Alibaba Group Holding Ltd F-4, filed Jul 21, 2025
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA)
Securities and Exchange Commission
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
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Cayman Islands
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) |
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7389
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Number)
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Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
People’s Republic of China
Telephone: +852-2215-5100
19 West 44th Street, Suite 200
New York, New York 10036
(800) 927-9801
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Toby Hong Xu, Chief Financial Officer
Alibaba Group Holding Limited 26/F Tower One, Times Square 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay Hong Kong +852-2215-5100 |
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Daniel Fertig, Esq.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP c/o 35th Floor, ICBC Tower 3 Garden Road Central Hong Kong +852-2514-7600 |
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Offer
Procedures
CUSIP: 01609W BM3
ISIN: US01609WBM38
CUSIP: 01609W BP6
ISIN: US01609WBP68
CUSIP: 01609W BQ4
ISIN: US01609WBQ42
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As of March 31, 2025
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Actual
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As Adjusted
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RMB
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US$
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RMB
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US$
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(in millions, except share and per share data)
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Cash and cash equivalents
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| | | | 145,487 | | | | | | 20,049 | | | | | | 156,569 | | | | | | 21,576 | | |
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Short-term investments
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| | | | 228,826 | | | | | | 31,533 | | | | | | 228,826 | | | | | | 31,533 | | |
| Short-term debt: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Current bank borrowings
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| | | | 22,562 | | | | | | 3,109 | | | | | | 22,562 | | | | | | 3,109 | | |
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Total short-term debt
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| | | | 22,562 | | | | | | 3,109 | | | | | | 22,562 | | | | | | 3,109 | | |
| Long-term debt: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Non-current bank borrowings
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| | | | 49,909 | | | | | | 6,878 | | | | | | 49,909 | | | | | | 6,878 | | |
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Non-current unsecured senior notes
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| | | | 122,398 | | | | | | 16,867 | | | | | | 122,398 | | | | | | 16,867 | | |
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Non-current convertible unsecured senior notes
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| | | | 35,834 | | | | | | 4,938 | | | | | | 35,834 | | | | | | 4,938 | | |
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Non-current exchangeable unsecured senior notes
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| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 11,214 | | | | | | 1,545 | | |
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Total long-term debt
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| | | | 208,141 | | | | | | 28,683 | | | | | | 219,355 | | | | | | 30,228 | | |
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Total mezzanine equity
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| | | | 11,713 | | | | | | 1,613 | | | | | | 11,713 | | | | | | 1,613 | | |
| Shareholders’ equity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Ordinary shares (US$0.000003125 par value; 32,000,000,000 shares authorized, 18,474,235,708 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025)
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| | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | — | | |
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Additional paid-in capital
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| | | | 381,379 | | | | | | 52,555 | | | | | | 381,379 | | | | | | 52,555 | | |
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Treasury shares, at cost
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| | | | (36,329) | | | | | | (5,006) | | | | | | (36,329) | | | | | | (5,006) | | |
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Statutory reserves
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| | | | 15,936 | | | | | | 2,196 | | | | | | 15,936 | | | | | | 2,196 | | |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income
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| | | | 3,393 | | | | | | 468 | | | | | | 3,393 | | | | | | 468 | | |
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Retained earnings
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| | | | 645,478 | | | | | | 88,949 | | | | | | 645,346 | | | | | | 88,931 | | |
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Total shareholders’ equity
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| | | | 1,009,858 | | | | | | 139,162 | | | | | | 1,009,726 | | | | | | 139,144 | | |
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Total capitalization(1)
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| | | | 1,229,712 | | | | | | 169,458 | | | | | | 1,240,794 | | | | | | 170,985 | | |
Citibank, N.A.
P.O. Box 219287
Kansas City, MO 64121-9287
Ref: Alibaba Exchange Offer
Citibank, N.A.
801 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 219287
Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
Ref: Alibaba Exchange Offer
(For Eligible Institutions Only)
(816) 374-7427
(By Telephone Only)
(844) 460-9413
26/F Tower One, Times Square
1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Telephone: +852 2215-5100
Fax: +852 2215-5200
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Signature
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Capacity
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/s/ Joseph C. TSAI
Joseph C. TSAI
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Chairman
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/s/ Eddie Yongming WU
Eddie Yongming WU
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Director and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) |
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/s/ J. Michael EVANS
J. Michael EVANS
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Director and President
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/s/ Maggie Wei WU
Maggie Wei WU
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Director
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/s/ Jerry YANG
Jerry YANG
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Independent Director
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/s/ Wan Ling MARTELLO
Wan Ling MARTELLO
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Independent Director
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/s/ Weijian SHAN
Weijian SHAN
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Independent Director
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/s/ Irene Yun-Lien LEE
Irene Yun-Lien LEE
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Independent Director
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/s/ Albert Kong Ping NG
Albert Kong Ping NG
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Independent Director
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/s/ Kabir MISRA
Kabir MISRA
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Independent Director
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/s/ Toby Hong XU
Toby Hong XU
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Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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Exhibit 4.1
EXECUTION VERSION
INDENTURE
Dated as of
November 26, 2024
Between
ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
as Company
and
CITIBANK, N.A.
as Trustee
DEBT SECURITIES
ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA”) and the Indenture, dated as of November 26, 20241
| Trust Indenture Act Section | Indenture Section | ||
| Sec. 310 | (a)(l) | 10.04(a) | |
| (a)(2) | 10.04(a) | ||
| (a)(3) | TIA | ||
| (a)(4) | Not Applicable | ||
| (a)(5) | TIA | ||
| (b) | 10.04(b); 10.05 | ||
| Sec. 311 | (a) | 10.01(f) | |
| (b) | TIA | ||
| Sec. 312 | (a) | 9.03 | |
| (b) | 10.10 | ||
| (c) | 10.10 | ||
| Sec. 313 | (a) | 9.01(a) | |
| (b) | 9.01(a) | ||
| (c) | 9.01(a) | ||
| (d) | 9.01(b) | ||
| Sec. 314 | (a) | 9.02; 5.10 | |
| (b) | Not Applicable | ||
| (c)(l) | 15.01(a) | ||
| (c)(2) | 15.01(a) | ||
| (c)(3) | Not Applicable | ||
| (d) | Not Applicable | ||
| (e) | 15.01(b) | ||
| (f) | 15.01(a) | ||
| Sec. 315 | (a)(1) | 10.02(b)(i) | |
| (a)(2) | 10.02(b)(ii) | ||
| (b) | 10.03 | ||
| (c) | 10.02(a) | ||
| (d) | 10.02(c) | ||
| (e) | 6.08 | ||
| Sec. 316 | (a) (last sentence) | 1.01 (definition of “Outstanding”) | |
| (a)(l)(A) | 6.06 | ||
| (a)(l)(B) | 6.06 | ||
| (b) | 6.07 | ||
| (c) | 7.02(e); 13.02(d) | ||
| Sec. 317 | (a)(l) | 6.03 | |
| (a)(2) | 6.04 | ||
| (b) | 5.03 | ||
| Sec. 318 | (a) | 15.02 | |
1 Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not be deemed to be part of the indenture for any purpose.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Article I
DEFINITIONS
| Section 1.01 | Definitions | 1 |
| Section 1.02 | Rules of Construction | 12 |
Article II
FORMS OF SECURITIES
| Section 2.01 | Form Generally | 13 |
| Section 2.02 | Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication | 13 |
| Section 2.03 | Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent | 14 |
Article III
THE DEBT SECURITIES
| Section 3.01 | Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series | 14 |
| Section 3.02 | Denominations | 17 |
| Section 3.03 | Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating | 17 |
| Section 3.04 | [Reserved] | 19 |
| Section 3.05 | Registrar | 20 |
| Section 3.06 | Transfer and Exchange | 20 |
| Section 3.07 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 30 |
| Section 3.08 | Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved | 31 |
| Section 3.09 | Cancellation | 32 |
| Section 3.10 | Computation of Interest | 32 |
| Section 3.11 | Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities | 32 |
| Section 3.12 | CUSIP Numbers | 33 |
Article IV
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
| Section 4.01 | Applicability of Right of Redemption | 34 |
| Section 4.02 | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed | 34 |
| Section 4.03 | Notice of Redemption | 34 |
| Section 4.04 | Deposit of Redemption Price | 35 |
| Section 4.05 | Securities Payable on Redemption Date | 36 |
| Section 4.06 | Securities Redeemed in Part | 36 |
| Section 4.07 | Tax Redemption | 36 |
| Section 4.08 | Open Market Purchase | 37 |
| -i- |
Article V
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
| Section 5.01 | Payments of Principal, Premium and Interest | 37 |
| Section 5.02 | Maintenance of Office or Agency; Paying Agent | 38 |
| Section 5.03 | To Hold Payment in Trust | 39 |
| Section 5.04 | Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets | 40 |
| Section 5.05 | Limitations on Liens | 41 |
| Section 5.06 | Repurchase Upon Triggering Event | 43 |
| Section 5.07 | Additional Amounts | 45 |
