
Section 7.04. Reports by Company. 53
   
ARTICLE Eight CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE 53
Section 8.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. 53
Section 8.02. Successor Substituted. 54
   
ARTICLE Nine SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 54
Section 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. 54
Section 9.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders. 55
Section 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. 56
Section 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. 56
Section 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. 56
Section 9.06. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. 56

 

ii 

 

 

ARTICLE Ten COVENANTS 56
Section 10.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. 56
Section 10.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. 56
Section 10.03. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust. 57
Section 10.04. Statement by Officers as to Default. 57
Section 10.05. Existence. 58
Section 10.06. Waiver of Certain Covenants. 58
   
ARTICLE Eleven REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 58
Section 11.01. Applicability of Article. 58
Section 11.02. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. 58
Section 11.03. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. 59
Section 11.04. Notice of Redemption. 59
Section 11.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. 61
Section 11.06. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. 61
Section 11.07. Securities Redeemed in Part. 62
   
ARTICLE Twelve SINKING FUNDS 62
Section 12.01. Applicability of Article. 62
Section 12.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. 62
Section 12.03. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. 63
   
ARTICLE Thirteen DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 63
Section 13.01. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. 63
Section 13.02. Defeasance and Discharge. 63
Section 13.03. Covenant Defeasance. 64
Section 13.04. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. 64
Section 13.05. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust, Miscellaneous Provisions. 66
Section 13.06. Reinstatement. 66
   
ARTICLE Fourteen CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES 67
Section 14.01. Applicability of Article. 67
Section 14.02. Exercise of Conversion and Exchange Privilege. 67
Section 14.03. No Fractional Shares. 68
Section 14.04. Adjustment of Conversion and Exchange Price. 69
Section 14.05. Notice of Certain Corporate Actions. In case: 69
Section 14.06. Reservation of Shares of Common Stock. 70
Section 14.07. Payment of Certain Taxes Upon Conversion and Exchange. 70
Section 14.08. Nonassessability. 70
Section 14.09. Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets. 70
Section 14.10. Duties of Trustee Regarding Conversion and Exchange. 71
Section 14.11. Repayment of Certain Funds Upon Conversion and Exchange. 72
   
ARTICLE Fifteen GUARANTEES 72
Section 15.01. Guarantee. 72
Section 15.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability. 74
Section 15.03. Execution and Delivery. 74
Section 15.04. Subrogation. 75
Section 15.05. Benefits Acknowledged. 75
Section 15.06. Release of Guarantees. 75
   

 

iii 

 

 

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.

 

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:

 

 

Trust Indenture
Act Section

Indenture
Section

§310 (a)(1) 6.09
  (a)(2) 6.09
  (a)(3) Not Applicable
  (a)(4) Not Applicable
  (b) 6.08, 6.10
§311 (a) 6.13
  (b) 6.13
§312 (a) 7.01, 7.02
  (b) 7.02
  (c) 7.02
§313 (a) 7.03
  (b) 7.03
  (c) 7.03
  (d) 7.03
§314 (a) 7.04
  (a)(4) 1.01, 10.04
  (b) Not Applicable
  (c)(1) 1.02
  (c)(2) 1.02
  (c)(3) Not Applicable
  (d) Not Applicable
  (e) 1.02
§315 (a) 6.01
  (b) 6.02
  (c) 6.01
  (d) 6.01
  (e) 5.14
§316 (a) 1.01
  (a)(1)(A) 5.02, 5.12
  (a)(1)(B) 5.13
  (a)(2) Not Applicable
  (b) 5.08
  (c) 1.04
§317 (a)(1) 5.03
  (a)(2) 5.04
  (b) 10.03
§318 (a) 1.07

 

 

 

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

iv 

 

 

 

INDENTURE, dated as of October 15, 2021 between Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal executive office at One Vanderbilt Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10017, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof appertaining, as follows:

 

ARTICLE One

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 1.01. Definitions.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1)               the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(2)               all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(3)               all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America at the date of such computation;

 

(4)               unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

 

 

 

 

(5)               the words “herein,” “hereof’ and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

(6)               “or” is not exclusive;

 

(7)               the words “including,” “includes” and “include” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; and

 

(8)               words importing any gender include the other genders.

 

Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

Authorized Officers” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03.

 

Board of Directors” means either the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee empowered by that Board of Directors thereof to act with respect to this Indenture.

 

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of directors and/or officers empowered by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized director or officer of the Company empowered by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Business Day” means any calendar day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in New York, New York and on which commercial banks are open for business in New York, New York.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

Common Stock” includes any stock of any class of the Company which has no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which is not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, however, subject to the provisions of this Indenture, shares issuable upon conversion of Securities shall include only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of the Company at the date of this Indenture or shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and which have no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, further that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications.

 

2

 

 

Company” means the corporation named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board, the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, a President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date of the execution of this instrument is located at 500 Ross Street, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15262, Attn: Corporate Trust Division, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by written notice to the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by written notice to the Company).

 

corporation” means a corporation, association, company, limited liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.

 

Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.03.

 

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

 

Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.02.

 

Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01, until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

Electronic Means” means the following communications methods: e-mail, facsimile transmission, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee, or another method or system specified by the Trustee as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.

 

3

 

 

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

 

Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series, is issued to the Depositary for such series in accordance with Section 3.03, and bears the legend set forth in Section 2.04 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities).

 

Guarantee” with respect to Securities of any series which the Company shall determine will be guaranteed by another Person, means the unconditional and unsubordinated guarantee by a Guarantor of the due and punctual payment of principal of and interest on a series of Securities when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series and this Indenture.

 

Guarantor” shall mean, with respect to any series of Securities, any Person providing a Guarantee of such series of Securities pursuant to Article Fifteen.

 

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01; provided, however, that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any one or more separate series of Securities, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.01, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such person had become such Trustee, but to which such person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided, further that in the event that this Indenture is supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain series of Securities, the term “Indenture” for a particular series of Securities shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.

 

4

 

 

Instructions” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03.

 

Interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, repurchase at the option of the Holder or otherwise.

 

Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.01(4).

 

Officer” means, with respect to the Company or any Guarantor, the Chairman of the Board, the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, a President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person.

 

Officer’s Certificate” means, with respect to the Company or any Guarantor, a certificate signed by an Officer of such Person, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for, or an employee of, the Company, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02.

 

Outstanding,” when used with respect to Securities or Securities of any series, means, as of the date of determination, all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(1)               Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(2)               Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

(3)               Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 13.02; and

 

5

 

 

(4)               Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 5.02, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 3.01, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.01, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Securities on behalf of the Company, and shall initially be the Trustee.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or political subdivision thereof.

 

Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01.

 

Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

Record Date” means any Regular Record Date or Special Record Date.

 

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Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

 

Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Division - Corporate Finance Unit (or any successor division or unit) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and for the purposes of Section 6.01(c)(2) and Section 6.02 shall also include any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.

 

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.

 

Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest, if any, thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest, if any, is due and payable.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of that date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of that date, owned, controlled or held by the parent or one or more Subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more Subsidiaries of the parent.

 

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

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Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

U.S. Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 13.04(1).

 

Vice President,” when used with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”

 

Section 1.02. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include,

 

(1)               a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

(2)               a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(3)               a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(4)               a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 1.03. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

 

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

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Any such certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion are based are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

 

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

Section 1.04. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Company copies of all such instrument or instruments and records delivered to the Trustee. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

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The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, vote, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06.

 

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 5.02, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.07(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06.

 

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

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Section 1.05. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

(1)               the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (or if sent by facsimile transmission or email in PDF format, to a facsimile number or email address, as the case may be, provided by the Trustee, with a copy sent, provided that oral or written confirmation of receipt shall have been received) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration; or

 

(2)               the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and sent, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to the Secretary; provided that notice shall not be deemed to be given until received by the Company.

 

(3)               the Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”), given pursuant to this Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing persons with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Company whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee Instructions using Electronic Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling, except to the extent the Trustee’s conduct action or omission constitutes bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Company understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Company shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Company and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by the Company. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Company; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Trustee as soon as reasonably practicable upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.

 

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Section 1.06. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and sent, first-class postage prepaid, or by email in PDF format to each Holder affected by such event, at its address or email address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail or email, neither the failure to mail or email such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed or emailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders and any notice which is sent in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail or email, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

Section 1.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

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Section 1.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

 

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 1.09. Successors and Assigns.

 

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 1.10. Separability Clause.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities 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 1.11. Benefits of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, 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 Indenture.

 

Section 1.12. Governing Law.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

The Company irrevocably consents and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of any Securities and the Trustee, that any legal action, suit or proceeding against it with respect to obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with this Indenture or any Security may be brought in the courts of the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York or the courts of the United States of America located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York and, until amounts due and to become due in respect of the Securities have been paid, hereby irrevocably consents and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in personam, generally and unconditionally with respect to any action, suit or proceeding for itself in respect of its properties, assets and revenues.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE HOLDERS OF ANY SECURITY ISSUED HEREUNDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, ANY SECURITY OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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Section 1.13. Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert a Security at a particular conversion price or conversion rate, as the case may be, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or, if applicable to a particular series of Securities, conversion need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, at the Stated Maturity or on such last day for conversion, as the case may be.

 

Section 1.14. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.

 

No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer, or director or subsidiary, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.

 

Section 1.15. Indenture May be Executed in Counterparts.

 

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instruments.

 

The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages that are executed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or by other electronic signing created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signing (such as Adobe Sign), in each case that is approved by the Trustee, shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto that are executed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or by other electronic signing created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signing (such as Adobe Sign), in each case that is approved by the Trustee, shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original.

 

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Anything in this Indenture or any series the Securities to the contrary notwithstanding, for the purposes of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture, any Securities and any document to be signed in connection with the Indenture or the Securities (including any Securities, a Trustee’s certificate of authentication and amendments, supplements, waivers, consents and other modifications, Officer’s Certificates, Company Orders and Opinions of Counsel and other issuance, authentication and delivery documents) or the transactions contemplated hereby may be signed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or other electronic signatures created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signature (such as Adobe Sign), in each case that is approved by the Trustee, and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Trustee, and the keeping of records in electronic form, are hereby authorized, and each shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be.

 

Section 1.16. Obligation to Disclose Beneficial Ownership of Securities.

 

All securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, upon demand of any regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the Company, and pursuant to law or regulation empowering such agency to assert such demand, any Holder shall disclose to such agency the identity of the beneficial owners of all Securities held by such Holder.

 

Section 1.17. Acceptance of Trust.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., the Trustee named herein, hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

ARTICLE Two

SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 2.01. Forms Generally.

 

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

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Section 2.02. Form of Face of Security.

 

[Insert any legend required by the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.]

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.

 

No. $

 

CUSIP No.

 

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws 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 , or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars on [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—, and to pay interest thereon from or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on and in each year, commencing , at the rate of            % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert—, provided that any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of % 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 (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the or (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not fewer than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Interest on the Security shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.]

 

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert—The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall bear interest at the rate of % 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. Interest on any overdue principal or premium shall be payable on demand. [Any such interest on overdue principal or premium which is not paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest on interest shall be legally enforceable), from the date of such demand until the amount so demanded is paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue interest shall be payable on demand.]]

 

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Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert—any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in , [if applicable, insert—which shall initially be the [principal corporate trust] office of the Trustee,] in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [if applicable, insert—, 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 Security Register].

 

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 referred to on the reverse hereof by manual or PDF or other electronically imaged (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

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

 

  KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

Attest:        

 

Section 2.03. Form of Reverse of Security.

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of                    (herein called the “Indenture,” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert—, limited in aggregate principal amount to $                    ].

 

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not fewer than [if applicable, insert—10] days’ notice, (1) on                        in any year commencing with the year                    and ending with the year                   through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if applicable, insert—on or after                   , 20 ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert—on or before                  ,                    %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated, and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to                    % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert—(whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

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Year  Redemption
Price
  Year  Redemption
Price
          

 

[If applicable, insert—The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than [if applicable, insert— 10] days’ notice, (1) on in any year commencing with the year and ending with the year through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert—on or after ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,

 

Year  Redemption Price
For Redemption
Through Operation
of the Sinking Fund
  Redemption Price For
Redemption Otherwise
Than Through
Operation of the
Sinking Fund
       

 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to                % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If applicable, insert—Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to                    , redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [If applicable, insert—Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than            % per annum.]

 

[If applicable, insert—The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on              in each year beginning with the year                and ending with the year                   of [If applicable, insert—not less than $                  (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $                  aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [If applicable, insert—mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [If applicable, insert—mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [If applicable, insert—, in the inverse order in which they become due].]

 

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[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert—In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

[If applicable, insert—The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [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 the Security is convertible into Common Stock of the Company, insert—Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security is entitled, at its option, at any time on or prior to Maturity (except that, in case this Security or any portion hereof shall be called for redemption, such right shall terminate with respect to this Security or portion hereof, as the case may be, so called for redemption at the close of business on the first Business Day next preceding the date fixed for redemption as provided in the Indenture unless the Company defaults in making the payment due upon redemption), to convert the principal amount of this Security (or any portion hereof which is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof so long as the remaining portion of the Security is greater than $               ), into fully paid and non-assessable shares (calculated as to each conversion to the nearest 1/100th of a share) of the Common Stock of the Company, as said shares shall be constituted at the date of conversion, at the conversion price of $                principal amount of Securities for each share of Common Stock, or at the adjusted conversion price in effect at the date of conversion determined as provided in the Indenture, upon surrender of this Security, together with the conversion notice hereon duly executed, to the Company at the designated office or agency of the Company in                      , accompanied (if so required by the Company) by instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee, duly executed by the Holder or by its duly authorized attorney in writing. Such surrender shall, if made during any period beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the Interest Payment Date next following such Regular Record Date (unless this Security or the portion being converted shall have been called for redemption on a Redemption Date during the period beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day), also be accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of this Security then being converted. Subject to the aforesaid requirement for payment and, in the case of a conversion after the Regular Record Date next preceding any Interest Payment Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, to the right of the Holder of this Security (or any Predecessor Security) of record at such Regular Record Date to receive an installment of interest (with certain exceptions provided in the Indenture), no adjustment is to be made on conversion for interest accrued hereon or for dividends on shares of Common Stock issued on conversion. The Company is not required to issue fractional shares upon any such conversion, but shall make adjustment therefor in cash on the basis of the current market value of such fractional interest as provided in the Indenture. The conversion price is subject to adjustment as provided in the Indenture. In addition, the Indenture provides that in case of certain consolidations or mergers to which the Company is a party or the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Indenture shall be amended, without the consent of any Holders of Securities, so that this Security, if then outstanding, will be convertible thereafter, during the period this Security shall be convertible as specified above, only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon the consolidation, merger or sale by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which this Security might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or sale (assuming such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election and received per share the kind and amount received per share by a plurality of non-electing shares). In the event of conversion of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities for the unconverted portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

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[If the Security is convertible into other securities of the Company, specify the conversion features.]

 

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert—If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert—If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to—insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

 

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 more than 50% in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each 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 and 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.

 

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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 or security satisfactory to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity or security. 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 Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or its 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 denominations of $                       and integral multiples of $                in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor 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.

 

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This Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of said State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

Section 2.04. Form of Legend for Global Securities.

 

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

Section 2.05. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

Dated:

 

  The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., As Trustee
   
  By:      
    Authorized Signatory

 

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Section 2.06. Form of Conversion Notice.

 

Conversion notices shall be in substantially the following form:

 

To Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.:

 

The undersigned owner of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the option to convert this Security, or portion hereof (which is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof so long as the remaining portion of the Security is greater than $               ) below designated, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security, and directs that any shares issuable and deliverable upon the conversion, together with any check in payment for fractional shares and any Securities representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If this Notice is being delivered on a date after the close of business on a Regular Record Date and prior to the opening of business on the related Interest Payment Date (unless this Security or the portion thereof being converted has been called for redemption on a Redemption Date during the period beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day), this Notice is accompanied by payment, in funds acceptable to the Company, of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date of the principal of this Security to be converted. If shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect hereto. Any amount required to be paid by the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Security.