| Section 5.08 | Payment for Consent | 47 |
| Section 5.09 | [Reserved] | 48 |
| Section 5.10 | Compliance Certificate | 48 |
| Section 5.11 | Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities | 48 |
| Section 5.12 | Statement by Officers as to Default | 48 |
| Section 5.13 | Rule 144A Information | 48 |
Article VI
REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
| Section 6.01 | Events of Default | 49 |
| Section 6.02 | Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment | 50 |
| Section 6.03 | Other Remedies | 51 |
| Section 6.04 | Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact | 52 |
| Section 6.05 | Priorities | 53 |
| Section 6.06 | Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults | 54 |
| Section 6.07 | Limitation on Suits | 54 |
| Section 6.08 | Undertaking for Costs | 55 |
| Section 6.09 | Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 56 |
Article VII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
| Section 7.01 | Evidence of Action of Securityholders | 56 |
| Section 7.02 | Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities | 56 |
| Section 7.03 | Persons Deemed Owners | 57 |
| Section 7.04 | Effect of Consents | 57 |
Article VIII
SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
| Section 8.01 | Purposes of Meetings | 58 |
| -ii- |
| Section 8.02 | Call of Meetings by Trustee | 58 |
| Section 8.03 | Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders | 58 |
| Section 8.04 | Qualifications for Voting | 59 |
| Section 8.05 | Regulation of Meetings | 59 |
| Section 8.06 | Voting | 59 |
| Section 8.07 | No Delay of Rights by Meeting | 60 |
Article IX
REPORTS
BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
AND SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS
| Section 9.01 | Reports by Trustee | 60 |
| Section 9.02 | Reports by the Company | 60 |
| Section 9.03 | Securityholders’ Lists | 61 |
Article X
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
| Section 10.01 | Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity | 61 |
| Section 10.02 | Duties of Trustee | 65 |
| Section 10.03 | Notice of Defaults | 67 |
| Section 10.04 | Eligibility; Disqualification | 67 |
| Section 10.05 | Resignation and Notice; Removal | 67 |
| Section 10.06 | Successor Trustee by Appointment | 68 |
| Section 10.07 | Successor Trustee by Merger | 70 |
| Section 10.08 | Right to Rely on Officer’s Certificate | 70 |
| Section 10.09 | Appointment of Authenticating Agent | 70 |
| Section 10.10 | Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders | 71 |
Article XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
| Section 11.01 | Applicability of Article | 72 |
| Section 11.02 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 72 |
| Section 11.03 | Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations | 73 |
| Section 11.04 | Repayment to Company | 75 |
| Section 11.05 | Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations | 75 |
| Section 11.06 | Deposits to Be Held in Escrow | 75 |
| Section 11.07 | Application of Trust Money | 76 |
| Section 11.08 | Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies | 76 |
| -iii- |
Article XII
IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS
| Section 12.01 | No Personal Liability | 77 |
Article XIII
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
| Section 13.01 | Without Consent of Securityholders | 77 |
| Section 13.02 | With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations | 79 |
| Section 13.03 | Trustee Protected | 80 |
| Section 13.04 | Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture | 80 |
| Section 13.05 | Notation on or Exchange of Securities | 81 |
| Section 13.06 | Conformity with TIA | 81 |
Article XIV
[RESERVED.]
Article XV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
| Section 15.01 | Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent | 81 |
| Section 15.02 | Trust Indenture Act Controls | 82 |
| Section 15.03 | Notices to the Company and Trustee | 83 |
| Section 15.04 | Notices to Securityholders; Waiver | 83 |
| Section 15.05 | Legal Holiday | 84 |
| Section 15.06 | Judgment Currency | 84 |
| Section 15.07 | Effects of Headings and Table of Contents | 85 |
| Section 15.08 | Successors and Assigns | 85 |
| Section 15.09 | Severability | 85 |
| Section 15.10 | Benefits of Indenture | 85 |
| Section 15.11 | Counterparts | 85 |
| Section 15.12 | Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury | 85 |
| Section 15.13 | Submission to Jurisdiction | 85 |
| Section 15.14 | Waiver of Immunity | 86 |
| Section 15.15 | Force Majeure | 86 |
| Section 15.16 | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 86 |
EXHIBITS
| EXHIBIT A | Form of Security | A-1 |
| EXHIBIT B | Form of Certificate of Transfer | B-1 |
| EXHIBIT C | Form of Certificate of Exchange | C-1 |
| -iv- |
INDENTURE dated as of November 26, 2024, between Alibaba Group Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as provided in this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as defined below) thereof for the equal and proportionate benefit of all of the present and future Holders of the Securities, each party agrees and covenants as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions.
(a) Unless otherwise defined in this Indenture or the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Section 1.01(b) shall for all purposes of this Indenture have the meanings hereinafter set forth, the following definitions to be equally applicable to both the singular and the plural forms of any of the terms herein defined:
“Additional Amounts” has the meaning provided in Section 5.07(a).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any 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.
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depository for such Global Security, to the extent applicable to such transaction or exchange and as in effect from time to time.
“Authenticating Agent” has the meaning provided in Section 10.09.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or a committee of such board duly authorized to act for it hereunder.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, unless banking institutions or trust companies in the City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed on such day.
“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Shares and limited liability or partnership interests (whether general or limited), but excluding any debt securities convertible or exchangeable into such equity.
“Certificated Security” means a certificated Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legends set forth in Exhibit A hereto (or such legends as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities) and is registered in the name of the Holder.
“Change in Law” means a change in or amendment to the laws, regulations and rules of the PRC or the official interpretation or official application thereof.
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the recitals, 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 Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.
“Consolidated Affiliated Entity” of any Person means any corporation, association or other entity which is or is required to be consolidated with such Person under Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 810-10, Consolidation: Overall (including any changes, amendments or supplements thereto) or, if such Person prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles other than U.S. GAAP, the equivalent of Accounting Standards Codification subtopic 810-10, Consolidation: Overall under such accounting principles. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Consolidated Affiliated Entity will refer to a Consolidated Affiliated Entity of the Company.
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“Controlled Entity” of any Person means a Subsidiary or a Consolidated Affiliated Entity of such Person.
“Corporate Trust Office,” or other similar term, means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at (i) for note transfer/surrender purposes, 480 Washington Boulevard, 30th Floor, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310 Email: peter1.lopez@citi.com / citi.cspag.debt@citi.com, Attention: Agency & Trust –Alibaba Group Holding Limited, and (b) for all other purposes, 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Email: peter1.lopez@citi.com / citi.cspag.debt@citi.com, Attention: Agency & Trust – Alibaba Group Holding Limited, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust officer of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).
“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning provided in Section 11.03(c).
“CUSIP” means the identification number provided by the Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures.
“Currency” means U.S. Dollars or Foreign Currency.
“Currency Determination Agent” has the meaning provided in Section 3.11(d).
“Default” has the meaning provided in Section 10.03.
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning provided in Section 3.08(b).
“Depository” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depository by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 until a successor Depository shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depository” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depository hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depository” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depository with respect to the Securities of that series. The “Depository” shall initially be DTC, its nominees and its successors.
“Designated Currency” has the meaning provided in Section 3.11(a).
“Discharged” has the meaning provided in Section 11.03(b).
“Distribution Compliance Period” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06(b)(i)(A).
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.
“Event of Default” has the meaning provided in Section 6.01.
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“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Exchange Rate” has the meaning provided in Section 3.11(d).
“FATCA” has the meaning provided in Section 5.07(a)(vii).
“Floating Rate Security” means a Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 3.01.
“Foreign Currency” means a currency issued by the government of any country other than the United States or a composite currency, the value of which is determined by reference to the values of the currencies of any group of countries.
“Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Exhibit A hereto (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities).
“Group” means the Company and its Controlled Entities.
“Holder,” “Holder of Securities,” or “Securityholder” mean the Person in whose name Securities are registered in the Register for the registration and the registration of transfer or of exchange of the Securities.
“Indebtedness” means any and all obligations of a Person for money borrowed which, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, would be reflected on the balance sheet of such Person as a liability on the date as of which Indebtedness is to be determined.
“Indenture” means this instrument and all indentures supplemental hereto and any amendments or modifications to the foregoing, in each case, entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established in accordance with Section 3.01.
“Independent Legal Counsel” means an independent legal firm of internationally recognized standing that is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
“Independent Tax Consultant” means an independent accounting firm or consultant of internationally recognized standing that is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Security through a Participant.