 

Principal Amount to be Converted ($1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, so long as the remaining portion is greater than $               ) U.S. $    
     
Dated:                    

     
     
     

 

      Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17 Ad-15, if shares of Common Stock are to be delivered, or Securities to be issued, other than to and in the name of the registered owner.
   
     
   

Signature Guaranty

 

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Fill in for registration of shares of Common Stock and Security if to be issued otherwise than to the registered Holder.

 

     

(Name)

  Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number
     
     
(Address)    
     
     
Please print Name and Address (including zip code number)    

 

[The above conversion notice is to be modified, as appropriate, for conversion into other securities or property of the Company.]

 

ARTICLE Three

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 3.01. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.03, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following:

 

(1)               the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

(2)               any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.03, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

(3)               the price or prices at which the Securities of such series will be offered by the Company (such price or prices to be expressed as percentage of the principal amount of the Securities of such series);

 

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(4)               the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

 

(5)               the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable;

 

(6)               the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining the rate or rates, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable or the method of determining such dates and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

 

(7)               the rate or rates of interest, if any, payable on overdue installments of principal of, or any premium or interest on the Securities of such series, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

(8)               the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable;

 

(9)               the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or otherwise and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(10)           the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(11)           if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(12)           if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(13)           if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01;

 

(14)           if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

 

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(15)           if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02;

 

(16)           if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

(17)           if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.02 or 13.03 or both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced and any changes or additions to the provisions provided in Article Thirteen of this Indenture and related definitions and provisions dealing with defeasance, including the addition of additional covenants that may be subject to the Company’s covenant defeasance option;

 

(18)           if applicable, the terms of any right to convert Securities of the series into, or exchange securities for, shares of Common Stock of the Company or other securities or property or cash in lieu of such Common Stock or other securities or property, and any corresponding changes to the provisions of this Indenture as then in effect;

 

(19)           if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.04 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Clause (2) of Section 3.05 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

 

(20)           any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 5.02;

 

(21)           any Authenticating Agents, Paying Agents or Security Registrars;

 

(22)           whether the Securities shall be issued with Guarantees and, if so, to name one or more Guarantors, the terms and conditions, if any, of any Guarantee with respect to Securities of any series, to provide for the terms and conditions upon which Guarantees may be released or terminated, and any corresponding changes to the provisions of this Indenture as then in effect;

 

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(23)           the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge or assignment as security for the Securities of the series of any properties, assets, moneys, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the Trust Indenture Act are applicable and any corresponding changes to provisions of this Indenture as then in effect;

 

(24)           any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to Securities of the series; and

 

(25)           any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.01(5)).

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.03) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

Section 3.02. Denominations.

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Section 3.03. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any Officer of the Company. The signature of any of the Officers on the Securities may be manual, facsimile or electronic signature.

 

Securities bearing such signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order (which may provide that Securities that are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee from time to time upon the written order of Persons designated in said Company Order and that such Persons are authorized to determine such terms and conditions of said Securities as are specified in the Company Order) shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 2.01 and 3.01, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, a copy of such Board Resolution, the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the series and an Opinion of Counsel, with such Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

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(1)               if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.01, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)               if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.01, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(3)               that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual or PDF or other electronically imaged (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.09, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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Section 3.04. Temporary Securities.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

 

Section 3.05. Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. The Company may change any Security Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Security Registrar.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

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All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 9.06 or 11.07 not involving any transfer.

 

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the sending of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 11.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such sending, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

 

(1)               Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

(2)               Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security or (C) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

 

(3)               Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

 

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(4)               Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 3.04, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

 

None of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture and the Securities, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

Section 3.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

  

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

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Section 3.07. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

 

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

In the case of Securities represented by a Global Security registered in the name of or held by a Depository or its nominee, unless otherwise specified by Section 3.01, payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, will be made to the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner or Holder of such Global Security. None of the Company, the Trustee and the Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent or the Security Registrant for such Securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of a beneficial ownership interest in a Global Security or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1)               The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not fewer than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not fewer than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06, not fewer than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so sent, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

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(2)               The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 14.02, in the case of any Security (or any part thereof) which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security the principal of (or premium, if any, on) which shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or any one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence or in Section 14.02, in the case of any Security (or any part thereof) which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security (or such part thereof) shall not be payable.

 

Section 3.08. Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a 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 such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.07) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

In the case of a Global Security, so long as the Depository for such Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Security, such Depository or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or Holder of the Securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under this Indenture. Except as provided in Section 3.05, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have Securities that are represented by such Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of such Securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or Holders thereof under this Indenture.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Global Security, nothing herein shall (a) prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depository or (b) impair, as between a Depository and holders of beneficial interest in any Global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depository as Holder of such Global Security.

 

None of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner in a Global Security, a Depositary participant or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any Depositary participant, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any Depositary participant, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Securities and this Indenture shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of the Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in the Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable procedures. The Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar shall be entitled to rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary, and any nominee thereof, that is the registered holder of any Global Security for all purposes of this Indenture relating to such Global Security (including the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest and additional amounts, if any, and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the owner or holder of a beneficial ownership interest in such Global Security) as the sole holder of such Global Security and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof. None of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for the records of any such depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of any such Global Security, for any transactions between the Depositary and any Depositary participant or between or among the Depositary, any such Depositary participant and/or any holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Security.

 

Section 3.09. Cancellation.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange or any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be returned to the Company, or upon request by the Company, deliver to the Company certificates of destruction with respect thereto.

 

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Section 3.10. Computation of Interest.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 3.11. CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP”, “ISIN” or other similar numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP”, “ISIN” or other similar numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP”, “ISIN” or other similar numbers.

 

ARTICLE Four

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(1)               either

 

(A)             all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B)              all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

(i)                 have become due and payable, or

 

(ii)              will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

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(iii)            if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company,

 

in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose lawful money of the United States of America or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide lawful money not later than the due dates of principal (and any premium) or interest, or any combination thereof in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2)               the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(3)               the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.07, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03 shall survive.

 

Section 4.02. Application of Trust Money.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

 

Section 4.03. Repayment to the Company.

 

Upon termination of the trust established pursuant to Section 4.01 hereof, the Trustee and Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company any excess money or U.S. Government Obligations.

 

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ARTICLE Five

 

REMEDIES

 

Section 5.01. Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body, except to the extent such event is specifically deleted or modified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for the Securities of that series):

 

(1)               default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(2)               default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(3)               default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(4)               with respect to a series of Securities, default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series or which has been included in this Indenture but not made applicable to the Securities of such series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(5)               the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

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(6)               the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, 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 such action; or

 

(7)               any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

 

Section 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or 501(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the 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 5.01(5) or 501(6) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

(1)               the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(A)             all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

 

(B)              the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

(C)              to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

(D)             all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

 

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(2)               all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if

 

(1)               default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

(2)               default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

 

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 5.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07.

 

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

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Section 5.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 5.06. Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article, or, after an Event of Default, any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07 (including any predecessor trustee);

 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium, if any, and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company or any other Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

Section 5.07. Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

 

(1)               such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

(2)               the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

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(3)               such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(4)               the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity or security has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(5)               no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

Section 5.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date), to convert such Securities in accordance with Article Fourteen and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 5.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 5.11.

 

Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (subject to the limitations contained in this Indenture) or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

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Section 5.12. Control by Holders.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

 

(1)               such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture and the Trustee shall not have determined that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to Holders of Securities of that series, or any other series, not taking part in such direction, and

 

(2)               the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction or this Indenture.

 

Section 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

(1)               in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

 

(2)               in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, including legal fees and expenses, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or in any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security in accordance with Article Fourteen or in any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder or group of Holders for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, or any premium or interest on, any Security on or after the due date for such payment.

 

Section 5.15. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

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ARTICLE Six

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

(a)       Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

(1)       the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2)       in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts, statements, opinions or conclusions stated therein).

 

(b)       In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

(c)       No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(1)       this Subsection (c) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsections (a) or (d) of this Section;

 

(2)       the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(3)       the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined as provided herein, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(d)       No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(e)       Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

(f)       The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(g)       The Trustee shall not be responsible for the application of any money by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.

 

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Section 6.02. Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to Securities of any series and a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives written notice of such default at its Corporate Trust Office, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default actually known to it as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.01(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof and the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

Section 6.03. Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.01:

 

(1)               the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(2)               any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(3)               the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(4)               the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(5)               the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;

 

(6)               the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

 

(7)               the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

(8)               the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default or Event of Default is received by a Responsible Officer the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

 

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(9)               the permissive rights of the Trustee to do the things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty unless so specified herein. The Trustee shall not be liable in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder, except for its own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

(10)           whenever in the administration of the trusts imposed upon it by this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such matter may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel, and such Officer’s Certificate and/or Opinion of Counsel shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or suffered in good faith under the provisions of the Indenture in reliance upon such Officer’s Certificate and/or Opinion of Counsel, but in its discretion the Trustee may, in lieu thereof, accept other evidence of such matter or may request such additional evidence as it may deem reasonable;

 

(11)           in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, punitive, indirect, 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;

 

(12)           the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; provided, however, that only the Trustee, and not any agent, custodian or other Person employed to act hereunder, shall be held to a prudent person standard upon the occurrence of and during an Event of Default;

 

(13)           the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture to the extent caused, directly or indirectly, by natural disasters, fire, acts of God, strikes or other labor disputes, work stoppages, acts of war or terrorism, general civil unrest, epidemics, pandemics, act of any government, governmental authority or police or military authority, declared state of emergency, legal constraint, the interruption, loss or malfunction of utilities, communications or computer systems, or any other similar events beyond its reasonable control; 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; and

 

(14)           the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

 

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Section 6.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity, sufficiency or priority of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible to make any calculation with respect to any matter under this Indenture. The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor or investigate the Company’s compliance with or the breach of, or cause to be performed or observed, any representation, warranty, or covenant, or agreement of any Person, other than the Trustee, made in this Indenture.

 

Section 6.05. May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee Under Other Indentures.

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Section 6.08 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

Subject to the limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, nothing in this Indenture shall prohibit the Trustee from becoming and acting as trustee under other indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest of participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding in the same manner as if it were not Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 6.06. Money Held in Trust.

 

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

 

Section 6.07. Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company agrees

 

(1)               to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2)               except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

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(3)               to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense, including reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel, arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Securities, the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section, except to the extent that such loss, damage, claim, liability or expense is due to the Trustee’s own negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

 

In addition to, but without prejudice to its other rights under this Indenture, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or 5.01(6), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State Bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 6.07 the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities.

 

The provisions of this Section 6.07 shall survive the registration or removal of the Trustee, the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture and the Securities and/or the termination for any reason of this Indenture.

 

“Trustee” for purposes of this Section shall include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 6.08. Conflicting Interests.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

Section 6.09. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has (or if the Trustee is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company has) a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

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Section 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

 

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

If at any time:

 

(1)               the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2)               the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

(3)               the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, the retiring Trustee may petition, or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.06. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

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Section 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject to the lien provided for in Section 6.07.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment in full of all of its charges, duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

Upon the reasonable written request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

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Section 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

 

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

Section 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

 

Section 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.06, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having (or if the Authenticating Agent is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company has) a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any Person into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 1.06 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

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

 

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Dated:

 
  The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., As Trustee By:
 
  By:  
    as Authenticating Agent
 
  By:  
    as Authenticating Signatory

 

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ARTICLE Seven

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

Section 7.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(1)               semi-annually, not later than 15 days after the Regular Record Date, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of such Regular Record Date, as the case may be, and

 

(2)               at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided that no such list need be furnished by the Company to the Trustee so long as the Trustee is acting as Security Registrar.

 

Section 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

 

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.01, if any, and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 7.03. Reports by Trustee.

 

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

 

If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within sixty days after each May 1 following the date of this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such May 1, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange or of any delisting thereof.

 

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Section 7.04. Reports by Company.

 

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the Commission. The Company shall be deemed to have complied with the previous sentence to the extent that such information, documents and reports are filed with the Commission via EDGAR (or any successor electronic delivery procedure); provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed pursuant to the EDGAR system (or its successor).

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants pursuant to Article Ten herein (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

ARTICLE Eight

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

Section 8.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person (in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation) or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any other Person, unless:

 

(1)               the Company is the continuing entity, or the Person formed from the consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance or the Person that received the transfer of or leases the assets or other disposal is a Person organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and the conversion rights shall be provided for in accordance with Article Fourteen, if applicable, or as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, by supplemental indenture reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee, by the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company shall have been merged or by the Person which shall have acquired the Company’s assets;

 

(2)               immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3)               the Company or the continuing entity has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, subject to customary qualifications and exceptions, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, transfer or lease or other disposal and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture complies with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

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Section 8.02. Successor Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposal of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any other Person in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition 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.

 

ARTICLE Nine

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

 

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1)               to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or any Guarantor, or successive successions, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company or any Guarantor herein and in the Securities or Guarantees; or

 

(2)               to add to the covenants of the Company or any Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of fewer than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor; or

 

(3)               to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of fewer than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

 

(4)               to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

 

(5)               to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

 

(6)               to secure the Securities; or

 

(7)               to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and 3.01; or

 

(8)               to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11; or

 

(9)               to make provision with respect to the conversion rights of Holders pursuant to the requirements of Article Fourteen, including providing for the conversion of the securities into any security (other than the Common Stock of the Company) or property of the Company or any Guarantor; or

 

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(10)           to add Guarantees with respect to the Securities of such series, and to name one or more Guarantors, the terms and conditions of any Guarantee with respect to the Securities of such series, to provide for the terms and conditions upon which such Guarantees may be released or terminated, or to confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any such Guarantee when such release, termination or discharge is permitted under this Indenture; or

 

(11)           to cure any ambiguity or error, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this Clause (11) shall not adversely affect the rights of any Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

 

(12)           to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Articles Four and Thirteen, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the rights of any Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or

 

(13)           to comply with any requirements in connection with qualifying this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

(14)           to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect.

 

Section 9.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.

 

With the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

(1)               change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or

 

(2)               reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or

 

(3)               modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.06, 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; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 10.06, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.11 and 9.01(8), or

 

(4)               if applicable, make any change that adversely affects the right to convert any security as provided in Article Fourteen or pursuant to Section 3.01 (except as permitted by Section 9.01(9)) or decrease the conversion rate or increase the conversion price of any such security.

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

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Section 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01 and 6.03) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such supplemental indenture is enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to then customary exceptions. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

Section 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

Section 9.06. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

ARTICLE Ten

COVENANTS

 

Section 10.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

 

Section 10.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

  

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

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Section 10.03. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal or any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal or any premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided; (2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series; and (3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for a period ending on the earlier of the date that is ten Business Days prior to the date such money would escheat to the State or two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

Section 10.04. Statement by Officers as to Default.

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officer’s Certificate, stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of the signers thereof, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, a written notice setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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Section 10.05. Existence.

 

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate or other existence.

 

Section 10.06. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, or in a supplemental indenture the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 3.01(19), 9.01(2), 9.01(7), if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE Eleven

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 11.01. Applicability of Article.

 

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article.

 

Section 11.02. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 20 days (or 25 days if fewer than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed) prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed (or other method to determine the principal amount to be redeemed) and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

 

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Section 11.03. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

 

If fewer than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), not more than 25 days prior to the Redemption Date, the particular Securities or portions thereof for redemption from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called shall be selected in accordance with the procedures of The Depository Trust Company or by lot or by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If fewer than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 25 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

 

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be), at the option of the Company, to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

The provisions of the three preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 11.04. Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.06 not fewer than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at its address appearing in the Security Register.

 

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Failure to give notice in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Registered Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice of any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.

 

Any notice that is sent to the Holder of any Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not such Holder receives the notice.

 

All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP number(s)) and shall state:

 

(1)               the Redemption Date,

 

(2)               the Redemption Price (including accrued interest, if any),

 

(3)               if fewer than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts or other method to determine the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if fewer than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

 

(4)               that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(5)               the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

 

(6)               if applicable, the conversion price, that the date on which the right to convert the principal of the Securities or the portions thereof to be redeemed will terminate will be the Business Day prior to the Redemption Date and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion,

 

(7)               in case any Securities are to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed, and

 

(8)               that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.

 

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Any redemption or notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an equity offering or change of control, issuance of indebtedness or other transaction or event. If any redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the notice of redemption in respect thereof shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion), or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion) by the Redemption Date as stated in such notice, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed.

 

The Company may provide in a notice of redemption that payment of the applicable Redemption Price and the performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

 

Section 11.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to the right of any Holder of such Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.07) be paid to the Company on Company Request, or if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

 

Section 11.06. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

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Section 11.07. Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Security in global form is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the U.S. Depositary or other Depositary for such Security in global form as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, without service charge, a new Security in global form in denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security in global form so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE Twelve

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 12.01. Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

 

Section 12.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

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Section 12.03. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not fewer than 30 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 12.02 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not fewer than 15 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.03 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.06 and 11.07.

 

ARTICLE Thirteen

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 13.01. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 3.01 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 13.02 or 13.03, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 3.01 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities.

 

Section 13.02. Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.03, and, if applicable, Article Fourteen, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 13.03 applied to such Securities.

 

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Section 13.03. Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Article Eight, Section 7.04, and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 3.01(19), 9.01(2) or 9.01(7) and any other covenants specified by the terms of any series of Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 5.01(4) (with respect to any of Article Eight, Section 7.04, and any such covenants provided pursuant to Section 3.01(19), 9.01(2) or 9.01(7) and any other covenants specified by the terms of any series of Securities) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 5.01(4)), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

 

Section 13.04. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 13.02 or 13.03 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be:

 

(1)               The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.09 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, “U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

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(2)               In the event of an election to have Section 13.02 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

 

(3)               In the event of an election to have Section 13.03 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

 

(4)               The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

 

(5)               No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 5.01(5) and 5.01(6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

 

(6)               Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

 

(7)               Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(8)               Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

 

(9)               The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

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Section 13.05. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust, Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.06, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.04 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

 

Section 13.06. Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 13.02 or 13.03 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 13.05 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

 

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ARTICLE Fourteen

CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

 

Section 14.01. Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock of the Company, and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon the conversion or exchange of such Securities, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series.

 

Section 14.02. Exercise of Conversion and Exchange Privilege.

 

In order to exercise a conversion or exchange privilege, the Holder of a Security of a series with such a privilege shall surrender such Security to the Company at the office or agency maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 10.02, accompanied by a duly executed conversion or exchange notice to the Company substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.06 stating that the Holder elects to convert or exchange such Security or a specified portion thereof. Such notice shall also state, if different from the name and address of such Holder, the name or names (with address) in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable on such conversion or exchange shall be issued. Securities surrendered for conversion or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by or accompanied by instruments of transfer in forms satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by the registered Holder or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and Securities so surrendered for conversion or exchange (in whole or in part) during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date to the opening of business on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (excluding Securities or portions thereof called for redemption during the period beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day) shall also be accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of such Security then being converted or exchanged, and such interest shall be payable to such registered Holder notwithstanding the conversion or exchange of such Security, subject to the provisions of Section 3.07 relating to the payment of Defaulted Interest by the Company. As promptly as practicable after the receipt of such notice and of any payment required pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.03, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of such series of Security, and the surrender of such Security in accordance with such reasonable regulations as the Company may prescribe, the Company shall issue and shall deliver, at the office or agency at which such Security is surrendered, to such Holder or on its written order, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange of such Security (or specified portion thereof), in accordance with the provisions of such Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture, and cash as provided therein in respect of any fractional share of such Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion or exchange. Such conversion or exchange shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the date on which such notice and such payment, if required, shall have been received in proper order for conversion or exchange by the Company and such Security shall have been surrendered as aforesaid (unless such Holder shall have so surrendered such Security and shall have instructed the Company to effect the conversion or exchange on a particular date following such surrender and such Holder shall be entitled to convert or exchange such Security on such date, in which case such conversion or exchange shall be deemed to be effected immediately prior to the close of business on such date) and at such time the rights of the Holder of such Security as such Security Holder shall cease and the person or persons in whose name or names any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be issuable upon such conversion or exchange shall be deemed to have become the Holder or Holders of record of the shares represented thereby. Except as set forth above and subject to the final paragraph of Section 3.07, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon any conversion or exchange on account of any interest accrued on the Securities (or any part thereof) surrendered for conversion or exchange or on account of any dividends on the Common Stock of the Company issued upon such conversion or exchange.

 

In the case of any Security which is converted or exchanged in part only, upon such conversion or exchange the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted or unexchanged portion of such Security.

 

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Section 14.03. No Fractional Shares.

 

No fractional share of Common Stock of the Company shall be issued upon conversions or exchanges of Securities of any series. If more than one Security shall be surrendered for conversion or exchange at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon conversion or exchange shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so surrendered. If, except for the provisions of this Section, any Holder of a Security or Securities would be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock of the Company upon the conversion or exchange of such Security or Securities, or specified portions thereof, the Company shall pay to such Holder an amount in cash equal to the current market value of such fractional share computed, (i) if such Common Stock is listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange or market, on the basis of the last reported sale price regular way on such exchange or market on the last trading day prior to the date of conversion or exchange upon which such a sale shall have been effected, or (ii) if such Common Stock is not at the time so listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange or market, on the basis of the average of the bid and asked prices of such Common Stock in the over-the-counter market, on the last trading day prior to the date of conversion or exchange, as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or similar organization if the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated is no longer reporting such information, or if not so available, the fair market price as determined by the Board of Directors. For purposes of this Section, “trading day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday other than any day on which the Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or if the Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock is traded or quoted.

 

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Section 14.04. Adjustment of Conversion and Exchange Price.

 

The conversion or exchange price of Securities of any series that is convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company shall be adjusted for any stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, combinations or similar transactions in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions setting forth the terms of the Securities of such series.

 

Whenever the conversion or exchange price is adjusted, the Company shall compute the adjusted conversion or exchange price in accordance with terms of the applicable Board Resolution or supplemental indenture and shall prepare an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the adjusted conversion or exchange price and showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and such certificate shall forthwith be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion or exchange of Securities pursuant to Section 10.02 and, if different, with the Trustee. The Company shall forthwith cause a notice setting forth the adjusted conversion or exchange price to be sent to each Holder of Securities of such series at its address appearing on the Security Register and to any conversion or exchange agent other than the Trustee.

 

Section 14.05. Notice of Certain Corporate Actions.
In case:

 

(1)               the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its Common Stock payable otherwise than in cash out of its retained earnings (other than a dividend for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required) that would require an adjustment pursuant to Section 14.04; or

 

(2)               the Company shall authorize the granting to all or substantially all of the holders of its Common Stock of rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any other rights (other than any such grant for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required); or

 

(3)               of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding shares of Common Stock, or of any consolidation, merger or share exchange to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required), or of the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

 

(4)               of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company;

 

then the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee, and shall cause to be sent to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the Security Register, at least 20 days (or 10 days in any case specified in Clause (1) or (2) above) prior to the applicable record date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants are to be determined, or (ii) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. If at any time the Trustee shall not be the conversion or exchange agent, a copy of such notice shall also forthwith be filed by the Company with the Trustee.

 

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Section 14.06. Reservation of Shares of Common Stock.

 

The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion or exchange of Securities, the full number of shares of Common Stock of the Company then issuable upon the conversion or exchange of all outstanding Securities of any series that has conversion or exchange rights.

 

Section 14.07. Payment of Certain Taxes Upon Conversion and Exchange.

 

Except as provided in the next sentence, the Company will pay any and all taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of its Common Stock on conversion or exchange of Securities pursuant hereto. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of its Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Security or Securities to be converted or exchanged, and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.

 

Section 14.08. Nonassessability.

 

The Company covenants that all shares of its Common Stock which may be issued upon conversion or exchange of Securities will upon issue in accordance with the terms hereof be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Section 14.09. Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets.

 

In case of any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person, any merger of another Person with or into the Company (other than a merger which does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company) or any conveyance, sale, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Person formed by such consolidation or resulting from such merger or which acquires such assets, as the case may be, shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture providing that the Holder of each Security of a series then Outstanding that is convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company shall have the right thereafter (which right shall be the exclusive conversion or exchange right thereafter available to said Holder), during the period such Security shall be convertible or exchangeable, to convert or exchange such Security only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which such Security might have been converted or exchanged immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease, assuming such holder of Common Stock of the Company (i) is not a Person with which the Company consolidated or merged with or into or which merged into or with the Company or to which such conveyance, sale, transfer or lease was made, as the case may be (a “Constituent Person”), or an Affiliate of a Constituent Person and (ii) failed to exercise his rights of election, if any, as to the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease (provided that if the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer, or lease is not the same for each share of Common Stock of the Company held immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by others than a Constituent Person or an Affiliate thereof and in respect of which such rights of election shall not have been exercised (“Non-electing Share”), then for the purpose of this Section, the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by the holders of each Non-electing Share shall be deemed to be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the Non-electing Shares). Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such supplemental indenture, shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article or in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions setting forth the terms of such adjustments. The above provisions of this Section 14.09 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, conveyances, sales, transfers or leases. Notice of the execution of such a supplemental indenture shall be given by the Company to the Holder of each Security of a series that is convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company as provided in Section 1.06 promptly upon such execution.

 

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Neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent, if any, shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any such supplemental indenture relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or other securities or property or cash receivable by Holders of Securities of a series convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company upon the conversion or exchange of their Securities after any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, sale or lease or to any such adjustment, but may accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel with respect thereto, which the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Trustee upon request.

 

Section 14.10. Duties of Trustee Regarding Conversion and Exchange.

 

Neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent shall at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities of any series that is convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company to determine the conversion or exchange rate (or any adjustments thereto) or whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the conversion or exchange price, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, whether herein or in any supplemental indenture (or whether any provisions of any supplemental indenture are correct), any resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument executed by one or more officers of the Company provided to be employed in making the same. Neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent shall be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or of any securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion or exchange of any Securities and neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent makes any representation with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of its Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose of conversion or exchange or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article Fourteen or in the applicable supplemental indenture, resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument executed by one or more duly authorized officers of the Company.

 

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Section 14.11. Repayment of Certain Funds Upon Conversion and Exchange.

 

Any funds which at any time shall have been deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Trustee or any other paying agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on any of the Securities (including, but not limited to, funds deposited for the sinking fund referred to in Article Twelve hereof and funds deposited pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof) and which shall not be required for such purposes because of the conversion or exchange of such Securities as provided in this Article Fourteen shall after such conversion or exchange be repaid to the Company by the Trustee upon the Company’s written request.

 

ARTICLE Fifteen

GUARANTEES

 

Section 15.01. Guarantee.

 

(1)               Unless otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities, subject to this Article Fifteen, to the extent provided for in any series of Securities under the Indenture, each Guarantor of such series of Securities will, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee, on a senior unsecured basis, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, such series of Securities or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (A) the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Security shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and interest on the Securities, if any, if lawful, and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or under the Securities shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (B) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Securities or any of such other obligations, that same shall be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. Failing payment by the Company when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

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(2)               Each Guarantor, by being named as a Guarantor of any series of Securities, hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Securities and this Indenture, or pursuant to Section 15.06.

 

(3)               Each of the Guarantors also agrees, jointly and severally, to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section.

 

(4)               If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee or such Holder, the Guarantee under this Section 15.01, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

(5)               Each Guarantor of a series of Securities agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders of such series of Securities in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby with respect to such series of Securities. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (A) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated with respect to a series of Securities as provided in Article Five for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (B) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations with respect to a series of Securities as provided in Article Five, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Guarantee. The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders of the applicable series of Securities under the Guarantees.

 

(6)               Each Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Company for liquidation or reorganization, should the Company become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Company’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Securities are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Securities or the Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Securities of the applicable series shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

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(7)               In case any provision of any Guarantee with respect to a series of Securities 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.

 

(8)               Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Guarantee of a series of Securities shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

 

Section 15.02. Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

 

Each Guarantor and, by its acceptance of Securities, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent conveyance or a fraudulent transfer for purposes of bankruptcy law in the United States of America, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantee. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the Holders and the Guarantors of a series of Securities hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor of such series of Securities shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor of such series of Securities in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor of such series of Securities under this Article Fifteen, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law. Each Guarantor of such series of Securities that makes a payment under its Guarantee shall be entitled upon payment in full of all Guaranteed obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor of such series of Securities in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors of such series of Securities at the time of such payment determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

 

Section 15.03. Execution and Delivery.

 

(1)               To evidence its Guarantee of a series of Securities set forth in Section 15.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a supplemental indenture to this Indenture with respect to such Guarantee shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer or person holding an equivalent title.

 

(2)               Each Guarantor shall in such supplemental indenture agree that its Guarantee of the applicable series of Securities set forth in Section 15.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on the Securities of such series.

 

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(3)               If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture or a supplemental indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Guarantees of such series of Securities shall be valid nevertheless.

 

(4)               The delivery of any Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee with respect to such Security set forth in this Indenture or supplemental indenture on behalf of the Guarantors of such series of Securities.

 

Section 15.04. Subrogation.

 

Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 15.01; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to a series of Securities, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation with respect to such series of Securities until all amounts then due and payable by the Company under this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities or the Securities of such series shall have been paid in full.

 

Section 15.05. Benefits Acknowledged.

 

Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

 

Section 15.06. Release of Guarantees.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Article Fifteen to the contrary, concurrently with the payment in full of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Securities of a series or upon Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to Securities of a series, every Guarantor shall be released from and relieved of its obligations under this Article Fifteen with respect to the Securities of such series. Upon the delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the transaction giving rise to the release of this Guarantee was made by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Securities, the Trustee (at the expense of the Company) shall execute and deliver any documents reasonably required in order to evidence the release of each Guarantor from its obligations under this Guarantee. If any of the obligations to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities and all other obligations of the Company are revived and reinstated after the termination of this Guarantee, then all of the obligations of each Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be revived and reinstated as if this Guarantee had not been terminated until such time as the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities are paid in full, and each Guarantor shall enter into an amendment to this Guarantee, reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, evidencing such revival and reinstatement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.

 

By:/s/ Mark Hobbert
Name:Mark Hobbert
 Title:Assistant Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Base Indenture]

 

 

 

 

  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee

 

By:/s/ Julie Hoffman-Ramos
Name:Julie Hoffman-Ramos
 Title:Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Base Indenture]

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 4.2

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.