“Interest Payment Date” means, with respect to any Security, the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
“ISIN” means the International Securities Identification Number.
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“Issue Date” means, with respect to any Security, the date on which such Security is originally issued under this Indenture.
“Judgment Currency” has the meaning provided in Section 15.06.
“Legal Defeasance” has the meaning provided in Section 11.03(b).
“Lien” means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other form of encumbrance or security interest.
“Maturity” means, with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security, or any installment of principal, shall become due and payable as therein and herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Members” has the meaning provided in Section 3.03(h).
“Non-recourse Obligation” means Indebtedness or other obligations substantially related to (1) the acquisition of assets not previously owned by the Company or any of its Controlled Entities or (2) the financing of a project involving the purchase, development, improvement or expansion of properties of the Company or any of its Controlled Entities, as to which the obligee with respect to such Indebtedness or obligation has no recourse to the Company or any of its Controlled Entities or to the Company’s or any such Controlled Entity’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).
“Officer” means, with respect to the Company, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary of the Company or, in the event that the Company is a partnership or a limited liability company that has no such officers, a person duly authorized under applicable law by the general partner, managers, members or a similar body to act on behalf of the Company.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Officer of the Company.
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing reasonably acceptable to the Trustee signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or who may be other counsel, that meets the applicable requirements provided for in Section 15.01. Opinions of Counsel may have qualifications customary for opinions of the type required.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that is issued with “original issue discount” within the meaning of Section 1273(a) of the Code and the regulations thereunder and any other Security designated by the Company as issued with original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes.
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“Outstanding” means, when used with respect to Securities, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Paying Agent or delivered to the Paying Agent for cancellation;
(ii) Securities or portions thereof for which 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 or Securities as to which the Company’s obligations have been Discharged; provided, however, that if such Securities or portions thereof 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;
(iii) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.07(b) 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 a Responsible Officer of the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; or
(iv) Securities to which defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 11.03;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities of a series Outstanding have performed any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding unless the Company, such Affiliate or such other obligor owns all of such Securities, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such action, only Securities of such series for which the Trustee has received written notice to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes its right to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officer’s Certificate listing and identifying all such Securities, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons; and, subject to the provisions of Section 10.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officer’s Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all such Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of a series have performed any action hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02 and the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount calculated pursuant to Section 3.11(b).
| -6- |
“Participant” means, with respect to any Depository, a person who is a participant or has an account with such Depository.
“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on any Securities on behalf of the Company. The Company may act as Paying Agent with respect to Securities of any series issued hereunder.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, undertaking, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, trust, state, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity (in each case whether or not being a separate legal entity).
“Place of Payment” has the meaning provided in Section 3.01(h).
“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for purposes of this definition, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan.
“Predecessor Security” means, with respect to any Security, 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 3.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
“Preferred Shares,” as applied to the Capital Stock of any corporation, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) that is preferred as to the payment of dividends upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
“Principal Controlled Entities” at any time shall mean one of the Controlled Entities of the Company:
(i) as to which one or more of the following conditions is/are satisfied:
(A) its total revenue or (in the case of one of the Controlled Entities of the Company which has one or more Controlled Entities) consolidated total revenue attributable to the Group is at least 5% of the consolidated total revenue of the Group;
(B) its net profit or (in the case of one of the Controlled Entities of the Company which has one or more Controlled Entities) consolidated net profit attributable to the Group (in each case before taxation and exceptional items) is at least 5% of the consolidated net profit of the Group (before taxation and exceptional items); or
(C) its net assets or (in the case of one of the Controlled Entities of the Company which has one or more Controlled Entities) consolidated net assets attributable to the Group (in each case after deducting minority interests in Subsidiaries) are at least 10% of the consolidated net assets of the Group (after deducting minority interests in Subsidiaries of the Company);
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all as calculated by reference to the then latest audited financial statements (consolidated or, as the case may be, unconsolidated) of the Controlled Entity of the Company and the then latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Company; provided that, in relation to clauses (A), (B) and (C) above:
(1) in the case of a corporation or other business entity becoming a Controlled Entity after the end of the financial period to which the latest consolidated audited accounts of the Company relate, the reference to the then latest consolidated audited accounts of the Company and its Controlled Entities for the purposes of the calculation above shall, until the consolidated audited accounts of the Company for the financial period in which the relevant corporation or other business entity becomes a Controlled Entity are issued, be deemed to be a reference to the then latest consolidated audited accounts of the Company and its Controlled Entities adjusted to consolidate the latest audited accounts (consolidated in the case of a Controlled Entity which itself has Controlled Entities) of such Controlled Entity in such accounts;
(2) if at any relevant time in relation to the Company or any Controlled Entity which itself has Controlled Entities, no consolidated accounts are prepared and audited, total revenue, net profit or net assets of the Company and/or any such Controlled Entity shall be determined on the basis of pro forma consolidated accounts prepared for this purpose by or on behalf of the Company;
(3) if at any relevant time in relation to any Controlled Entity, no accounts are audited, its net assets (consolidated, if appropriate) shall be determined on the basis of pro forma accounts (consolidated, if appropriate) of the relevant Controlled Entity prepared for this purpose by or on behalf of the Company; and
(4) if the accounts of any Controlled Entity (not being a Controlled Entity referred to in proviso (1) above) are not consolidated with the accounts of the Company, then the determination of whether or not such Controlled Entity is a Principal Controlled Entity shall be based on a pro forma consolidation of its accounts (consolidated, if appropriate) with the consolidated accounts of the Company (determined on the basis of the foregoing); or
(ii) that Principal Controlled Entity merges with or into, or to which is transferred all or substantially all of the assets of a Controlled Entity which immediately prior to the transfer was a Principal Controlled Entity; provided that, with effect from such transfer, the Controlled Entity which so transfers its assets and undertakings shall cease to be a Principal Controlled Entity (but without prejudice to paragraph (i) above) and the Controlled Entity to which the assets are so transferred shall become a Principal Controlled Entity.
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An Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee certifying in good faith as to whether or not a Controlled Entity is a Principal Controlled Entity shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
“Prospectus” means the offering memorandum, dated November 19, 2024, relating to the offering of Securities.
“Record Date” means, with respect to any interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date, the close of business on such date specified in such Security for the payment of interest and Special Interest, if any, pursuant to Section 3.01.
“Redemption Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture and the terms of such Security.
“Redemption Price” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed or repurchased, in whole or in part, the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to the terms of the Security and this Indenture.
“Register” has the meaning provided in Section 3.05(a).
“Registrar” has the meaning provided in Section 3.05(a).
“Registration Rights Agreement” means a registration rights agreement, if any, applicable to any Securities issued under this Indenture.
“Relevant Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness which is in the form of, or represented or evidenced by, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities which for the time being are, or are intended to be or are commonly, quoted, listed or dealt in or traded on any stock exchange or over−the−counter or other securities market, but shall exclude any bank debt, bank loans or securitizations.
“Relevant Jurisdiction” has the meaning provided in Section 5.07(a).
“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Trustee, any managing director, vice-president, trust associate, relationship manager, transaction manager, client service manager, any senior trust officer, any trust officer or any other officer assigned to the agency and trust division (or any successor division or unit) of the Trustee, who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by any persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and 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.
“Restricted Certificated Security” means a Certificated Security offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act.
“Restricted Global Security” means a Global Security offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act.
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“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as constituted from time to time.
“Security” or “Securities” means any security or securities, as the case may be, duly authenticated by the Trustee and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Security Custodian” means the custodian with respect to any Global Security appointed by the Depository, or any successor Person thereto, and shall initially be Citibank, N.A.
“Special Interest” means any additional interest required to be paid pursuant to any applicable Registration Rights Agreement.
“Special Record Date” has the meaning provided in Section 3.08(b)(i).
“Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal (or any portion thereof) of or premium, if any, on such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means (i) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total ordinary voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or Persons performing similar functions) or (ii) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, is, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), voting at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (A) such Person, (B) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (C) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified herein, each reference to a Subsidiary will refer to a Subsidiary of the Company.
“Successor Jurisdiction” has the meaning provided in Section 5.07(d).
“Tax Change” has the meaning provided in Section 4.07(a).
“Taxes” has the meaning provided in Section 5.07(a).
“Tender Agent” has the meaning provided in Section 5.06(b)(ii).
“Transfer Agent” means Citibank, N.A. or its successor as transfer agent under this Indenture.