 

and

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of October 15, 2021

 

to

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of October 15, 2021

 

Relating to

 

$700,000,000 of 2.050% Notes due 2026

 

$500,000,000 of 2.700% Notes due 2028

 

$650,000,000 of 3.150% Notes due 2031

 

$550,000,000 of 4.100% Notes due 2041

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page

 

Article One

Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

 

Section 1.01 References 2
     
Section 1.02 Definitions 2

 

Article Two

General Terms and Conditions of the Notes

 

Section 2.01 Designation and Principal Amount 9
     
Section 2.02 Maturity 10
     
Section 2.03 Form and Payment 10
     
Section 2.04 Interest 11
     
Section 2.05 Other Terms and Conditions 11

 

Article Three

Redemption

 

Section 3.01 Optional Redemption of the Notes 12
     
Section 3.02 Special Mandatory Redemption of the Notes 13

 

Article Four

Additional Covenants

 

Section 4.01 Purchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event 14
     
Section 4.02 Limitation on Liens 16
     
Section 4.03 Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions 18

 

Article Five

Additional Events of Default

 

Section 5.01 Additional Events of Default 19

 

 

 

 

Article Six

Miscellaneous

 

Section 6.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 20
     
Section 6.02 Application of First Supplemental Indenture 20
     
Section 6.03 Trust Indenture Act 20
     
Section 6.04 Conflict with Base Indenture 20
     
Section 6.05 Governing Law 20
     
Section 6.06 Successors 20
     
Section 6.07 Counterparts 20
     
Section 6.08 Trustee Disclaimer 21

 

 

 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of October 15, 2021 (this “First Supplemental Indenture”), between Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), to the Base Indenture (as defined below).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021 (the “Base Indenture” and, together with this First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance from time to time of its notes and other evidences of senior debt securities, to be issued in one or more series as therein provided;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Base Indenture, on the date hereof, the Company desires to provide for the establishment of four series of notes to be known respectively as its 2.050% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”), its 2.700% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), its 3.150% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”) and its 4.100% Senior Notes due 2041 (the “2041 Notes” and, together with the 2026 Notes, 2028 Notes and 2031 Notes, the “Notes”), the form and substance of such notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Base Indenture and herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Notes initially will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on a senior unsecured basis by International Business Machines Corporation, a New York corporation (the “Guarantor”), pursuant to a Guarantee Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Guarantee Agreement”), by the Guarantor in favor of the Holders, the Company and the Trustee;

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under its guarantee without any action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder at such time as the Distribution (as defined in the Guarantee Agreement) has been completed;

 

WHEREAS, the conditions set forth in the Base Indenture for the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture have been met; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has requested and hereby requests that the Trustee join with it in the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, and all acts and requirements necessary to make this First Supplemental Indenture a legal, valid and binding agreement of the parties, in accordance with its terms, and a valid supplement to, the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes have been done and performed.

 

 

 

 

WITNESSETH:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises contained herein, each party agrees for the benefit of each other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, as follows:

 

Article One

 

Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

 

Section 1.01        References. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this First Supplemental Indenture shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Base Indenture. References in this First Supplemental Indenture to article and section numbers shall be deemed to be references to article and section numbers of this First Supplemental Indenture unless otherwise specified. All references to any amount of interest or any other amount payable on or with respect to any of the Notes shall be deemed to include payment of any Additional Interest pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, if applicable.

 

Section 1.02        Definitions. For purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:

 

2026 Notes” has the meaning specified in the recitals of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

2028 Notes” has the meaning specified in the recitals of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

2031 Notes” has the meaning specified in the recitals of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

2041 Notes” has the meaning specified in the recitals of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

Additional Interest” means all interest payable as a consequence of the occurrence and continuation of a “Registration Default” as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Additional Notes” means any additional Notes that may be issued from time to time pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

 

Applicable Spread” means (i) 15 basis points, in the case of the 2026 Notes, (ii) 20 basis points, in the case of the 2028 Notes, (iii) 25 basis points, in the case of the 2031 Notes, or (iv) 30 basis points, in the case of the 2041 Notes.

 

Attributable Debt” means, with respect to any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, at the time of determination, the lesser of: (a) the fair value of the assets subject to such a transaction (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors); and (b) the present value (discounted at a rate per annum equal to the average interest borne by all Outstanding Notes determined on a weighted-average basis and compounded semi-annually) of the obligations of the lessee for rental payments (other than amounts required to be paid on account of property taxes as well as maintenance, repairs, insurance, water rates and other items which do not constitute payments for property rights) during the term of the related lease. In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such present value shall be the lesser of (i) the present value determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the present value 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 terminated) or (ii) the present value assuming no such termination.

 

2

 

 

Base Indenture” has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

 

Business Day” means any calendar day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in New York, New York and on which commercial banks are open for business in New York, New York.

 

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

 

(1) 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 Company’s assets and the assets of the Company’s Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than to the Company or one of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

 

(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution; or

 

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above), including any group defined as a person for the purpose of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then-outstanding number of shares of the Company’s Voting Stock, provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed beneficial owner of, or to own beneficially, (A) any securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such person or any of such person’s affiliates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange thereunder, or (B) any securities if such beneficial ownership (i) arises solely as a result of a revocable proxy delivered in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, and (ii) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D (or any successor schedule) under the Exchange Act.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control if (a) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of another person and (b) immediately following that transaction, a majority of Voting Stock of such person is held by the direct or indirect holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction and in substantially the same proportion as immediately prior to such transaction.

 

Change of Control Offer” has the meaning provided in Section 4.01(a).

 

Change of Control Payment Date” has the meaning provided in Section 4.01(a).

 

Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Ratings Event.

 

3

 

 

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Company” has the meaning provided in the Preamble.

 

Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the applicable series of Notes to be redeemed (assuming, for this purpose, that such Notes mature on the Par Call Date for such series) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes (assuming, for this purpose, that such Notes mature on the Par Call Date for such series).

 

Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (1) the arithmetic average of the applicable Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Company obtains fewer than four applicable Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the arithmetic average of all applicable Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date.

 

Consolidated Subsidiary” means, as of the time of determination and with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of that Person whose financial data is, in accordance with GAAP, reflected in that Person’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of the time of determination, total assets of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as reflected on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP contained in an annual report on Form 10-K or a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or any amendment thereto pursuant to the Exchange Act filed by the Company prior to the time as of which “Consolidated Total Assets” is being determined or, if the Company is not required to so file, as reflected on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Depositary” has the meaning provided in Section 2.03(d).

 

Exchange Notes” means Notes issued in a registered exchange offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

First Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning provided in the Preamble.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect from time to time.

 

Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, however, that the term “Guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “guarantee,” when used as a verb, has a correlative meaning.

 

4

 

 

Guarantee Agreement” has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

 

Guarantor” has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

 

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under: (1) interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements; (2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk; and (3) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity prices.

 

incur” means issue, incur, create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for.

 

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, obligations (other than Non-recourse Obligations) of such Person for borrowed money (including, without limitation, indebtedness for borrowed money evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments).

 

Indenture” has the meaning provided in the Recitals.

 

Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time.

 

Initial Notes” means the aggregate principal amount of each series of Notes issued on the date hereof, as specified on the first paragraph of Section 2.01.

 

Interest Payment Date” has the meaning provided in Section 2.04.

 

Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s); a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P); and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.

 

Lien” means any lien, security interest, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, and any agreement to give any security interest).

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service Inc., and its successors.

 

Non-recourse Obligation” means indebtedness or other obligations substantially related to (1) (A) the acquisition of assets not previously owned by the Company or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries, or (B) the financing of a project involving the development or expansion of the Company’s properties or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries, in each case as to which the obligee with respect to such Indebtedness or obligation has no recourse to the Company or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries or such Subsidiary’s assets other than the assets which were acquired with the proceeds of such transaction or the project financed with the proceeds of such transaction (and the proceeds thereof) or (2) a receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables or the proceeds thereof).

 

5

 

 

Notes” has the meaning provided in the Recitals. For the avoidance of doubt, “Notes” shall include any Additional Notes.

 

Offering Memorandum” means the Offering Memorandum, dated October 7, 2021, relating to the issuance of the Initial Notes.

 

Par Call Date” means, with respect to the 2026 Notes, September 15, 2026 (the date that is one month prior to the maturity date of the 2026 Notes), with respect to the 2028 Notes, August 15, 2028 (the date that is two months prior to the maturity date of the 2028 Notes), with respect to the 2031 Notes, July 15, 2031 (the date that is three months prior to the maturity date of the 2031 Notes) and, with respect to the 2041 Notes, April 15, 2041 (the date that is six months prior to the maturity date of the 2041 Notes).

 

Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1) Liens securing Hedging Obligations designed to protect the Company from fluctuations in interest rates, currencies, equities or the price of commodities and not for speculative purposes;

 

(2) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities or financial institutions in respect of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(3) Liens arising by reason of deposits necessary to qualify the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to conduct business, maintain self-insurance, or obtain the benefit of, or comply with, any law, including Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of governmental insurance or benefits;

 

(4) Liens of any landlord on fixtures located on premises leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and tenants’ rights under leases, easements and similar Liens not materially impairing the use or value of the Property involved;

 

(5) easements, zoning restrictions, building restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances or charges on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that are of a nature generally existing with respect to Properties of a similar character;

 

(6) Liens in connection with bankers’ acceptance financing or used in the ordinary course of trade practices, statutory lessor and vendor privilege Liens and Liens in connection with good faith bids, tenders and deposits;

 

6

 

 

(7) Liens arising under consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods;

 

(8) Liens incurred or pledges or deposits made under workmen’s compensation laws unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts or leases, or deposits to secure the Company’s public or statutory obligations, or deposits for the payment of rent;

 

(9) judgment Liens not giving rise to a default or Event of Default so long as such Lien is adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been initiated for the review of such judgment, decree or order shall not have been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not have expired;

 

(10) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of banker’s acceptances issued or credited for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods;

 

(11) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit in the ordinary course of business that encumber cash, documents and other Property relating to such letters of credit and proceeds thereof;

 

(12) Liens in favor of the Company or any of its wholly owned U.S. Subsidiaries; and

 

(13) customary Liens granted in favor of a trustee to secure fees and other amounts owing to such trustee under an indenture.

 

Property” means any property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including shares of capital stock.

 

Rating Agency” means, with respect to a series of Notes, (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate such Notes or fails to make a rating of such Notes publicly available, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both, as the case may be.

 

Rating Category” means (i) with respect to Moody’s, any of the following categories: Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); (ii) with respect to S&P, any of the following categories: BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and (iii) the equivalent of any such category of Moody’s or S&P used by another Rating Agency. In determining whether the rating of the Notes has decreased by one or more gradations, gradations within rating categories (1, 2 and 3 for Moody’s; + and - for S&P; or the equivalent gradations for another Rating Agency) shall be taken into account (e.g., with respect to S&P, a decline in a rating from BB+ to BB, as well as from BB- to B+, will constitute a decrease of one gradation).

 

Ratings Event” means, with respect to a series of Notes, during the period commencing on the date of the Company’s first public announcement of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control) (the “Rating Date”) and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control, the rating of the applicable series of Notes shall be reduced by both Rating Agencies and such Notes are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies and are not, within such period, subsequently upgraded by both Rating Agencies to an Investment Grade rating; provided, however, that a Ratings Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Ratings Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or confirm to the Company in writing at the Company’s request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Ratings Event).

 

7

 

 

Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, a primary treasury dealer as selected by each of MUFG Securities Americas Inc., Santander Investment Securities Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC, and one other primary treasury dealer as selected by us, and each of their respective successors and any other primary treasury dealers selected by the Company.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the arithmetic average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means the registration rights agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021, among the Company and the representatives of the initial purchasers with respect to the Initial Notes party thereto.

 

Registration Statement” means one or more registration statements filed by the Company providing for the registration under the Securities Act of the Notes.

 

Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to any Note of any series to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (assuming, for this purpose, that such Note matures on the applicable Par Call Date); provided, however, that, if such Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date with respect to such Note, the amount of the next scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such Redemption Date.

 

Special Mandatory Redemption Date” means, the fifth Business Day following the date of the applicable Special Mandatory Redemption Event.

 

Special Mandatory Redemption Event” means, the Spin-Off has not occurred on or prior to the earlier of (i) January 31, 2022 and (ii) the date on which the Company notifies the Trustee and the holders of the Notes that the Guarantor will not pursue the consummation of the Spin-Off.

 

8

 

 

Special Mandatory Redemption Price” means, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Spin-Off” means the transaction in which the Guarantor will distribute to its stockholders at least 80.1% of the shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

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

 

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date pursuant to Section 3.01 and series of Notes, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third Business Day immediately preceding that Redemption Date) of the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue. In determining this rate, the Company will assume a price for the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

 

Trustee” has the meaning provided in the Preamble.

 

U.S. Subsidiary” means any subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

Voting Stock” of any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) 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

 

General Terms and Conditions of the Notes

 

Section 2.01        Designation and Principal Amount.

 

(a)               There are hereby authorized and designated four series of Notes: the 2.050% Senior Notes due 2026, 2.700% Senior Notes due 2028, 3.150% Senior Notes due 2031 and 4.100% Senior Notes due 2041. Each series of the Notes may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture in an unlimited aggregate principal amount. The 2026 Notes issued on the date hereof pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $700,000,000. The 2028 Notes issued on the date hereof pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000. The 2031 Notes issued on the date hereof pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $650,000,000. The 2041 Notes issued on the date hereof pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $550,000,000. In the case of each series of Notes, the amount shall be set forth in the written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture. The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of the Company and will rank on the same basis with all of the Company’s other senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding.

 

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(b)               In addition, without the consent of the Holders of any series of the Notes, the Company may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the Holders of any series of the Notes, create and issue Additional Notes of any series having the same terms as, and ranking equally and ratably with, the applicable series of Notes (except for the issue date, the public offering price and, if applicable, the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such Additional Notes and the first payment of interest following the issue date of such Additional Notes); provided that if such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes of the applicable series offered hereby for U.S. federal securities laws or U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will have one or more separate CUSIP numbers. Such Additional Notes may be consolidated and form a single series with, and will have the same terms as to ranking, redemption, waivers, amendments or otherwise, as the applicable series of Notes, and will vote together as one class on all matters with respect to such series of Notes.

 

Section 2.02        Maturity.

 

Unless an earlier redemption has occurred, the principal amount of the 2026 Notes shall mature and be due and payable, together with any accrued interest thereon, on October 15, 2026, the principal amount of the 2028 Notes shall mature and be due and payable, together with any accrued interest thereon, on October 15, 2028, the principal amount of the 2031 Notes shall mature and be due and payable, together with any accrued interest thereon, on October 15, 2031 and the principal amount of the 2041 Notes shall mature and be due and payable, together with any accrued interest thereon, on October 15, 2041. If the maturity date of any series of the Notes falls on a day that is not a Business Day, payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest for such Notes then due will be paid on the next Business Day. No interest on that payment will accrue from and after the maturity date.

 

Section 2.03        Form and Payment.

 

(a)               The Notes of each series shall be issued as global notes in fully registered book-entry form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

(b)               The Notes and the Trustee’s Certificates of Authentication to be endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C and Exhibit D which forms are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

(c)               The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this First Supplemental Indenture, and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

 

(d)               Principal, premium, if any, and/or interest, if any, on the global notes representing each series of the Notes shall be made to The Depository Trust Company (together with any successor thereto, the “Depositary”).

 

(e)               The global notes representing each series of the Notes shall be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. No global note may be transferred except as a whole by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or such nominee to a successor of the Depositary or a nominee of such successor.

 

(f)                Additional provisions relating to the Initial Notes, Additional Notes, Exchange Notes and any other Notes issued under this First Supplemental Indenture are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and made a part of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

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Section 2.04        Interest.

 

Interest on the 2026 Notes shall accrue at the rate of 2.050% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2022.

 

Interest on the 2028 Notes shall accrue at the rate of 2.700% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2022.

 

Interest on the 2031 Notes shall accrue at the rate of 3.150% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2022.

 

Interest on the 2041 Notes shall accrue at the rate of 4.100% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2022.

 

Each such interest payment date for each series of Notes is referred to as an “Interest Payment Date”.

 

Interest on each series of the Notes shall be payable to the Holders in whose names the Notes of such series are registered at the close of business on the preceding April 1 and October 1. Interest on each series of the Notes will accrue from and including October 15, 2021, to, but excluding, the first Interest Payment Date and then from and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for to, but excluding, the next Interest Payment Date or maturity date, as the case may be. Interest on each series of the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. If any Interest Payment Date or other payment date for any series of the Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was due, and no interest on such payment shall accrue on that payment for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date or other payment date, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

Section 2.05        Other Terms and Conditions.

 

(a)               The Notes are not subject to a sinking fund.

 

(b)               The Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance provisions of the Article Thirteen of the Base Indenture will apply to each series of the Notes and the covenants set forth in Article Four shall be subject to the provisions of Section 13.03 of the Base Indenture. The provisions of Article Four of the Base Indenture will apply to each series of the Notes.

 

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(c)               Each series of the Notes will be initially guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to and on the terms set forth in the Guarantee Agreement. The provisions of Article Fifteen of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes. The Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under its guarantee without any action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder at such time as the Distribution (as defined in the Guarantee Agreement) has been completed pursuant to the terms of the Guarantee Agreement.

 

(d)               Each series of the Notes will be subject to the Events of Default provided in Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by Section 5.01.

 

(e)               The Trustee will initially be the Security Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes.

 

(f)                The Notes will be subject to the covenants provided in Article Ten of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by Article Four.

 

Article Three

Redemption

 

Section 3.01        Optional Redemption of the Notes.

 

(a)               Subject to Section 6.04, the provisions of Article Eleven of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture, shall apply to each series of the Notes.

 

(b)               At any time before the Par Call Date of each series of Notes, the Notes of each series shall be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed; and (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus the Applicable Spread, plus, in the case of each of clause (i) or (ii), accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date for such Notes (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

(c)               At any time on or after the Par Call Date of each series of Notes, the Notes of each series shall be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company’s election, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date for such Notes (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

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(d)               On and after any Redemption Date for a series of Notes, interest will cease to accrue on such Notes or any portion thereof called for redemption, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any. On or before the relevant Redemption Date for a series of Notes, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or a Paying Agent, funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of such Notes to be redeemed on such Redemption Date, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any. If less than all of the Notes of a series are to be redeemed, the Notes of such series to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary; provided, however, that in no event shall Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less be redeemed in part.

 

(e)               Notice of any redemption shall be electronically delivered or mailed at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed. Such notice shall state the Redemption Price (if known) or the formula pursuant to which the Redemption Price is to be determined if the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time the notice is given. If the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time such notice is to be given, the actual Redemption Price, calculated as described above in clause (b) or (c) of this Section 4.01, as applicable, shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as provided in the Indenture, the Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the relevant Redemption Date and at the applicable Redemption Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

(f)                Any redemption or notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an equity offering or Change of Control, issuance of indebtedness or other transaction or event. If any redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the notice of redemption in respect thereof shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion) by the Redemption Date as stated in such notice, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed. The Company may provide in such notice that payment of the applicable Redemption Price and the performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

 

(g)               The Trustee shall have no responsibility for any calculation or determination in respect of the Redemption Price of any Note, or any component thereof, and shall be entitled to receive, and fully-protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate from the Company that states such Redemption Price.

 

Section 3.02        Special Mandatory Redemption of the Notes.

 

(a)               If the Spin-Off has not occurred on or prior to a Special Mandatory Redemption Event, then the Company will redeem the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price.

 

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(b)               The Company will cause a notice of Special Mandatory Redemption to be electronically delivered or mailed to the Trustee and electronically delivered or mailed to each holder of record of the Notes to be redeemed no later than the Business Day following the Special Mandatory Redemption Event, which shall provide for the redemption of the Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.

 

(c)               Upon the deposit of funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price of all Notes to be redeemed on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date with the Paying Agent on or before such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Notes will shall cease to bear interest and all rights under the Notes shall terminate.

 

(d)               The notice of a Special Mandatory Redemption shall state:

 

(i)                 the Special Mandatory Redemption Date;

 

(ii)              the Special Mandatory Redemption Price;

 

(iii)            that on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Special Mandatory Redemption Price shall become due and payable; and

 

(iv)             that the Notes shall cease to bear interest on and after the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.

 

(e)               The Trustee shall have no responsibility for any calculation or determination in respect of the Special Mandatory Redemption Event or the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, or any component thereof, and shall be entitled to receive, and fully-protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate from the Company that states the occurrence of such Special Mandatory Redemption Event and such Special Mandatory Redemption Price.

 

Article Four

 

Additional Covenants

 

Section 4.01        Purchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.

 

(a)               If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs with respect to a series of Notes, unless the Company shall have exercised its right to redeem such Notes as set forth in Section 3.01 of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall be required to make an offer (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of such series of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holder’s Notes of such series at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event with respect to a series of Notes or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control, the Company shall electronically deliver or mail a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase such Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is electronically delivered or mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice shall, if electronically delivered or 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 Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date specified in the notice.

 

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(b)               On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

 

(i)                 accept for payment all the Notes or portions of the 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 the Notes or portions of the Notes properly tendered; and

 

(iii)            deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

 

(c)               The Paying Agent will promptly deliver to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the payment for the Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any such Notes surrendered; provided, that each new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

(d)               Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

 

(e)               If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of any series of Outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in an offer to repurchase the applicable Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event and the Company, or any third party making an offer to repurchase such Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event in lieu of the Company pursuant to Section 4.02(d) hereof, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company shall have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the Change of Control Payment Date, to redeem all Notes of such series that remain Outstanding following such purchase at a Redemption Price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

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(f)                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 a series of Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 4.01, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.01 by virtue of any such conflict.

 

(g)               The Trustee shall have no responsibility for any calculation or determination in respect of the Change of Control Repurchase Event or repurchase price of any Notes, or any component thereof, and shall be entitled to receive, and fully-protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate from the Company stating that such change of Change of Control Repurchase Event has occurred and specifying such repurchase price.

 

Section 4.02        Limitation on Liens.

 

(a)               The Company shall not incur, nor shall the Company permit any of its wholly owned U.S. Subsidiaries to incur, any Liens upon any Property of the Company or any of its wholly owned U.S. Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter created or acquired, in order to secure Indebtedness of the Company or any of its wholly owned U.S. Subsidiaries, in each case, unless prior to or at the same time, the Notes are equally and ratably secured with (or, at the Company’s option, senior to) such secured Indebtedness until such time as such Indebtedness is no longer secured by such Lien.

 

(b)               The foregoing restriction, however, will not apply to:

 

(1)        Liens on Property or Indebtedness existing with respect to any Person at the time such Person becomes the Company’s Subsidiary or a Subsidiary of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, provided that such Lien was not incurred in anticipation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary;

 

(2)       Liens on Property or Indebtedness existing at the time of acquisition by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or a Subsidiary of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries of such Property or Indebtedness (which may include Property previously leased by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries and leasehold interests on such Property, provided that the lease terminates prior to or upon the acquisition) or Liens on Property or Indebtedness to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price of such Property or Indebtedness, or Liens on Property or Indebtedness to secure any Indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 12 months after, the latest of the acquisition of such Property or Indebtedness or, in the case of Property, the completion of construction, the completion of improvements or the commencement of substantial commercial operation of such Property for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of the Property and related costs and expenses, the construction or the making of the improvements;

 

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(3)       Liens securing the Company’s Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries owing to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

 

(4)       Liens existing on the date of issuance of the Initial Notes;

 

(5)       Liens on Property or assets of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, at the time such Person becomes the Company’s Subsidiary, or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Properties or assets of a Person to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, provided that such Lien was not incurred in anticipation of the merger, consolidation, sale, lease, other disposition or other such transaction;

 

(6)       Liens created in connection with or to secure a Non-recourse Obligation or a project financed thereby;

 

(7)       Liens created to secure the Notes;

 

(8)       Liens imposed by law or arising by operation of law, including, without limitation, landlords’, mailmen’s, suppliers’, vendors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanic’s Liens and other similar Liens, Liens for master’s and crew’s wages and other similar laws, arising in the ordinary course of business, in each case for sums not yet overdue by more than 60 calendar days or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review and Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution;

 

(9)       Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies on Property not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for non-payment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

(10)       Liens to secure the performance of obligations with respect to statutory or regulatory requirements, bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance or return-of-money bonds and other obligations of a like nature;

 

(11)       Permitted Liens; or

 

(12)       any extensions, renewals or replacements of any Lien referred to in clauses (1) through (11) without increase of the principal of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien (except to the extent of any fees or other costs associated with any such extension, renewal or replacement); provided, however, that any Liens permitted by any of clauses (1) through (11) shall not extend to or cover any of the Company’s Property or the Property of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, as the case may be, other than the Property specified in such clauses and improvements to such Property.

 

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(c)               Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in Section 4.02(a), the Company and its wholly owned U.S. Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness secured by Liens, which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions without equally and ratably securing the Notes, provided that, after giving effect to such Indebtedness, the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness secured by Liens (not including Liens permitted under clauses (1) through (12) of Section 4.02(b) hereof), together with all Attributable Debt outstanding pursuant to Section 4.03(b) hereof, does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Total Assets calculated as of the date of the creation or incurrence of the Lien. The Company and its wholly owned U.S. Subsidiaries may also, without equally and ratably securing the Notes, create or incur Liens that renew, substitute or replace (including successive renewals, substitutions or replacements), in whole or in part, any Lien permitted pursuant to the preceding sentence.

 

Section 4.03        Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

 

(a)               The Company shall not, nor shall the Company permit any of its wholly owned U.S. Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction for the sale and leasing back of any Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, unless:

 

(1)       such transaction was entered into prior to the date of issuance of the Initial Notes;

 

(2)       such transaction was for the sale and leasing back to the Company or any of its wholly owned U.S. Subsidiaries of any Property by one of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

 

(3)       such transaction involves a lease for not more than three years (or which may be terminated by the Company or its Subsidiaries within a period of not more than three years);

 

(4)       the Company would be entitled to incur Indebtedness secured by a Lien with respect to such sale and leaseback transaction without equally and ratably securing the Notes pursuant to Section 4.02(b); or

 

(5)       the Company applies an amount equal to the net proceeds from the sale of such Property to the purchase of other Property or assets used or useful in the Company’s business or to the retirement of long-term Indebtedness within 12 months before or after the effective date of any such sale and leaseback transaction, provided that, in lieu of applying such amount to the retirement of long-term Indebtedness, the Company may deliver debt securities (which may include the Notes) to the applicable trustee for cancellation, such debt securities to be credited at the cost thereof to it.

 

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(b)               Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in Section 4.03(a) hereof, the Company and its wholly owned U.S. Subsidiaries may enter into any sale and leaseback transaction which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions, if after giving effect thereto the aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt with respect to such transactions (not including Attributable Debt permitted under clauses (1) through (5) of Section 4.03(a) hereof), together with all Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to Section 4.02(c) hereof, does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Total Assets calculated as of the closing date of the sale and leaseback transaction.

 

Article Five

 

Additional Events of Default

 

Section 5.01        Additional Events of Default. In addition to the Events of Default set forth in Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture, an “Event of Default” with respect to any series of the Notes occurs if:

 

(a)               failure by the Company to repurchase the Notes of such series tendered for repurchase following the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event in conformity with Section 4.02 hereof; or

 

(b)               (i) a failure to make any payment at maturity, including any applicable grace period, on any Indebtedness of the Company (other than Indebtedness the Company owes to any of its Subsidiaries) outstanding in an amount in excess of $250 million and continuance of this failure to pay or (ii) a default on any Indebtedness of the Company (other than Indebtedness the Company owes to any of its Subsidiaries), which default results in the acceleration of such indebtedness in an amount in excess of $250 million without such indebtedness having been discharged or the acceleration having been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, in the case of clause (i) or (ii) above, for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of Outstanding Notes of such series (including any Additional Notes); provided, however, that if any failure, default or acceleration referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above ceases or is cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, then the Event of Default will be deemed cured.

 

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Article Six

 

Miscellaneous

 

Section 6.01        Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. In addition to Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture, without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to conform any provision in this First Supplemental Indenture to the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision in the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum.

 

Section 6.02        Application of First Supplemental Indenture.

 

The Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed. This First Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

 

Section 6.03        Trust Indenture Act.

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, the imposed duties shall control.

 

Section 6.04        Conflict with Base Indenture.

 

To the extent not expressly amended or modified by this First Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture shall remain in full force and effect. If any provision of this First Supplemental Indenture relating to the Notes is inconsistent with any provision of the Base Indenture, the provision of this First Supplemental Indenture shall control.

 

Section 6.05        Governing Law.

 

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 6.06        Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company in the Base Indenture, this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

Section 6.07        Counterparts.

 

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

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The exchange of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original First Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. The exchange of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages that are executed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or by other electronic signing created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signing (such as Adobe Sign), in each case that is approved by the Trustee, shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto that are executed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or by other electronic signing created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signing (such as Adobe Sign), in each case that is approved by the Trustee, shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original.

 

Anything in this First Supplemental Indenture or any series of the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, for the purposes of the transactions contemplated by this First Supplemental Indenture, any Notes and any document to be signed in connection with the First Supplemental Indenture or the Notes (including any Securities, a Trustee’s certificate of authentication and amendments, supplements, waivers, consents and other modifications, Officer’s Certificates, Company Orders and Opinions of Counsel and other issuance, authentication and delivery documents) or the transactions contemplated hereby may be signed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or other electronic signatures created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signature (such as Adobe Sign), in each case that is approved by the Trustee, and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Trustee, and the keeping of records in electronic form, are hereby authorized, and each shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be.

 

Section 6.08        Trustee Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity, adequacy or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes other than as to the validity of the execution and delivery of the First Supplemental Indenture by the Trustee and the authentication of the Notes by the Trustee. The recitals and statements herein and in the Notes are deemed to be those of the Company and not the Trustee and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the same and the Trustee does not make any representation with respect to such matters. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Notes or the proceeds thereof.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this First Supplemental Indenture have caused it to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Mark Hobbert
          Name: Mark Hobbert
          Title: Assistant Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

 

  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
  as Trustee
   
  By: /s/ Julie Hoffman-Ramos
          Name: Julie Hoffman-Ramos
         Title:  Vice President

    

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

 

Appendix A

 

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES,
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND EXCHANGE NOTES OF EACH SERIES

 

Section 1.1 Definitions.

 

(a) Capitalized Terms.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Appendix A have the meanings given to them in the Indenture. The following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

 

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Global Note, Euroclear or Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

 

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme, or any successor securities clearing agency.

 

Custodian” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.

 

Definitive Note” means a certificated Initial Note, Additional Note or Exchange Note issued pursuant to the Indenture (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend if the transfer of such Note is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Notes Legend.

 

Distribution Compliance Period,” with respect to any Note, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Note is first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Company to the Trustee, and (b) the date of issuance with respect to such Note or any predecessor of such Note.

 

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.Y., as operator of Euroclear systems Clearance System or any successor securities clearing agency.

 

Exchange Offer” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

 

Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Transfer Restricted Notes” means Definitive Notes and any Notes in global form that bear or are required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

Unrestricted Global Note” means any Note in global form that does not bear or is not required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

U.S. person” means a “U.S. person” as defined in Regulation S.

 

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(b) Other Definitions.

 

Term: Defined
in
Section:
Agent Members 2.1(d)
Definitive Notes Legend 2.2(e)
Global Note 2.1(c)
Global Notes Legend 2.2(e)
Original Definitive Notes 2.1(a)
Regulation S Global Note 2.1(c)
Regulation S Legend 2.2(b)
Restricted Notes Legend 2.3(e)
Rule 144A Global Note 2.1(c)
Rule 144A Notes 2.1(a)

 

Section 1.2 General.

 

The provisions of this Appendix A shall apply to each series of Notes.

 

Section 2.1 Form and Dating.

 

(a)       The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof shall be (i) offered and sold by the Company to the initial purchasers thereof and (ii) resold, initially only to (1) persons reasonably believed to be QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Notes”) and (2) Persons other than U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S (“Regulation S Notes”). Additional Notes may also be considered to be Rule 144A Notes or Regulation S Notes, as applicable.