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“Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both of the following events: (A) any Change in Law that results in (x) the Group (as in existence immediately subsequent to such Change in Law), as a whole, being legally prohibited from operating substantially all of the business operations conducted by the Group (as in existence immediately prior to such Change in Law) as of the last date of the period described in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal quarter prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and (y) the Company being unable to continue to derive substantially all of the economic benefits from the business operations conducted by the Group (as in existence immediately prior to such Change in Law) in the same manner as reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal quarter prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP prior to such Change in Law and (B) the Company has not furnished to the Trustee, prior to the date that is twelve months after the date of the Change in Law, an opinion from an independent financial advisor or an Independent Legal Counsel (each of international standing) stating either that (1) the Company is able to continue to derive substantially all of the economic benefits from the business operations conducted by the Group (as in existence immediately prior to such Change in Law), taken as a whole, as reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal quarter prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP prior to such Change in Law (including after giving effect to any corporate restructuring or reorganization plan of the Company) or (2) such Change in Law would not materially and adversely affect the Company’s ability to make principal, premium (if any) and interest payments on the Securities of any series when due.
“Triggering Event Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(a).
“Triggering Event Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(a).
“Triggering Event Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(a)(ii).
“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such with respect to one or more series of Securities 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.
“Unrestricted Certificated Security” means a Certificated Security the restrictions on transfer of which have expired or otherwise been removed.
“Unrestricted Global Security” means a Global Security the restrictions on transfer of which have expired or otherwise been removed.
“U.S. Dollars” or “US$” means such currency of the United States as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
“U.S. GAAP” refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
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“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of an agency or instrumentality of the United States the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt; 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 interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“United States” shall mean the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories and its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
Section 1.02 Rules of Construction. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) 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;
(b) the words “including” and words of similar import when used in this Indenture shall mean “including, without limitation”;
(c) references to “Article” or “Section” or other subdivision herein are references to an Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires;
(d) references to any agreement, instrument, statute or regulation defined or referred to herein or in any instrument establishing the terms of any Securities (or executed in connection therewith) are references to such agreement, instrument, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, modified, supplemented or replaced, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and by succession of comparable successor agreements, instruments, statutes or regulations; and
(e) “or” is not exclusive.
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Article II
FORMS OF SECURITIES
Section 2.01 Form Generally.
(a) The Securities of each series shall be substantially in the forms set forth in Exhibit A hereto or as shall be established pursuant to a Company Order, Officer’s Certificate 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 or designation and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which any series of the Securities may be listed or of any automated quotation system on which any such series may be quoted, or to conform to usage, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
(b) The terms and provisions of the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.
Section 2.02 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
(a) Only such of the Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate substantially in the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication hereinafter recited, executed by the Trustee by manual signature, shall be valid or become obligatory for any purpose or entitle the Holder thereof to any right or benefit under this Indenture.
(b) Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
(c) The form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities shall be substantially as follows:
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| Date of authentication: | [NAME OF TRUSTEE], | |||
| as Trustee | ||||
| By: | ||||
| Authorized Signatory | ||||
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Section 2.03 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent. If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to any series of Securities, then the Trustee’s certificate of authentication by such Authenticating Agent to be borne by Securities of each such series shall be substantially as follows:
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities issued referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| Date of authentication: | [NAME OF TRUSTEE], | |||
| as Trustee | ||||
| By: | [NAME OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT] as Authenticating Agent | |||
| By: | ||||
| Authorized Signatory | ||||
Article III
THE DEBT 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 from time to time in one or more series. There shall be set forth in a Company Order, Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:
(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from the Securities of all other series, except to the extent that additional Securities of an existing series are being issued);
(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 4.06, or 13.05) and the percentage or percentages of principal amount at which the Securities of the series will be issued;
(c) the dates on which or periods during which the Securities of the series may be issued, and the dates on, or the range of dates within, which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such series are or may be payable or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended;
(d) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, and the Record Dates for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on such Interest Payment Dates or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the right, if any, to extend or defer interest payments and the duration of such extension or deferral;
(e) if other than U.S. Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which Securities of the series shall be denominated or in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be payable and any other terms applicable thereto;
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(f) if the amount of payment of principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method including, but not limited to, an index based on a Currency or Currencies other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(g) if the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a Currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated or stated to be payable without such election, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made and the time and the manner of determining the Exchange Rate (in addition to or in lieu of the provision set forth in Section 3.11) between the Currency in which the Securities are denominated or payable without such election and the Currency in which the Securities are to be paid if such election is made;
(h) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, and where Securities of any series may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made (each such place, the “Place of Payment”);
(i) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;
(j) the obligation or right, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series at the option of a Holder thereof and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the Currency or Currencies in which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such right or obligation;
(k) if other than denominations of US$200,000 and multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(l) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02;
(m) whether the Securities of the series are to be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities and the amount of discount or premium, if any, with which such Securities may be issued;
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(n) provisions, if any, for the defeasance of Securities of the series in whole or in part and any addition or change in the provisions related to satisfaction and discharge;
(o) whether the Securities of the series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, (i) the Depository for such Global Security or Securities, (ii) the form of legend in addition to or in lieu of that in Section 3.03(f) which shall be borne by such Global Security and (iii) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Securities represented thereby;
(p) the date as of which any Global Security of the series shall be dated if other than the original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;
(q) the form of the Securities of the series;
(r) whether the Securities of the series are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;
(s) whether the Securities of the series shall be secured;
(t) the securities exchange(s) or automated quotation system(s) on which the Securities of the series will be listed or admitted to trading, as applicable, if any;
(u) any restriction or condition on the transferability of the Securities of the series;
(v) any addition or change in the provisions related to compensation and reimbursement of the Trustee which applies to the Securities of the series;
(w) any addition or change in the provisions related to supplemental indentures set forth in Sections 13.01, 13.02 and 13.04 which applies to the Securities of the series;
(x) provisions, if any, granting special rights to Holders upon the occurrence of specified events;
(y) 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 6.02 and any addition or change in the provisions set forth in Article VI which applies to Securities of the series;
(z) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article V which applies to the Securities of the series; and
(aa) any other terms of the Securities of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 13.01, but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such series), including any terms which may be required by or advisable under the laws of the United States or regulations thereunder or advisable (as determined by the Company) in connection with the marketing of Securities of the series.
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All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical, except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or set forth in a Company Order, Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto.
Section 3.02 Denominations. In the absence of any specification pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable only as Securities in denominations of US$200,000 and multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof, and shall be payable only in U.S. Dollars.
Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
(a) The Securities shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company by an Officer. Such signatures may be the manual signature of the present or any future such Officer. If the Person whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated and delivered, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
(b) 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, if required pursuant to Section 3.01, a supplemental indenture, Company Order or Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the Securities of a series. The Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities without any further action by the Company. The Company Order shall specify the principal amount of Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated.
(c) In authenticating the first Securities of any series and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 10.02) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate, prepared in accordance with Section 15.01 stating that the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture have been complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel, prepared in accordance with Section 15.01 and substantially in the form set forth below:
(i) that the form or forms of such Securities have been established in accordance with Article II and Section 3.01 and in conformity with the other provisions of this Indenture;
(ii) that the terms of such Securities have been established in accordance with Section 3.01 and in conformity with the other provision of this Indenture;
(iii) 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 legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, (B) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (C) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing;
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(iv) if applicable, that the supplemental indenture, setting forth the terms of such Securities, when executed and delivered by the Trustee in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, (B) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (C) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and
(v) that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture in respect of the authentication and delivery by the Company of such Securities have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the provisions 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 or Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel is delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued; provided that nothing in this clause (c) is intended to derogate Trustee’s rights to receive an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel under Section 15.01.
(d) The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities under this Section 3.03 if the issue of the Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, protections, indemnities or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise.
(e) Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
(f) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered, if in registered form, in the name of the Depository for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depository, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY.
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The aggregate principal amount of each Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Security Custodian, as provided in this Indenture.
(g) Each Depository designated pursuant to Section 3.01 for a Global Security in registered form must, at the time of its designation an at all times while it serves as such Depository, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.
(h) Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depository or by the Security Custodian under such Global Security, and the Depository may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar and any of their agents as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar or any of their agents from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Members, the operation of customary practices of the Depository governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Security. The Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Members and Persons that may hold interests through Members, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.
(i) 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 one of the forms provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, as the case may be, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. 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.
Section 3.04 [Reserved].
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Section 3.05 Registrar.
(a) The Company shall keep, at an office or agency to be maintained by it in a Place of Payment where Securities may be presented for registration or presented and surrendered for registration of transfer or of exchange, and where Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable (the “Registrar”), a security register for the registration and the registration of transfer or of exchange of the Securities (the registers 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 “Register”), as in this Indenture provided, which Register shall be open for inspection by the Trustee during business hours on business days in the location of the Registrar. Such Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Company may have one or more co-Registrars; the term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar.
(b) The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or co-Registrar not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of each such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar for any series, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Registrar, co-Registrar or transfer agent.