 

(b)       Global Notes. Rule 144A Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form, numbered RA-1 upward (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”) and Regulation S Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more global Notes, numbered RS-1 upward (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Note”), in each case without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend and Restricted Notes Legend, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture. The Rule 144A Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note and any Unrestricted Global Note are each referred to herein as a “Global Note” and are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes.” Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Sections 3.04 and Section 3.05 of the Base Indenture and Section 2.2(c) of this Appendix A.

 

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

 

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(c) and Section 3.03 of the Indenture and pursuant to a Company Order signed by one Officer of the Company, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (i) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or held by the Trustee as Custodian.

 

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Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Trustee as Custodian or under such Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

 

(d) Definitive Notes. Except as provided in Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 of this Appendix A, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.

 

Section 2.2 Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. When Definitive Notes are presented to the Security Registrar with a written request:

 

(i)       to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or

 

(ii)       to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations,

 

the Security Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:

 

(1)       shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and

 

(2)       in the case of Transfer Restricted Notes, such Transfer Restricted Notes are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to Section 2.2(b) of this Appendix A or otherwise in accordance with the Restricted Notes Legend, and are accompanied by a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note attached as an exhibit to the First Supplemental Indenture for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto.

 

(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note. A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, together with:

 

(i)       a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note attached as an exhibit to the First Supplemental Indenture for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto; and

 

(ii)       written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase,

 

the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Global Note to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled. If the applicable Global Note is not then outstanding, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of the Company in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, a new applicable Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.

 

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(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.

 

(i)       The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 2.2(d) of this Appendix A, if any) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Security Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with a beneficial interest in such Global Note, or another Global Note, and such account shall be credited in accordance with such order with a beneficial interest in the applicable Global Note and the account of the Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.

 

(ii)       If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.

 

(iii)       Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix A (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.3 of this Appendix A), a Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole and not in part if the transfer is 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.

 

(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Global Notes; Voluntary Exchange of Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes for Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes.

 

(i)       Transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through another Transfer Restricted Note shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and only upon receipt by the Trustee of a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note attached as an exhibit to the First Supplemental Indenture for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto. In addition, in the case of a transfer of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, the transferee must furnish a certification or a signed letter in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note attached as an exhibit to the First Supplemental Indenture to the Trustee.

 

(ii)       During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note may only be sold, pledged or transferred through Euroclear or Clearstream in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, the Restricted Notes Legend on such Regulation S Global Note and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States of America. Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note shall be made only in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification from the transferor of the beneficial interest in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note attached as an exhibit to the First Supplemental Indenture for exchange or registration of transfers and, in the case of a transfer to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through a Rule 144A Global Note, the transferee must furnish a certification or a signed letter in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note attached as an exhibit to the First Supplemental Indenture to the Trustee. Such written certifications or letter shall no longer be required after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period. Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note shall be transferable in accordance with applicable law and the other terms of the Indenture.

 

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(iii)       Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note upon certification in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note attached as an exhibit to the First Supplemental Indenture for an exchange from a Regulation S Global Note to an Unrestricted Global Note.

 

(iv)       Beneficial interests in a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Rule 144A Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Security Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note attached as an exhibit to the First Supplemental Indenture) and/or upon delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

(v)       If no Unrestricted Global Note is outstanding at the time of a transfer contemplated by the preceding clauses (iii) and (iv), the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of the Company in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, a new Unrestricted Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.

 

(e) Legends.

 

(i) Except as permitted by Section 2.2(d), this Section 2.2(e), Section 2.2(i) and Section 2.2(j) of this Appendix A, each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes and the Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only) (“Restricted Notes Legend”):

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC. (THE “ISSUER”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

 

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Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Definitive Notes Legend”):

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE SECURITY REGISTRAR SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH SECURITY REGISTRAR MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

Each Global Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Global Notes Legend”):

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 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 SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

 

Each Regulation S Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Regulation S Legend”):

 

BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON, AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

(ii)       Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Security Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and the Definitive Notes Legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Security Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note attached as an exhibit to the First Supplemental Indenture) and provides such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

(iii)       After a transfer of any Initial Notes or Additional Notes during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to such Initial Notes or Additional Notes, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Notes Legend on such Initial Notes or Additional Notes shall cease to apply and the requirements that any such Initial Notes or Additional Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply.

 

(iv)       Upon the consummation of an Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Notes or Additional Notes pursuant to which Holders of such Initial Notes or Additional Notes are offered Exchange Notes in exchange for their Initial Notes or Additional Notes, all requirements pertaining to Initial Notes or Additional Notes that Initial Notes or Additional Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply, and Exchange Notes in global form without the Restricted Notes Legend shall be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Notes or Additional Notes in such Exchange Offer.

 

(v)       Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

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(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by the Depositary to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

 

(g) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.

 

(i)       To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Security Registrar’s request.

 

(ii)       No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06 and 11.07 of the Base Indenture).

 

(iii)       Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(iv)       All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under the Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

 

(v)       In order to effect any transfer or exchange of an interest in any Transfer Restricted Note for an interest in a Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and has not been registered under the Securities Act, if the Security Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel, in form reasonably acceptable to the Security Registrar to the effect that no registration under the Securities Act is required in respect of such exchange or transfer or the re-sale of such interest by the beneficial holder thereof, shall be required to be delivered to the Security Registrar and the Trustee.

 

(h) No Obligation of the Trustee.

 

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

 

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(ii)       The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under the Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

(iii)       Neither the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

(i) Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Base Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Global Notes without the Restricted Notes Legend in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amounts of the beneficial interests in the Global Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that provide in the applicable letters of transmittal such certifications as are required by the Registration Rights Agreement and applicable law, and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer and (ii) Definitive Notes without the Restricted Notes Legend in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Notes tendered for acceptance by Persons that provide in the applicable letters of transmittal such certification as are required by the Registration Rights Agreement and applicable law, and accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer. Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Notes with the Restricted Notes Legend to be reduced accordingly, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Persons designated by the Holders of the Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive Notes without the Restricted Notes Legend in the applicable principal amount. Any Notes that remain outstanding after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, and Exchange Notes issued in connection with the Exchange Offer, shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture.

 

Section 2.3 Definitive Notes.

 

(a)       A Global Note deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 or issued in connection with an Exchange Offer may be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.2 of this Appendix A and (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and, in each case, a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or after the Company becomes aware of such cessation, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Security Registrar has received a request from the Depository. In addition, any Affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor that is a beneficial owner of all or part of a Global Note may have such Affiliate’s beneficial interest transferred to such Affiliate in the form of a Definitive Note by providing a written request to the Company and the Trustee and such Opinions of Counsel, certificates or other information as may be required by the Indenture or the Company or Trustee.

 

(b)       Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.2(e) of this Appendix A, bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

(c)       The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under the Indenture or the Notes.

 

(d)       In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.3(a) of this Appendix A, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in fully registered form without interest coupons.

 

A-8

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF 2026 NOTE

 

[RESTRICTED NOTES ONLY] [THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC. (THE “ISSUER”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.]

 

[GLOBAL NOTES ONLY] [UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 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 SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

 

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]

 

[REGULATION S NOTES ONLY] [BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON, AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

 

2

 

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
2.050% Senior Notes due 2026

 

No. R-[●]  

CUSIP No.: [50155QAA8 (144A) /

U49077AA5 (Reg S)]

   

ISIN No.: [US50155QAA85 (144A) /

USU49077AA55 (Reg S)]

    $[●]

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received promises to pay to [________________] or registered assigns the principal sum of [●] DOLLARS on October 15, 2026 (the “Stated Maturity”).

 

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on April 15, 2022, and upon the Stated Maturity.

 

Interest Record Dates: April 1 and October 1 (each, a “Regular Record Date”).

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

3

 

 

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

 

  KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

[Signature Page to Note]

 

 

 

This is one of the Notes designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated: [●]

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

   
  By:  
  Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Note]

 

 

 

(REVERSE OF NOTE) 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
2.050% Senior Notes due 2026

 

1.           Interest.

 

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum described above. Cash interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid; or, if no interest has been paid, from October 15, 2021. Interest on this Note will be paid to but excluding the relevant Interest Payment Date or on such earlier date as the principal amount shall become due in accordance with the provisions hereof. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, beginning on April 15, 2022, and on the Stated Maturity. If any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or other payment date with respect to the Notes is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest will be due on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date that such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on that payment for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or other payment date, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on the next succeeding Business Day. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal from time to time on demand at the rate borne by the Notes and at the same rate on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) to the extent lawful from the dates such amounts are due until such amounts are paid or made available for payment. [All references to any amount of interest or any other amount payable on or with respect to the Notes shall be deemed to include payment of any interest payable as a consequence of the occurrence and continuation of a “Registration Default,” if applicable, as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as October 15, 2021, among the Company and the representatives of the initial purchasers with respect to the Initial Notes party thereto.]

 

2.           Paying Agent.

 

Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Trustee”) will act as paying agent. The Company may change any paying agent without notice to the Holders.

 

3.           Indenture; Defined Terms.

 

This Note is one of the 2.050% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”) issued under the Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “Base Indenture” and, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee, as trustee. This Note is a “Security” and the Notes are “Securities” under the Indenture.

 

3

 

 

For purposes of this Note, unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”) as in effect on the date on which the Indenture is qualified under the TIA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Notes are subject to all such terms, and holders of Notes are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them. To the extent the terms of the Indenture and this Note are inconsistent, the terms of the Indenture shall govern.

 

4.           Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

 

The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder shall register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Company may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not issue, authenticate, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes or portions thereof for a period of fifteen (15) days before the sending of a notice of redemption, nor need the Company register the transfer or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part.

 

5.           Amendment; Modification; Waiver.

 

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 affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding affected thereby. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of a series at the time Outstanding with respect to which a default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive, with certain exceptions, such past default with respect to such series and its consequences. The Indenture also permits the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of a 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. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the Indenture also permits the amendment or supplement thereof to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, error, defect or inconsistency, or make any other change that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders.

 

6.           Optional Redemption; Special Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Company may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at its option, at any time or from time to time prior to maturity on at least 10 days, but not more than 60 days, prior notice electronically delivered or mailed to the registered address of each Holder of the Notes (the “Redemption Date”) pursuant to the following terms:

 

4

 

 

At any time before September 15, 2026 (the “Par Call Date”), the redemption price will be equal to the greater of:

 

(i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; or

 

(ii) the sum of the present values of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (assuming, for this purpose, that the Notes on the applicable Par Call Date), exclusive of interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the Redemption Date if such Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points,

 

plus, in the case of (i) or (ii), accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date.(subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

At any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the registered Holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the Notes and the Indenture.

 

On and after the Redemption Date for the Notes, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion thereof called for redemption, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any. On or before the Redemption Date for the Notes, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or a Paying Agent, funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Notes to be redeemed on the Redemption Date, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary; provided, however, that in no event shall Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less be redeemed in part.

 

Notice of any redemption shall be electronically delivered or mailed at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of record of the Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. Such notice shall state, among other things, the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and the place or places that payment shall be made upon presentation and surrender of Notes to be redeemed. If the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time such notice is to be given, the actual Redemption Price, calculated as set forth in the Indenture, shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as provided in the Indenture, the Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the applicable Redemption Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

5

 

 

Any redemption or notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an equity offering or Change of Control, issuance of indebtedness or other transaction or event. If any redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the notice of redemption in respect thereof shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion) by the Redemption Date as stated in such notice, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed. The Company may provide in such notice that payment of the applicable Redemption Price and the performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

 

If the Spin-Off has not occurred on or prior to the earlier of (i) January 31, 2022 and (ii) the date on which the Company notifies the Trustee and the holders of the Notes that the Guarantor will not pursue the consummation of the Spin-Off (a “Special Mandatory Redemption Event”), then the Company will redeem the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the fifth Business Day following the date of the applicable Special Mandatory Redemption Event (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”) at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

7.           Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event.

 

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs with respect to the Notes, unless the Company shall have exercised its right to redeem such Notes, the Company shall be required to make an offer (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of such Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes on the terms set forth in the First Supplemental Indenture and in the Notes. In the Change of Control Offer, the Company shall be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event with respect to the Notes or, at the option of the Company, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control, the Company shall electronically deliver or mail a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is electronically delivered or mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice shall, if electronically delivered or 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 Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date specified in the notice.

 

6

 

 

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

 

(i)                 accept for payment all the Notes or portions of the 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 the Notes or portions of the Notes properly tendered; and

 

(iii)            deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

 

If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event and the Company, or any third party making an offer to repurchase such Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event in lieu of the Company, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company shall have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the Change of Control Payment Date, to redeem all Notes that remain Outstanding following such purchase at a Redemption Price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

8.          Defaults and Remedies.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may declare the principal amount of all the Notes 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.

 

The Indenture permits, subject to certain limitations therein provided, Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Notes.

 

7

 

 

9.          Authentication.

 

This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on this Note by manual or PDF or other electronically imaged (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) signature.

 

10.        Abbreviations and Defined Terms.

 

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Note or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

11.         CUSIP Numbers.

 

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to the Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

 

12.         Governing Law.

 

The laws of the State of New York shall govern the Indenture and this Note.

 

8

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

 

and irrevocably appoint                               agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

 

 

 

Date: ________________ Your Signature: _____________________

 

 

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

 

    Signature
Signature Guarantee:    
     
Signature must be guaranteed   Signature

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

9

 

 

CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES1

 

This certificate relates to $               principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)            book-entry or             definitive form by the undersigned.

 

The undersigned (check one box below):

 

¨has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above) in accordance with the Indenture; or

 

¨has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

 

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)¨ to the Company or subsidiary thereof; or

 

(2) to the Security Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or

 

(3) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); or

 

(4) to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer and to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or

 

(5) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States of America within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and if the transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Notes shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream); or

 

(6) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

(7) pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

 

 

1 This certificate shall not be included as part of the Original Definitive Notes.

 

10

 

 

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (6) or (7) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

   
  Your Signature
   
Date:  
  Signature of Signature
  Guarantor

 

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

 

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

  
Dated:

NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer
Name:
Title:

 

Signature Guarantee*:

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

11

 

 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for certificated Notes or a part of another Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange   Amount of
decrease
in principal
amount
of this Global
Note
  Amount of
increase
in principal
amount
of this Global
Note
  Principal
amount of
this Global Note
following such
decrease (or
increase)
  Signature of
authorized
signatory of
Trustee
                 

 

12

 

 

REPURCHASE EXERCISE NOTICE UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

To: Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.

 

The undersigned registered owner of this Security hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (the “Issuer”) as to the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event with respect to the Issuer and hereby directs the Issuer to pay, or cause the Trustee to pay,                                     an amount in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, or the portion thereof (which is $2,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date, except as provided in the Indenture. The undersigned hereby agrees that the Notes will be repurchased as of the Change of Control Payment Date pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof and the Indenture.

 

  Dated:    

 

  Signature    

 

  Principal amount to be repurchased (at least $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof):  

 

  Remaining principal amount following such repurchase:  

 

By:    
  Authorized Signatory  

 

13

 

 

 

Exhibit B

 

FORM OF 2028 NOTES

 

[RESTRICTED NOTES ONLY] [THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC. (THE “ISSUER”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.]

 

[GLOBAL NOTES ONLY] [UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 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 SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY

 

PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]

 

[REGULATION S NOTES ONLY] [BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON, AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

 

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KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
2.700% Senior Notes due 2028

 

No. R-[●]   CUSIP No.: [50155QAC4 (144A) /
U49077AB3 (Reg S)]
    ISIN No.: [US50155QAC42 (144A) /
USU49077AB39 (Reg S)]
    $[●]

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received promises to pay to [________________] or registered assigns the principal sum of [●] DOLLARS on October 15, 2028 (the “Stated Maturity”).

 

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on April 15, 2022, and upon the Stated Maturity.

 

Interest Record Dates: April 1 and October 1 (each, a “Regular Record Date”).

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

 

 

 

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

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
     
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to Note]

 

 

 

 

This is one of the Notes designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated: [●]

 

  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee
   
   
  By:  
  Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Note]

 

 

 

 

(REVERSE OF NOTE)


KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
2.700% Senior Notes due 2028

 

1.           Interest.

 

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum described above. Cash interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid; or, if no interest has been paid, from October 15, 2021. Interest on this Note will be paid to but excluding the relevant Interest Payment Date or on such earlier date as the principal amount shall become due in accordance with the provisions hereof. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, beginning on April 15, 2022, and on the Stated Maturity. If any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or other payment date with respect to the Notes is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest will be due on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date that such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on that payment for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or other payment date, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on the next succeeding Business Day. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal from time to time on demand at the rate borne by the Notes and at the same rate on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) to the extent lawful from the dates such amounts are due until such amounts are paid or made available for payment. [All references to any amount of interest or any other amount payable on or with respect to the Notes shall be deemed to include payment of any interest payable as a consequence of the occurrence and continuation of a “Registration Default,” if applicable, as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as October 15, 2021, among the Company and the representatives of the initial purchasers with respect to the Initial Notes party thereto.]

 

2.            Paying Agent.

 

Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Trustee”) will act as paying agent. The Company may change any paying agent without notice to the Holders.

 

3.           Indenture; Defined Terms.

 

This Note is one of the 2.700% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”) issued under the Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “Base Indenture” and, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee, as trustee. This Note is a “Security” and the Notes are “Securities” under the Indenture.

 

For purposes of this Note, unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”) as in effect on the date on which the Indenture is qualified under the TIA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Notes are subject to all such terms, and holders of Notes are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them. To the extent the terms of the Indenture and this Note are inconsistent, the terms of the Indenture shall govern.

 

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4.           Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

 

The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder shall register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Company may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not issue, authenticate, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes or portions thereof for a period of fifteen (15) days before the sending of a notice of redemption, nor need the Company register the transfer or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part.

 

5.            Amendment; Modification; Waiver.

 

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 affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding affected thereby. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of a series at the time Outstanding with respect to which a default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive, with certain exceptions, such past default with respect to such series and its consequences. The Indenture also permits the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of a 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. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the Indenture also permits the amendment or supplement thereof to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, error, defect or inconsistency, or make any other change that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders.

 

6.            Optional Redemption; Special Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Company may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at its option, at any time or from time to time prior to maturity on at least 10 days, but not more than 60 days, prior notice electronically delivered or mailed to the registered address of each Holder of the Notes (the “Redemption Date”) pursuant to the following terms:

 

At any time before August 15, 2028 (the “Par Call Date”), the redemption price will be equal to the greater of:

 

(i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; or

 

(ii) the sum of the present values of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (assuming, for this purpose, that the Notes on the applicable Par Call Date), exclusive of interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the Redemption Date if such Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points,

 

plus, in the case of (i) or (ii), accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date.(subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

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At any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the registered Holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the Notes and the Indenture.

 

On and after the Redemption Date for the Notes, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion thereof called for redemption, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any. On or before the Redemption Date for the Notes, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or a Paying Agent, funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Notes to be redeemed on the Redemption Date, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary; provided, however, that in no event shall Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less be redeemed in part.

 

Notice of any redemption shall be electronically delivered or mailed at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of record of the Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. Such notice shall state, among other things, the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and the place or places that payment shall be made upon presentation and surrender of Notes to be redeemed. If the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time such notice is to be given, the actual Redemption Price, calculated as set forth in the Indenture, shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as provided in the Indenture, the Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the applicable Redemption Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

Any redemption or notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an equity offering or Change of Control, issuance of indebtedness or other transaction or event. If any redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the notice of redemption in respect thereof shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion) by the Redemption Date as stated in such notice, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed. The Company may provide in such notice that payment of the applicable Redemption Price and the performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

 

If the Spin-Off has not occurred on or prior to the earlier of (i) January 31, 2022 and (ii) the date on which the Company notifies the Trustee and the holders of the Notes that the Guarantor will not pursue the consummation of the Spin-Off (a “Special Mandatory Redemption Event”), then the Company will redeem the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the fifth Business Day following the date of the applicable Special Mandatory Redemption Event (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”) at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

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7.           Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event.

 

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs with respect to the Notes, unless the Company shall have exercised its right to redeem such Notes, the Company shall be required to make an offer (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of such Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes on the terms set forth in the First Supplemental Indenture and in the Notes. In the Change of Control Offer, the Company shall be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event with respect to the Notes or, at the option of the Company, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control, the Company shall electronically deliver or mail a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is electronically delivered or mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice shall, if electronically delivered or 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 Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date specified in the notice.

 

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

 

(i)                 accept for payment all the Notes or portions of the 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 the Notes or portions of the Notes properly tendered; and

 

(iii)            deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

 

If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event and the Company, or any third party making an offer to repurchase such Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event in lieu of the Company, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company shall have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the Change of Control Payment Date, to redeem all Notes that remain Outstanding following such purchase at a Redemption Price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

8.           Defaults and Remedies.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may declare the principal amount of all the Notes 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.

 

The Indenture permits, subject to certain limitations therein provided, Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Notes.

 

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9.          Authentication.

 

This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on this Note by manual or PDF or other electronically imaged (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) signature.

 

10.          Abbreviations and Defined Terms.

 

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Note or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

11.           CUSIP Numbers.

 

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to the Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

 

12.          Governing Law.

 

The laws of the State of New York shall govern the Indenture and this Note.

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

 

and irrevocably appoint                               agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

 

Date: ________________ Your Signature: _____________________

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

 

    Signature
Signature Guarantee:    
     
Signature must be guaranteed   Signature

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES2

 

This certificate relates to $               principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)            book-entry or             definitive form by the undersigned.

 

The undersigned (check one box below):

 

has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above) in accordance with the Indenture; or

 

has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

 

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1) to the Company or subsidiary thereof; or

 

(2) to the Security Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or

 

(3) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); or

 

(4) to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer and to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or

 

(5) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States of America within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and if the transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Notes shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream); or

 

(6) pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

(7) pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

 

 

2 This certificate shall not be included as part of the Original Definitive Notes.

 

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Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (6) or (7) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

   
Your Signature
   
Date:  
Signature of Signature
Guarantor

 

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

 

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:  NOTICE: To be executed by
an executive officer
Name:
Title:

 

Signature Guarantee*:

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for certificated Notes or a part of another Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange   Amount of
decrease
in principal
amount
of this Global
Note
  Amount of
increase
in principal
amount
of this Global
Note
  Principal
amount of
this Global Note
following such
decrease (or
increase)
  Signature of
authorized
signatory of
Trustee
                 


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REPURCHASE EXERCISE NOTICE UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

To: Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.

 

The undersigned registered owner of this Security hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (the “Issuer”) as to the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event with respect to the Issuer and hereby directs the Issuer to pay, or cause the Trustee to pay,                                     an amount in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, or the portion thereof (which is $2,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date, except as provided in the Indenture. The undersigned hereby agrees that the Notes will be repurchased as of the Change of Control Payment Date pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof and the Indenture.

 

Dated:    

 

Signature    

 

Principal amount to be repurchased (at least $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof):  

 

Remaining principal amount following such repurchase:  

 

By:    
  Authorized Signatory

 

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Exhibit C

 

FORM OF 2031 NOTES

 

[RESTRICTED NOTES ONLY] [THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC. (THE “ISSUER”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.]

 

[GLOBAL NOTES ONLY] [UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 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 SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

 

 

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]

 

[REGULATION S NOTES ONLY] [BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON, AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

 

2

 

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
3.150% Senior Notes due 2031

 

No. R-[●]  

CUSIP No.: [50155QAE0 (144A)

/ U49077AC1 (Reg S)]

   

ISIN No.: [US50155QAE08 (144A) /

USU49077AC12 (Reg S)]

    $[●]

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received promises to pay to [________________] or registered assigns the principal sum of [●] DOLLARS on October 15, 2031 (the “Stated Maturity”).

 

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on April 15, 2022, and upon the Stated Maturity.

 

Interest Record Dates: April 1 and October 1 (each, a “Regular Record Date”).

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

3

 

 

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

 

  KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.

 

By: 
  Name:
  Title:

 

[Signature Page to Note]

 

 

 

 

This is one of the Notes designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated: [●]

 

  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee
   
  By:  
  Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Note]

 

 

 

 

(REVERSE OF NOTE)

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
3.150% Senior Notes due 2031

 

1.       Interest.

 

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum described above. Cash interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid; or, if no interest has been paid, from October 15, 2021. Interest on this Note will be paid to but excluding the relevant Interest Payment Date or on such earlier date as the principal amount shall become due in accordance with the provisions hereof. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, beginning on April 15, 2022, and on the Stated Maturity. If any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or other payment date with respect to the Notes is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest will be due on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date that such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on that payment for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or other payment date, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on the next succeeding Business Day. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal from time to time on demand at the rate borne by the Notes and at the same rate on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) to the extent lawful from the dates such amounts are due until such amounts are paid or made available for payment. [All references to any amount of interest or any other amount payable on or with respect to the Notes shall be deemed to include payment of any interest payable as a consequence of the occurrence and continuation of a “Registration Default,” if applicable, as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as October 15, 2021, among the Company and the representatives of the initial purchasers with respect to the Initial Notes party thereto.]

 

2.       Paying Agent.

 

Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Trustee”) will act as paying agent. The Company may change any paying agent without notice to the Holders.

 

3.       Indenture; Defined Terms.

 

This Note is one of the 3.150% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”) issued under the Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “Base Indenture” and, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee, as trustee. This Note is a “Security” and the Notes are “Securities” under the Indenture.

 

3 

 

 

For purposes of this Note, unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”) as in effect on the date on which the Indenture is qualified under the TIA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Notes are subject to all such terms, and holders of Notes are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them. To the extent the terms of the Indenture and this Note are inconsistent, the terms of the Indenture shall govern.

 

4.       Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

 

The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder shall register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Company may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not issue, authenticate, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes or portions thereof for a period of fifteen (15) days before the sending of a notice of redemption, nor need the Company register the transfer or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part.

 

5.       Amendment; Modification; Waiver.

 

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 affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding affected thereby. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of a series at the time Outstanding with respect to which a default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive, with certain exceptions, such past default with respect to such series and its consequences. The Indenture also permits the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of a 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. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the Indenture also permits the amendment or supplement thereof to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, error, defect or inconsistency, or make any other change that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders.

 

4 

 

 

6.       Optional Redemption; Special Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Company may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at its option, at any time or from time to time prior to maturity on at least 10 days, but not more than 60 days, prior notice electronically delivered or mailed to the registered address of each Holder of the Notes (the “Redemption Date”) pursuant to the following terms:

 

At any time before July 15, 2031 (the “Par Call Date”), the redemption price will be equal to the greater of:

 

(i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; or

 

(ii) the sum of the present values of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (assuming, for this purpose, that the Notes on the applicable Par Call Date), exclusive of interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the Redemption Date if such Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points,

 

plus, in the case of (i) or (ii), accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date.(subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

At any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the registered Holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the Notes and the Indenture.

 

On and after the Redemption Date for the Notes, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion thereof called for redemption, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any. On or before the Redemption Date for the Notes, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or a Paying Agent, funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Notes to be redeemed on the Redemption Date, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary; provided, however, that in no event shall Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less be redeemed in part.

 

Notice of any redemption shall be electronically delivered or mailed at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of record of the Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. Such notice shall state, among other things, the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and the place or places that payment shall be made upon presentation and surrender of Notes to be redeemed. If the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time such notice is to be given, the actual Redemption Price, calculated as set forth in the Indenture, shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as provided in the Indenture, the Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the applicable Redemption Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

5 

 

 

Any redemption or notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an equity offering or Change of Control, issuance of indebtedness or other transaction or event. If any redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the notice of redemption in respect thereof shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion) by the Redemption Date as stated in such notice, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed. The Company may provide in such notice that payment of the applicable Redemption Price and the performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

 

If the Spin-Off has not occurred on or prior to the earlier of (i) January 31, 2022 and (ii) the date on which the Company notifies the Trustee and the holders of the Notes that the Guarantor will not pursue the consummation of the Spin-Off (a “Special Mandatory Redemption Event”), then the Company will redeem the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the fifth Business Day following the date of the applicable Special Mandatory Redemption Event (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”) at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

7.       Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event.

 

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs with respect to the Notes, unless the Company shall have exercised its right to redeem such Notes, the Company shall be required to make an offer (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of such Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes on the terms set forth in the First Supplemental Indenture and in the Notes. In the Change of Control Offer, the Company shall be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event with respect to the Notes or, at the option of the Company, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control, the Company shall electronically deliver or mail a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is electronically delivered or mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice shall, if electronically delivered or 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 Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date specified in the notice.

 

6 

 

 

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

 

(i)                 accept for payment all the Notes or portions of the 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 the Notes or portions of the Notes properly tendered; and

 

(iii)             deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

 

If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event and the Company, or any third party making an offer to repurchase such Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event in lieu of the Company, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company shall have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the Change of Control Payment Date, to redeem all Notes that remain Outstanding following such purchase at a Redemption Price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

If the Spin-Off has not occurred on or prior to the earlier of (i) January 31, 2022 and (ii) the date on which the Company notifies the Trustee and the holders of the Notes that the Guarantor will not pursue the consummation of the Spin-Off (a “Special Mandatory Redemption Event”), then the Company will redeem the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the fifth Business Day following the date of the applicable Special Mandatory Redemption Event (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”) at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

8.        Defaults and Remedies.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may declare the principal amount of all the Notes 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.

 

The Indenture permits, subject to certain limitations therein provided, Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Notes.

 

7 

 

 

9.       Authentication.

 

This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on this Note by manual or PDF or other electronically imaged (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) signature.

 

10.       Abbreviations and Defined Terms.

 

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Note or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

11.       CUSIP Numbers.

 

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to the Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

 

12.       Governing Law.

 

The laws of the State of New York shall govern the Indenture and this Note.

 

8 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

 

and irrevocably appoint                               agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

 

Date:  Your Signature:   

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

 

    Signature
Signature Guarantee:    
     
Signature must be guaranteed   Signature

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

9 

 

 

CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES3

 

This certificate relates to $               principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)            book-entry or             definitive form by the undersigned.

 

The undersigned (check one box below):

 

¨has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above) in accordance with the Indenture; or

 

¨has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

 

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1) ¨ to the Company or subsidiary thereof; or
    
(2) ¨ to the Security Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or
    
(3) ¨ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); or
    
(4) ¨ to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer and to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or
    
(5) ¨ pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States of America within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and if the transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Notes shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream); or
    
(6) ¨ pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or
    
(7) ¨ pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

 

 

3 This certificate shall not be included as part of the Original Definitive Notes.

 

10 

 

 

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (6) or (7) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

 

  Your Signature

 

Date:  

Signature of Signature
Guarantor

 

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

 

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

 

Dated:NOTICE: To be executed by
an executive officer
Name:
Title:

 

Signature Guarantee*:

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

11 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for certificated Notes or a part of another Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange   Amount of decrease
in principal amount
of this Global Note
  Amount of increase
in principal amount
of this Global Note
  Principal amount of
this Global Note
following such
decrease (or
increase)
  Signature of
authorized signatory of
Trustee
                 
                 

12 

 

 

REPURCHASE EXERCISE NOTICE UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

To: Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.

 

The undersigned registered owner of this Security hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (the “Issuer”) as to the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event with respect to the Issuer and hereby directs the Issuer to pay, or cause the Trustee to pay,                                     an amount in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, or the portion thereof (which is $2,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date, except as provided in the Indenture. The undersigned hereby agrees that the Notes will be repurchased as of the Change of Control Payment Date pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof and the Indenture.