(c) The Company hereby initially appoints Citibank, N.A.at its Corporate Trust Office as Registrar in connection with the Securities and this Indenture, until such time as another Person is appointed as such in replacement of the Trustee as such. So long as the Trustee serves as Registrar, it will be entitled as Registrar to the same rights of compensation, reimbursement and indemnification under Section 10.01 and Section 10.02 as if it were Trustee. No Person shall at any time be appointed as or act as Registrar unless such Person is at such time empowered under applicable law to act as such Registrar. In acting hereunder and in connection with the Securities, the Registrar shall act solely as an agent of the Company, and will not thereby assume any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder.
Section 3.06 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Generally.
(i) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the Registrar, the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, 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. The transfer of any Security shall not be valid as against the Company or the Trustee unless registered at the Registrar at the request of the Holder, or at the request of his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing.
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(ii) Subject to this Section 3.06(a) and Section 3.06(b), 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 upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. 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 Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
(iii) No service charge shall be imposed by the Company, the Trustee, the Transfer Agent, the Registrar, any co-Registrar or the Paying Agent for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require a Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge required in connection therewith.
(iv) The provisions of clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) below shall apply only to Global Securities:
(A) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depository designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depository or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated in Section 3.01, 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 Depository for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depository (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and in each case, a successor depository is not appointed within 90 calendar days after the date of such notice from the Depository, or (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default with respect to such Global Security and holders have requested Certificated Notes.
(C) Subject to clause (B) above, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated in Section 3.01, 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 Depository for such Global Security shall direct.
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(D) 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 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 Depository for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.
(b) Certain Transfers and Exchanges. Transfers and exchanges of Securities and beneficial interests in a Global Security of the kinds specified in this Section 3.06(b) shall be made only in accordance with this Section 3.06(b).
(i) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in Global Securities will be effected through the applicable Depository, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Securities will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in Global Securities also will require compliance with either subparagraph (A) or (B) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(A) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Security. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Security in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the applicable legends provided thereon; provided, however, that transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Security issued pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person prior to the expiration of the 40-day “Distribution Compliance Period” under Regulation S or as otherwise provided in any legend. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 3.06(b)(i)(A).
(B) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 3.06(b)(i)(A) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar both (i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the applicable Depository in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the applicable Depository to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Security in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged, and (ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase.
(C) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Security. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Security may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Security if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 3.06(a) above and the Registrar receives the following:
a. [Reserved]
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b. if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Security offered and sold pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate to the Transfer Agent in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.
(D) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Security for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Security. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Security may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 3.06(a) above and the Registrar receives the following: (i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (i)(a) thereof; or (ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the appropriate certifications in item (3) thereof; and, in each such case, if the Company so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the applicable legends provided thereon are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected pursuant to clause (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to clause (C) above.
Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Security cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security.
(ii) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Certificated Securities. If any one of the events listed in Section 3.06(a) has occurred or the Company has elected to cause the issuance of certificated Securities, transfers or exchanges of beneficial interests in a Global Security for a certificated Security shall be effected, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the applicable subclauses of this Section 3.06(b)(ii).
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(A) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Securities to Restricted Certificated Securities. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Certificated Security or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Certificated Security, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
a. if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Certificated Security, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(a) thereof;
b. if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a qualified institutional buyer in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
c. if such beneficial interest is being transferred in an offshore transaction in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
d. if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof; and
e. if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Security to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.06(c) hereof, and the Company shall execute and upon receipt of a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Certificated Security in the appropriate principal amount. Any Certificated Security issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security pursuant to this Section 3.06(b)(ii) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depository and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Certificated Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered. Any Certificated Security issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security pursuant to this Section 3.06(b)(ii) shall bear the appropriate legends and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.
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(B) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Securities to Unrestricted Certificated Securities. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Certificated Security or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Certificated Security only if:
a. if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof; or
b. the Registrar receives the following:
1. if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Certificate Security, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or
2. if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Certificated Security, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the appropriate certifications in item (3) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (ii), if the Company so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the appropriate legends are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
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(C) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Securities to Unrestricted Certificated Securities. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Certificated Security or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Certificated Security, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.06(b)(i)(B) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Security to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.06(c) hereof, and the Company will execute and upon receipt of a Company Order the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Certificated Security in the appropriate principal amount. Any Certificated Security issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.06(b)(ii)(C) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the applicable Depository and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Certificated Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered. Any Certificated Security issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.06(b)(ii)(C) will not bear a Restricted Security legend.
(iii) Transfer and Exchange of Certificated Securities for Beneficial Interests.
(A) Restricted Certificated Securities to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Securities. If any Holder of a Restricted Certificated Security proposes to exchange such Security for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security or to transfer such Restricted Certificated Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
a. if the Holder of such Restricted Certificated Security proposes to exchange such Security for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (2)(b) thereof;
b. if such Restricted Certificated Security is being transferred to a qualified institutional buyer in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
c. if such Restricted Certificated Security is being transferred in an offshore transaction in accordance with an exemption from registration under Regulation S under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
d. if such Restricted Certificated Security is being transferred to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
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the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Certificated Security, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (i) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Security, in the case of clause (ii) above, the Global Security offered and sold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and in the case of clause (iii) above, the Global Security offered and sold pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
(B) Restricted Certificated Securities to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Securities. A Holder of a Restricted Global Security may exchange such Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transfer such Restricted Global Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security only if:
a. if such Restricted Certificated Security is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3)(a) thereof; or
b. the Registrar receives: (A) if the Holder of such Restricted Certificated Security proposes to exchange such Restricted Certificated Security for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof, or (B) if the Holder of such Restricted Certificated Security proposes to transfer such Restricted Certificated Security to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the appropriate certifications in item (3) thereof, and, in each such case, if the Company so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the applicable legends are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 3.06(b)(iii)(B), the Trustee will cancel the Certificated Security and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Security.
(C) Unrestricted Certificated Securities to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Securities. A Holder of an Unrestricted Certificated Security may exchange such Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transfer such Unrestricted Certificated Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security at any time. Upon receipt of a written request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Certificated Security and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Securities.
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If any such exchange or transfer from a Certificated Security to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (c) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Certificated Securities so transferred.
(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Certificated Securities for Certificated Securities. Upon request by a Holder of Certificated Securities and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.06(b)(iv), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Certificated Securities. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Certificated Securities duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 3.06(b)(iv).
(A) Restricted Certificated Securities to Restricted Certificated Securities. Any Restricted Certificated Security may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Certificated Security if the Registrar receives the following:
a. if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
b. if the transfer will be made pursuant to an offshore transaction in accordance with exemption from registration under Regulation S under the Securities Act, a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
c. if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications required by item (3) thereof.
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(B) Restricted Certificated Securities to Unrestricted Certificated Securities. Any Restricted Certificated Security may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Certificated Security or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Certificated Security if the Registrar receives: (i) if the Holder of such Restricted Certificated Security proposes to exchange such Security for an Unrestricted Certificated Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or (ii) if the Holder of such Restricted Certificated Security proposes to transfer such Security to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Certificated Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the appropriate certifications in item (3) thereof; and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the appropriate legends are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(C) Unrestricted Certificated Securities to Unrestricted Certificated Securities. A Holder of Unrestricted Certificated Securities may transfer such Securities to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Certificated Security. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Certificated Securities pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.
(c) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Securities. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Security have been exchanged for Certificated Securities or a particular Certificated Security has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Security will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 3.09 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security or for Certificated Securities, the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security, such other Global Security will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(d) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer or exchange imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer or exchange of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Participants 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 to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
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(e) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any direct or indirect participant or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the books or records, or the acts or omissions, of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any direct or indirect participant or other Person (other than the Depository and any other registered Holder of Securities) of any notice (including any notice of redemption pursuant to Error! Reference source not found. hereof) 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 shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the customary procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its direct or indirect participants.
Section 3.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.(a) If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee pre-funding, security and/or indemnity satisfactory to them to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, then the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding, and neither gain nor loss in interest shall result from such exchange or substitution.
(b) 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 the amount due on such Security in accordance with its terms.
(c) Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.07, the Company and/or the Trustee may require the payment from the Holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in respect thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) in connection therewith.
(d) Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 3.07 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.
(e) The provisions of this Section 3.07 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 3.08 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
(a) 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 such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the Record Date. Payment of interest and Special Interest, if any, on Securities shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01) or, in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.
(b) Any interest or Special Interest, if any, on any Security that 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 Record Date by virtue of his, her or its having been such a Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:
(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest (a “Special Record Date”), which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 calendar days and not less than 10 calendar days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 calendar 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, not less than 10 calendar days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been given as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (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 (ii).