 

Dated:    

 

Signature    

 

Principal amount to be repurchased (at least $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof):  

 

Remaining principal amount following such repurchase:  

 

By:    
  Authorized Signatory  

 

13 

 

 

 

Exhibit D

 

FORM OF 2041 NOTES

 

[RESTRICTED NOTES ONLY] [THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC. (THE “ISSUER”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.]

 

[GLOBAL NOTES ONLY] [UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 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 SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

 

 

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]

 

[REGULATION S NOTES ONLY] [BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON, NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON, AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

 

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KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
4.100% Senior Notes due 2041

 

No. R-[●]  

CUSIP No.: [50155QAG5 (144A) /

U49077AD9 (Reg S)]

   

ISIN No.: [US50155QAG55 (144A) /

USU49077AD94 (Reg S)]

    $[●]

 

KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received promises to pay to [________________] or registered assigns the principal sum of [●] DOLLARS on October 15, 2041 (the “Stated Maturity”).

 

Interest Payment Dates: April 15 and October 15 (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on April 15, 2022, and upon the Stated Maturity.

 

Interest Record Dates: April 1 and October 1 (each, a “Regular Record Date”).

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which will for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

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

 

  KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

[Signature Page to Note]

 

 

 

This is one of the Notes designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Dated: [●]  
  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
  as Trustee
   
  By:  
  Authorized Signatory

 

[Signature Page to Note]

 

 

 

(REVERSE OF NOTE)
KYNDRYL HOLDINGS, INC.
4.100% Senior Notes due 2041

 

1.       Interest.

 

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum described above. Cash interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid; or, if no interest has been paid, from October 15, 2021. Interest on this Note will be paid to but excluding the relevant Interest Payment Date or on such earlier date as the principal amount shall become due in accordance with the provisions hereof. The Company will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, beginning on April 15, 2022, and on the Stated Maturity. If any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or other payment date with respect to the Notes is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest will be due on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date that such payment was due, and no interest will accrue on that payment for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or other payment date, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on the next succeeding Business Day. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal from time to time on demand at the rate borne by the Notes and at the same rate on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) to the extent lawful from the dates such amounts are due until such amounts are paid or made available for payment. [All references to any amount of interest or any other amount payable on or with respect to the Notes shall be deemed to include payment of any interest payable as a consequence of the occurrence and continuation of a “Registration Default,” if applicable, as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as October 15, 2021, among the Company and the representatives of the initial purchasers with respect to the Initial Notes party thereto.]

 

2.       Paying Agent.

 

Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Trustee”) will act as paying agent. The Company may change any paying agent without notice to the Holders.

 

3.       Indenture; Defined Terms.

 

This Note is one of the 4.100% Senior Notes due 2041 (the “Notes”) issued under the Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “Base Indenture” and, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 15, 2021, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee, as trustee. This Note is a “Security” and the Notes are “Securities” under the Indenture.

 

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For purposes of this Note, unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms herein are used as defined in the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) (the “TIA”) as in effect on the date on which the Indenture is qualified under the TIA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Notes are subject to all such terms, and holders of Notes are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them. To the extent the terms of the Indenture and this Note are inconsistent, the terms of the Indenture shall govern.

 

4.       Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

 

The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder shall register the transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Company may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay certain transfer taxes or similar governmental charges payable in connection therewith as permitted by the Indenture. The Company need not issue, authenticate, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes or portions thereof for a period of fifteen (15) days before the sending of a notice of redemption, nor need the Company register the transfer or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part.

 

5.       Amendment; Modification; Waiver.

 

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 affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding affected thereby. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of a series at the time Outstanding with respect to which a default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive, with certain exceptions, such past default with respect to such series and its consequences. The Indenture also permits the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of a 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. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. Without notice to or consent of any Holder, the Indenture also permits the amendment or supplement thereof to, among other things, cure any ambiguity, error, defect or inconsistency, or make any other change that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders.

 

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6.       Optional Redemption; Special Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Company may redeem the Notes in whole or in part, at its option, at any time or from time to time prior to maturity on at least 10 days, but not more than 60 days, prior notice electronically delivered or mailed to the registered address of each Holder of the Notes (the “Redemption Date”) pursuant to the following terms:

 

At any time before April 15, 2041 (the “Par Call Date”), the redemption price will be equal to the greater of:

 

(i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; or

 

(ii) the sum of the present values of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (assuming, for this purpose, that the Notes on the applicable Par Call Date), exclusive of interest accrued and unpaid to, but not including, the Redemption Date if such Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points,

 

plus, in the case of (i) or (ii), accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date.(subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

At any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the registered Holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the Notes and the Indenture.

 

On and after the Redemption Date for the Notes, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion thereof called for redemption, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any. On or before the Redemption Date for the Notes, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or a Paying Agent, funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Notes to be redeemed on the Redemption Date, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary; provided, however, that in no event shall Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less be redeemed in part.

 

Notice of any redemption shall be electronically delivered or mailed at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of record of the Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. Such notice shall state, among other things, the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and the place or places that payment shall be made upon presentation and surrender of Notes to be redeemed. If the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time such notice is to be given, the actual Redemption Price, calculated as set forth in the Indenture, shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as provided in the Indenture, the Notes called for redemption shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the applicable Redemption Price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

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Any redemption or notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of an equity offering or Change of Control, issuance of indebtedness or other transaction or event. If any redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the notice of redemption in respect thereof shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion) by the Redemption Date as stated in such notice, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed. The Company may provide in such notice that payment of the applicable Redemption Price and the performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.

 

If the Spin-Off has not occurred on or prior to the earlier of (i) January 31, 2022 and (ii) the date on which the Company notifies the Trustee and the holders of the Notes that the Guarantor will not pursue the consummation of the Spin-Off (a “Special Mandatory Redemption Event”), then the Company will redeem the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the fifth Business Day following the date of the applicable Special Mandatory Redemption Event (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”) at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

7.       Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control Repurchase Event.

 

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs with respect to the Notes, unless the Company shall have exercised its right to redeem such Notes, the Company shall be required to make an offer (the “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of such Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes on the terms set forth in the First Supplemental Indenture and in the Notes. In the Change of Control Offer, the Company shall be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

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Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event with respect to the Notes or, at the option of the Company, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control, the Company shall electronically deliver or mail a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is electronically delivered or mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice shall, if electronically delivered or 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 Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date specified in the notice.

 

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

 

(i)               accept for payment all the Notes or portions of the 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 the Notes or portions of the Notes properly tendered; and

 

(iii)            deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.

 

If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event and the Company, or any third party making an offer to repurchase such Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event in lieu of the Company, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Company shall have the right, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the Change of Control Payment Date, to redeem all Notes that remain Outstanding following such purchase at a Redemption Price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

8.        Defaults and Remedies.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may declare the principal amount of all the Notes 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.

 

The Indenture permits, subject to certain limitations therein provided, Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Notes.

 

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9.       Authentication.

 

This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on this Note by manual or PDF or other electronically imaged (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) signature.

 

10.       Abbreviations and Defined Terms.

 

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of a Note or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

11.       CUSIP Numbers.

 

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes as a convenience to the Holders of the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed hereon.

 

12.       Governing Law.

 

The laws of the State of New York shall govern the Indenture and this Note.

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

 

and irrevocably appoint                               agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

 

         
Date:   Your Signature:    

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

 

    Signature
Signature Guarantee:    
     
Signature must be guaranteed   Signature

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES4

 

This certificate relates to $               principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)            book-entry or             definitive form by the undersigned.

 

The undersigned (check one box below):

 

¨has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above) in accordance with the Indenture; or

 

¨ has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

 

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)¨ to the Company or subsidiary thereof; or

 

(2)¨ to the Security Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or

 

(3)¨ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); or

 

(4)¨ to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer and to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or

 

(5)¨ pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States of America within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and if the transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Notes shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream); or

 

(6)¨ pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

 

4 This certificate shall not be included as part of the Original Definitive Notes.

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(7)¨ pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

 

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (6) or (7) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Your Signature
   
Date: Signature of Signature
  Guarantor

 

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

 

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated: NOTICE: To be executed by
  an executive officer
  Name:
  Title:

 

Signature Guarantee*:

 

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES

 

The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for certificated Notes or a part of another Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange   Amount of decrease
in principal amount
of this Global Note
  Amount of increase
in principal amount
of this Global Note
  Principal amount of
this Global Note
following such
decrease (or
increase)
  Signature of
authorized signatory of
Trustee
                 

 

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REPURCHASE EXERCISE NOTICE UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

To: Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.

 

The undersigned registered owner of this Security hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. (the “Issuer”) as to the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event with respect to the Issuer and hereby directs the Issuer to pay, or cause the Trustee to pay,                                     an amount in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, or the portion thereof (which is $2,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date, except as provided in the Indenture. The undersigned hereby agrees that the Notes will be repurchased as of the Change of Control Payment Date pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof and the Indenture.

 

Dated:    

 

Signature    

 

Principal amount to be repurchased (at least $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof):  

 

Remaining principal amount following such repurchase:  

 

By:    
  Authorized Signatory

 

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Exhibit 4.3

 

Execution Version

 

 

Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated October 15, 2021 (this “Agreement”) is entered into by and among Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., Santander Investment Securities Inc. and TD Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several initial purchasers listed in Schedule 1 to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (the “Initial Purchasers”).

 

The Company, International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”) and the Initial Purchasers are parties to the Purchase Agreement, dated October 7, 2021 (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of the Company’s $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.050% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”), $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.700% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.150% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”), $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.100% Senior Notes due 2041 (the “2041 Notes” and, together with the 2026 Notes, the 2028 Notes and the 2031 Notes, the “Securities”). The Securities will be issued pursuant to a supplemental indenture to be dated as of October 15, 2021 (the “Supplemental Indenture”) to an Indenture to be dated as of October 15, 2021 (the "Base Indenture" and, together with the Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), and will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by IBM pursuant to the terms of the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2021, among the Company, IBM and the Trustee, until terminated and released in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

Base Indenture” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

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

 

Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indenture” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

 

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

 

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

 

International Business Machines Corporation” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Participating Holder” shall mean any Holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding or (iii) except in the case of Securities that otherwise remain Registrable Securities and that are held by an Initial Purchaser and that are ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, when the Exchange Offer is consummated.

 

Registration Default” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the Exchange Offer is not completed on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required pursuant to Section 2(b)(i) or Section 2(b)(ii) hereof, has not become effective on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (iii) if the Company receives a Shelf Request pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii), the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed thereby has not become effective by the later of (a) the Target Registration Date and (b) 120 days after delivery of such Shelf Request, (iv) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has become effective and thereafter ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable, in each case whether or not permitted by this Agreement, at any time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 60 days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period or (v) the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by this Agreement, has become effective and thereafter, on more than two occasions in any 12-month period during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable, in each case whether or not permitted by this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Staff” shall mean the staff of the SEC.

 

Supplemental Indenture” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Target Registration Date” shall mean October 15, 2022.

 

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

 

Trustee” shall mean The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture, and any successor thereto.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer for each series by mailing the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:

 

 

 

 

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

 

(ii)the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is mailed) (the “Exchange Dates”);

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Company that (1) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (2) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (3) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company and (4) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

If a Registration Default occurs, with respect to a series of Registrable Securities, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities of such series will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period beginning on the day immediately following such Registration Default and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until and including the date such Registration Default ends, up to a maximum increase of 0.50% per annum. A Registration Default ends when the Securities of such series cease to be Registrable Securities or, if earlier, (1) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (i) of the definition thereof, when the Exchange Offer for such series is completed, (2) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective or (3) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (iv) or clause (v) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement again becomes effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable. If at any time more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, then, until the next date that there is no Registration Default, the increase in interest rate provided for by this paragraph shall apply as if there occurred a single Registration Default that begins on the date that the earliest such Registration Default occurred and ends on such next date that there is no Registration Default.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(iv)       in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Participating Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and, subject to Section 3(c) hereof, the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Participating Holders and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;

 

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

 

 

 

 

(vi)       notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, when any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, (2) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (3) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (5) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (6) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus would be appropriate;

 

(vii)       use their reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement on the proper form, at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder or Participating Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;

 

(viii)       in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon request by a Participating Holder, furnish to such Participating Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

(xi)       in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, a reasonable time prior to the filing of such Registration Statement, any related Prospectus, any related Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to such Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a related Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus or of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus after initial filing of such Registration Statement (except for current reports filed on Form 8-K filed in the ordinary course of business), provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and their counsel and to the Participating Holders and their counsel and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or their counsel and the Participating Holders or their counsel available for discussion of such document; and the Company shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Shelf Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, or (except for current reports filed on Form 8-K filed in the ordinary course of business) any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, of which the Initial Purchasers and their counsel and the Participating Holders and their counsel shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Initial Purchasers or their counsel, and the Participating Holders or their counsel shall reasonably object within a reasonable time after receipt thereof, unless counsel to the Company advises that such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Shelf Registration Statement is required, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, by applicable laws;

 

(xii)       obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities of each series or Registrable Securities of each series, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement covering such Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities;

 

 

 

 

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

 

(xiv)       in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Participating Holders (an “Inspector”), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, any attorneys and accountants designated by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities held by the Participating Holders and any attorneys and accountants designated by such Underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement; provided that if any such information is identified by the Company as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall enter into a non-disclosure agreement with the Company);

 

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

 

(xvi)       in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection with an Underwritten Offering, (1) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel), addressed to each Participating Holder and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (3) obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each Participating Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and (4) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement..

 

 

 

 

 

(b)       In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company a Notice and Questionnaire and such other information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

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

 

(d)       If the Company shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Company may give any such notice only twice during any 365-day period and any such suspensions shall not exceed 60 days for each suspension and there shall not be more than two suspensions in effect during any 365-day period.

 

(e)       The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “Underwriter”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

5.         Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented 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 and several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“Issuer Information”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser, or information relating to any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through the Initial Purchasers or any selling Holder, respectively, expressly for use therein. In connection with any Underwritten Offering permitted by Section 3, the Company will also indemnify the Underwriters, if any, selling brokers, dealers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their respective affiliates and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders, if requested in connection with any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information.

 

 

 

(b)       Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages 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 Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(c)       If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 5 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented 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 reasonable and documented fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by the Initial Purchasers, (y) for any Holder, its directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (B) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

 

 

 

(d)       If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company from the offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Holders and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

(e)       The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.

 

 

 

(f)        The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

 

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

 

6.         General.

 

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

 

(b)       Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

(f)       Counterparts. This Agreement may be 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. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

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

 

(h)       Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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

 

[Signature Page as Follows]

 

 

 

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

 

  Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.
   
  By /s/ Mark Hobbert
  Name: Mark Hobbert
  Title: Assistant Treasurer

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

Very truly yours,

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

 

For itself and on behalf of the

several Initial Purchasers

 

By /s/ Som Bhattacharyya  
  Name: Som Bhattacharyya  
  Title: Executive Director  

 

[Signature Page – Kyndryl Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

Very truly yours,

 

Bank Name: MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

For itself and on behalf of the
several Initial Purchasers

 

By /s/ Richard Testa                   
  Name: Richard Testa  
  Title: Managing Director  

 

[Signature Page – Kyndryl Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

  

Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

Very truly yours,


Bank Name: Santander Investment Securities Inc.

For itself and on behalf of the
several Initial Purchasers

 

By /s/ Richard Zobkiw                 
  Name: Richard Zobkiw  
  Title: Executive Director  

 

By /s/ Daniel Penaloza                 
  Name: Daniel Penaloza  
  Title: Executive Director  

 

[Signature Page – Kyndryl Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

Very truly yours,


Bank Name: TD Securities (USA) LLC

For itself and on behalf of the
several Initial Purchasers

 

By /s/ Luiz Lanfredi                 
  Name: Luiz Lanfredi  
  Title: Director  

  

[Signature Page – Kyndryl Registration Rights Agreement]