(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed or of any automated quotation system on which any such Securities may be quoted, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or quotation system, as applicable, 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.
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(c) Subject to the foregoing provisions in this Section 3.08, each Security delivered under this Indenture in exchange or substitution for, or upon registration of transfer of, any other Security shall carry all the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, if any, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
Section 3.09 Cancellation. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, all Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or otherwise shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Paying Agent, be delivered to the Paying Agent for cancellation and shall be promptly cancelled by it and, if surrendered to the Paying Agent, shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Paying Agent for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Paying Agent for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder that the Company has not issued or sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Paying Agent. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Paying Agent shall dispose of all cancelled Securities held by it in accordance with its then customary procedures, unless otherwise directed by a Company Order, and deliver a certificate of such disposal to the Company upon its request therefor. The acquisition of any Securities by the Company shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented thereby unless and until such Securities are surrendered to the Paying Agent for cancellation.
Section 3.10 Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified pursuant to 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 Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities.
(a) The Company may provide pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series that (i) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Securities of any series in a Foreign Currency or U.S. Dollars (the “Designated Currency”) as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01 is of the essence and agrees that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, judgments in respect of such Securities shall be given in the Designated Currency; (ii) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on such Securities shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other Currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other Currency (after any premium and cost of exchange) on the business day in the country of issue of the Designated Currency or in the international banking community (in the case of a composite currency) immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (iii) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (iv) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, Securities of such series shall be made in U.S. Dollars.
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(b) If the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on any Security is payable in a Foreign Currency and such Currency is not available to the Company for making payment thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company shall be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Securities by making such payment in U.S. Dollars in an amount equivalent of the amount payable in such other Currency at the Exchange Rate as determined pursuant to clause (d) below. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary herein, any payment made under such circumstances in U.S. Dollars where the required payment is in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars shall not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.
(c) For purposes of any provision of this Indenture where the Holders of Outstanding Securities may perform an action that requires that a specified percentage of the Outstanding Securities of all series perform such action and for purposes of any determination by the Trustee of amounts due and unpaid for the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Securities of all series in respect of which moneys are to be disbursed ratably, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, the Outstanding Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be the amount in U.S. Dollars based upon the Exchange Rate as determined pursuant to clause (d) below (or as specified pursuant to Section 3.01, if applicable) for Securities of such series, as of the date for determining whether the Holders entitled to perform such action have performed it or as of the date of such determination by the Trustee, as the case may be.
(d) Any decision or determination to be made regarding the Exchange Rate shall be made by the Company or an agent appointed by the Company (the Company, in such capacity, or such agent, the “Currency Determination Agent”); provided that such agent shall accept such appointment in writing and the terms of such appointment shall, in the opinion of the Company at the time of such appointment, require such agent to make such determination by a method consistent with the method provided pursuant to Section 3.01 for the making of such decision or determination. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, “Exchange Rate” shall mean, for any Currency, the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers for such Currency as the applicable Exchange Rate, as such rate is reported or otherwise made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date of such payment, or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available rate. All decisions and determinations of such agent regarding the Exchange Rate shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee and all Holders of the Securities and the Trustee shall have no duty to confirm or verify the Exchange Rate.
Section 3.12 CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing any Securities may use CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if then generally in use, and thereafter with respect to such series, the Trustee may use such numbers in any notice of redemption or exchange, as a convenience to Holders, with respect to such series; 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 shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Agents in writing of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers.
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Article IV
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 4.01 Applicability of Right of Redemption. Redemption of Securities permitted by the terms of any series of Securities shall be made (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article IV; provided, however, that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article IV, the terms of such series shall govern.
Section 4.02 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
(a) If the Company shall at any time elect to redeem all or any portion of the Securities of a series then Outstanding, it shall at least 15 calendar days (or such shorter period acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date the notice of redemption is to be delivered, notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. If less than all of the Securities in any series are to be redeemed, the Securities for redemption will be selected as follows: (i) if such Securities are held through the clearing systems, in compliance with the requirements of the applicable clearing systems; or (ii) if such Securities are not held through the clearing systems, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, unless otherwise required by law; provided that, in each case, 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. In any case where more than one Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Security of such series.
(b) 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 Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security that has been or is to be redeemed. If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company, any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.
Section 4.03 Notice of Redemption.
(a) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request (which may be rescinded or revoked at any time prior to the time at which the Trustee shall have given such notice to the Holders), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, not less than 30 calendar days nor more than 60 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date, to the Holders of Securities of any series to be redeemed in whole or in part pursuant to this Article IV, in the manner provided in Section 15.04; provided that the Trustee be provided with the draft notice at least 15 days (or such shorter period acceptable to the Trustee) prior to sending such notice of redemption. Any notice given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. Failure to give such notice, or any defect in such notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption, in whole or in part, shall not affect the sufficiency of any notice of redemption with respect to the Holder of any other Security of such series. At the written request of the Company, the Trustee shall give any notice of redemption under this Indenture in the name of the Company and at the expense of the Company, provided, that, the Company make such request to the Trustee at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date by which such notice of redemption must be given to the Holders in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
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(b) All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if available) and shall state:
(i) such election by the Company to redeem Securities of such series pursuant to provisions contained in this Indenture or the terms of the Securities of such series in a Company Order, Officer’s Certificate or a supplemental indenture establishing such series, if such be the case;
(ii) the Redemption Date;
(iii) the Redemption Price (or the manner in which the Redemption Price will be calculated);
(iv) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the Securities of such series to be redeemed;
(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price shall become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed, and that, if applicable, interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date; and
(vi) (if the Securities are in certificated form) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price.
Section 4.04 Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each Redemption Date for any Securities, 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 5.03) an amount of money in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of and accrued interest and Special Interest, if any, on such Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date. The Paying Agent shall not be bound to make any payment until it has received in immediately available and cleared funds the full amount due to be paid to it pursuant to this Section 4.04.
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Section 4.05 Securities Payable on Redemption Date. If notice of redemption has been given as above provided, any Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price and from and after such date (unless the Company shall Default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear interest, and, except as provided in Section 11.07, such Securities shall cease from and after the Redemption Date to be entitled to any benefit or security under this Indenture, and the Holders thereof shall have no right in respect of such Securities except the right to receive the Redemption Price thereof and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Trustee or Paying Agent with the moneys deposited in accordance with Section 4.04 above at the Redemption Price (unless the Company shall Default in the payment of the Redemption Price); provided, however, that (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) installments of interest that have a Stated Maturity on or prior to the Redemption Date for such Securities shall be payable according to the terms of such Securities and the provisions of Section 3.08.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal thereof shall, until paid or duly provided for, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.
Section 4.06 Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency of the Company as is specified pursuant to Section 3.01 with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, 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; provided that if a Global Security is so surrendered, if required by the applicable Depository, the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depository for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Security or Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.
Section 4.07 Tax Redemption.
(a) Each series of Securities may be redeemed at any time, at the option of the Company, in whole but not in part, upon notice as described below, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date, if (i) as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of a Relevant Jurisdiction (or, in the case of Additional Amounts payable by a successor Person to the Company, the applicable Successor Jurisdiction), or any change in the official application or official interpretation of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the Issue Date (or, in the case of Additional Amounts payable by a successor Person to the Company, the date on which such successor Person to the Company became such pursuant to this Indenture) (a “Tax Change”), the Company or any such successor Person to the Company is, or would be, obligated to pay Additional Amounts upon the next payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, in respect of such Securities and (ii) such obligation cannot be avoided by the Company or any such successor Person to the Company taking reasonable measures available to it, provided that changing the jurisdiction of organization or tax residency of the Company or such successor Person to Company is not a reasonable measure for purposes of this Section 4.07(a).
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(b) Prior to the giving of any notice of redemption of the Securities pursuant to Section 4.07(a), the Company or any such successor Person to the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (i) a notice of such redemption election and (ii) an opinion of an Independent Legal Counsel or an opinion of an Independent Tax Consultant to the effect that the Company or any such successor Person to the Company is, or would become, obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as the result of a Tax Change. The Trustee shall be entitled to accept and conclusively rely on (without liability) any such opinion provided to it and shall not be required to review or monitor compliance with the provisions hereof nor liable to any person for accepting any opinion provided to it hereunder.
(c) Notice of such a redemption of the Securities shall be given to the Holders of such Securities not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date. Notice having been given, the Securities shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date and will be paid at the Redemption Price, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date, at the place or places of payment and in the manner specified in the Securities or this Indenture. From and after the Redemption Date, if moneys for the redemption of the Securities shall have been made available as provided in this Indenture for redemption on the Redemption Date, the Securities shall cease to bear interest, and the only right of the Holders of the Securities shall be to receive payment of the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date.
Section 4.08 Open Market Purchase. The Company or any of its Controlled Entities may, in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, at any time purchase the Securities in the open market or otherwise at any price, so long as such purchase does not otherwise violate the terms of this Indenture. The Securities so purchased, while held by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Controlled Entities, shall not be deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder. The Securities that the Company or its affiliates purchase may, in the discretion of the Company, be held, resold or cancelled, but will only be resold in compliance with applicable requirements or exemptions under the relevant securities laws.
Article V
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
The Company hereby covenants and agrees as follows:
Section 5.01 Payments of Principal, Premium and Interest. The Company, for the benefit of each series of Securities, shall duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, each series of Securities, at the dates and place and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. The Company will pay all Special Interest, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
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Section 5.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency; Paying Agent.
(a) The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities, if any, an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall 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. The Company hereby initially appoints Citibank, N.A.as Paying Agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands. So long as the Trustee serves as Paying Agent, it will be entitled as Paying Agent to the same rights of compensation, reimbursement and indemnification under Section 10.01 and Section 10.02 as if it were Trustee. In acting hereunder and in connection with the Securities, the Paying Agent shall act solely as an agent of the Company, and will not thereby assume any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder. The Paying Agent shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Indenture or the Securities.
(b) The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies where the Securities of any series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and of any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency. The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent. The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Paying Agent and shall inform the Trustee of the same.
(c) With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 3.01, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depository for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
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Section 5.03 To Hold Payment in Trust.
(a) If the Company or an Affiliate thereof shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, then, on or before the date on which the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on any of the Securities of that series by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption shall become payable, the Company or such Affiliate shall segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, which shall have so become payable until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall notify the Trustee of its action or failure to act in that regard.
Upon any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state bankruptcy laws with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof, if the Company or such Affiliate is then acting as Paying Agent, the Trustee shall promptly replace the Company or such Affiliate as Paying Agent.
(b) If the Company shall appoint, and at the time have, a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on any series of Securities, then prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date on which the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on any of the Securities of that series shall become payable as above provided, whether by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption, the Company shall deposit with such Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee), the Company or any other obligor of such Securities shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its payment or failure to make such payment. The Paying Agent shall not be bound to make any payment until it has received in immediately available and cleared funds the full amount due to be paid to it pursuant to this Section 5.03(b).
(c) If the Paying Agent shall be a Person other than the Trustee, the Company shall cause such Paying Agent 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 5.03, that such Paying Agent shall:
(i) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as Paying Agent;
(ii) hold all moneys held by it for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
(iii) give to 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 the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Securities of that series; and
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(iv) at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
(d) Anything in this Section 5.03 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a release, satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee as required by this Section 5.03, 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 a Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
(e) 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, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Order and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment of such amounts without interest thereon, 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; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 calendar days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company. Subject to written instructions from the Company, any unclaimed funds held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent (as the case may be) may be invested and any interest accumulated thereon shall be paid to the Company by the Trustee or the Paying Agent (as the case may be). If the bank or institution with which the unclaimed funds are invested is the Trustee or a Subsidiary, holding or associated company of the Trustee, it need only account for an amount of interest equal to the amount of interest which would, at the then current rates, be payable by it on such a deposit to an independent customer. The Trustee or the Paying Agent (as the case may be) shall not be responsible for any resulting loss from any such investment made in accordance with the written direction of the Company, whether by depreciation in value, change in exchange rates or interest rates or otherwise and shall not be liable to the Company, the Holders or any other Person.
Section 5.04 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities:
(a) The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving entity, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any Person, unless
(i) any Person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to whom the Company has conveyed, transferred or leased its properties and assets substantially as an entirety is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity validly existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the PRC or Hong Kong and such Person expressly assumes by an indenture supplemental to this Indenture all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities, including the obligation to pay Additional Amounts with respect to any jurisdiction in which it is organized or resident for tax purposes;
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(ii) immediately after giving effect to the 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
(iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an opinion of Independent Legal Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture and that all conditions precedent therein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
(b) Upon any consolidation with or merger into any other entity, or any sale other than for cash, or any conveyance or lease, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with this Section 5.04, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which the Company is sold or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, and from time to time such successor entity may exercise each and every right and power of the Company under this Indenture, in the name of the Company, or in its own name; and any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture required or permitted to be done by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Company may be done with like force and effect by the like board of directors or officer of any entity that shall at the time be the successor of the Company hereunder. In the event of any such sale or conveyance, but not any such lease, the Company (or any successor entity which shall theretofore have become such in the manner described in this Section 5.04) shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may thereupon be dissolved and liquidated.
Section 5.05 Limitations on Liens.
(a) Subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 5.05(b) below, the Company will not create or have outstanding, and the Company will ensure that none of its Principal Controlled Entities will create or have outstanding, any Lien upon the whole or any part of their respective present or future assets securing any Relevant Indebtedness, or create or have outstanding any guarantee or indemnity in respect of any Relevant Indebtedness either of the Company or of any Principal Controlled Entity, without (x) at the same time or prior thereto securing or guaranteeing the Securities of any applicable series, as applicable, equally and ratably therewith or (y) providing such other security or guarantees for the Securities of the applicable series as shall be approved by an act of the Holders of such series of Securities holding at least a majority of the principal amount of such series of Securities then Outstanding.
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(b) The restriction set forth in Section 5.05(a) above will not apply to:
(i) any Lien, guarantee or indemnity arising or already arisen automatically by operation of law which is timely discharged or disputed in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(ii) any Lien, guarantee or indemnity in respect of the obligations of any Person which becomes a Principal Controlled Entity or which merges with or into the Company or a Principal Controlled Entity after the date hereof which is in existence at the date on which it becomes a Principal Controlled Entity or merges with or into the Company or a Principal Controlled Entity;
(iii) any Lien, guarantee or indemnity created or outstanding in favor of the Company or any Lien, guarantee or indemnity created by any of its Controlled Entities in favor of any of its other Controlled Entities;
(iv) any Lien, guarantee or indemnity in respect of Relevant Indebtedness of the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity with respect to which the Company or such Principal Controlled Entity has paid money or deposited money or securities with a paying agent, trustee or Depository to pay or discharge in full the obligations of the Company or such Principal Controlled Entity in respect thereof (other than the obligation that such money or securities so paid or deposited, and the proceeds therefrom, be sufficient to pay or discharge such obligations in full);
(v) any Lien, guarantee or indemnity created in connection with Relevant Indebtedness of the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity denominated in Chinese Renminbi and initially offered, marketed or issued primarily to Persons resident in the PRC;
(vi) any Lien, guarantee or indemnity created in connection with an acquisition of assets or a project financed with, or created to secure, Non-recourse Obligations; or
(vii) any Lien, guarantee or indemnity arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Relevant Indebtedness secured by any Lien or guaranteed by any guarantee or indemnity permitted by the foregoing clause (ii), (v) or (vi) or this clause (vii) of this Section 5.05(b); provided that such Relevant Indebtedness is not increased beyond the principal amount thereof (together with the costs of such refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding, including any accrued interest and prepayment premiums or consent fees) and is not secured by any additional property or assets.
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Section 5.06 Repurchase Upon Triggering Event. The following shall apply with respect to the Securities so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding:
(a) If a Triggering Event occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Securities of a particular series pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 4.07 hereof, the Company shall make an offer to repurchase all or, at the Holder’s option, any part (equal to US$200,000 or multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof) (or such other denominations in which such Securities are issuable) of each Holder’s Securities pursuant to the offer described below (the “Triggering Event Offer”), at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Securities repurchased to, but not including, the date of purchase (the “Triggering Event Payment”) (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest and Special Interest, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date). Within 30 days following any Triggering Event, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem all of the Outstanding Securities pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 4.07 hereof, the Company will send a notice of such Triggering Event Offer to each Holder or otherwise give notice in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, with a copy to the Trustee, stating:
(i) that a Triggering Event Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 5.06, including a description of the transaction or transactions that constitute the Triggering Event, and that all Securities properly tendered pursuant to such Triggering Event Offer will be accepted for purchase by the Company at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Securities plus accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, on such Securities to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest and Special Interest, if any, due on the relevant Interest Payment Date);
(ii) the purchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent) (the “Triggering Event Payment Date”); and
(iii) that the Securities of any series must be tendered in amounts of US$200,000 or multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof (or such other denominations in which such Securities are issuable), and any Security not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;
(iv) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Triggering Event Payment, any Security accepted for payment pursuant to the Triggering Event Offer will cease to accrue interest on and after the Triggering Event Payment Date;
(v) that Holders electing to have any Securities purchased pursuant to a Triggering Event Offer will be required to surrender such Securities, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Securities completed, to the Paying Agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Triggering Event Payment Date;
(vi) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their tendered Securities and their election to require the Company to purchase such Securities; provided that the Paying Agent receives at the address specified in the notice, not later than the close of business on the 30th day following the date of the Triggering Event notice, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Securities, the principal amount of Securities tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Securities and its election to have such Securities purchased;
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(vii) that if a Holder is tendering less than all of its Securities, such Holder will be issued new Securities in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered (the unpurchased portion of the Securities must be equal to US$200,000 or an integral multiple of US$1,000 in excess thereof) (or such other denominations in which such Securities are issuable); and
(viii) the other instructions, as determined by the Company consistent with this Section 5.06, that a Holder must follow.
The notice, if sent in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. If (A) the notice is sent in a manner herein provided and (B) any Holder fails to receive such notice or a Holder receives such notice but it is defective, such Holder’s failure to receive such notice or such defect shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of the Securities as to all other Holders that properly received such notice without defect.
(b) On the Triggering Event Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:
(i) accept for payment all Securities or portions of Securities (of US$200,000 or integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof) (or such other denominations in which such Securities are issuable) properly tendered pursuant to the Triggering Event Offer;
(ii) deposit with the Trustee in its capacity as tender agent (the “Tender Agent”), one Business Day prior to the Triggering Event Payment Date, an amount of cash in U.S. Dollars equal to the Triggering Event Payment in respect of all Securities or portions of Securities properly tendered at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Triggering Event Payment Date; and
(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Paying Agent for cancellation the Securities properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities or portions of Securities being purchased by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Section 5.06.
(c) The Tender Agent shall promptly send, to each Holder who properly tendered Securities, the purchase price for such Securities properly tendered, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and send (or cause to be transferred by book−entry) to each such Holder a new Security in principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered, if any; provided that each new Security will be in a principal amount of US$200,000 or a multiple of US$1,000 in excess thereof (or such other denominations in which such Securities are issuable).
(d) If the Triggering Event Payment Date is on or after the relevant Record Date and on or before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any, to the Triggering Event Payment Date shall be paid on such Interest Payment Date to the Person in whose name a Security is registered at the close of business on such Record Date.
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(e) The Company will not be required to make a Triggering Event Offer upon a Triggering 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 Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In the event that such third party terminates or defaults its offer, the Company will be required to make a Triggering Event Offer treating the date of such termination or default as though it were the date of the Triggering Event.
(f) The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e−1 under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities as a result of a Triggering Event. To the extent that the provision of any such securities laws or regulations conflicts with the Triggering Event Offer provisions of the Securities, the Company will comply with those securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Triggering Event Offer provisions of the Securities by virtue of any such conflict.
(g) The Trustee shall be entitled to accept and conclusively rely on (without liability) any opinion provided to it under this Section 5.06 and shall not be required to review or monitor compliance with the provisions hereof nor liable to any person for accepting such opinions provided to it hereunder. Neither the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar nor the Tender Agent shall be required to take any steps to ascertain whether a Triggering Event or any event which could lead to a Triggering Event has occurred or may occur and shall be entitled to assume that no such event has occurred until it has received written notice to the contrary from the Company and neither the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar nor the Tender Agent shall be liable to any person for any failure to do so. Neither the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar nor the Tender Agent shall be required to take any steps to ascertain whether the conditions for the exercise of the rights herein has occurred. The Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar, and the Tender Agent shall not be responsible for determining or verifying whether a Security is to be accepted for redemption and will not be responsible or liable to any person for any failure to do so.
Section 5.07 Additional Amounts.
(a) All payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, made by the Company in respect of any Security shall be made without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (collectively, “Taxes”) imposed or levied by or within the Cayman Islands or the PRC (in each case, including any political subdivision or any authority therein or thereof having power to tax) (each, a “Relevant Jurisdiction”), unless such withholding or deduction of such Taxes is required by law. If the Company is required to make such withholding or deduction, the Company shall pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as will result in receipt by each Holder of Securities of such amounts as would have been received by such Holder had no such withholding or deduction of such Taxes been required, except that no such Additional Amounts shall be payable:
(i) in respect of any such Taxes that would not have been imposed, deducted or withheld but for the existence of any connection (whether present or former) between the Holder or beneficial owner of the Securities and the Relevant Jurisdiction other than merely holding the Securities or receiving principal, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, in respect thereof (including such Holder or beneficial owner being or having been a national, domiciliary or resident of such Relevant Jurisdiction or treated as a resident thereof or being or having been physically present or engaged in a trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein);
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(ii) in respect of any Security presented for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the relevant date, except to the extent that the Holder thereof would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting the same for payment on the last day of such 30-day period. For this purpose, the “relevant date” in relation to any Security means the later of (a) the due date for such payment or (b) the date such payment was made or duly provided for;
(iii) in respect of any Taxes that would not have been imposed, deducted or withheld but for a failure of the Holder or beneficial owner of a Security to comply with a timely request by the Company addressed to the Holder or beneficial owner to provide certification or information concerning such Holder’s or beneficial owner’s nationality, residence, identity or connection with any Relevant Jurisdiction, if and to the extent that due and timely compliance with such request is required under the tax laws of such jurisdiction in order to reduce or eliminate any withholding or deduction as to which Additional Amounts would have otherwise been payable to such Holder;
(iv) in respect of any Taxes imposed as a result of a Security being presented for payment (where presentation is required) in the Relevant Jurisdiction, unless such Security could not have been presented for payment elsewhere;
(v) in respect of any estate, inheritance, gift, sale, use, value added, excise, transfer, personal property, wealth, interest equalization or similar Taxes (other than any value added Taxes imposed by the PRC or any political subdivision thereof if the Company were to be deemed a PRC tax resident);
(vi) to any Holder of a Security that is a fiduciary, partnership or person other than the sole beneficial owner of any payment to the extent that such payment would be required by the laws of the Relevant Jurisdiction to be included in the income, for tax purposes, of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, or a partner or member of that partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such Additional Amounts had that beneficiary, settlor, partner, member or beneficial owner been the Holder thereof;
(vii) with respect to any withholding or deduction that is imposed in connection with Sections 1471-1474 of the Code and U.S. Treasury Regulations thereunder (“FATCA”), any intergovernmental agreement between the United States and any other jurisdiction implementing or relating to FATCA or any non-U.S. law, regulation or guidance enacted or issued with respect thereto;
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(viii) in respect of any such Taxes payable otherwise than by deduction or withholding from payments under or with respect to any Security; or
(ix) in respect of any combination of Taxes referred to in the preceding clauses (i) through (viii) above.
(b) In the event that any withholding or deduction for or on account of any Taxes is required and Additional Amounts are payable with respect thereto, at least 30 days prior to each date of payment of principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Securities (unless the obligation to pay Additional Amounts arises after the 30th day prior to that payment date, in which case the Company will notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent promptly thereafter), the Company shall furnish to the Trustee and the Paying Agent, if other than the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount required to be withheld or deducted on such payments to Holders, certifying that the Company shall pay such amounts required to be withheld to the appropriate governmental authority and certifying to the fact that the Additional Amounts will be payable and the amounts so payable to each Holder, and that the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required to be paid; provided that no such Officer’s Certificate will be required prior to any date of payment of principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on such Securities if there has been no change with respect to the matters set forth in a prior Officer’s Certificate. The Trustee and each Paying Agent may conclusively rely on the fact that any Officer’s Certificate contemplated by this Section 5.07(b) has not been furnished as evidence of the fact that no Additional Amounts are payable with respect to any withholding or deduction for or on account of any Taxes. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for and to hold them harmless against any loss or liability incurred without fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct on their part (as determined in a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable decision) arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any such Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 5.07(b) or on the fact that any Officer’s Certificate contemplated by this Section 5.07(b) has not been furnished.
(c) Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, in respect of any Security, such mention shall be deemed to include the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this Indenture, to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to this Indenture.
(d) Sections 5.07(a), (b) and (c) shall apply in the same manner with respect to the jurisdiction in which any successor Person to the Company is organized or resident for tax purposes or any authority therein or thereof having the power to tax (a “Successor Jurisdiction”), substituting such Successor Jurisdiction for the Relevant Jurisdiction.
(e) The obligation of the Company to make payments of Additional Amounts under this Section 5.07 shall survive any termination, defeasance or discharge of this Indenture.
Section 5.08 Payment for Consent. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Controlled Entities to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or any series of the Securities unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all Holders of such series of Securities as may be affected thereby that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or amendment.
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Section 5.09 [Reserved].
Section 5.10 Compliance Certificate. The Company shall furnish to the Trustee (a) annually, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (which fiscal year end as of the date hereof is March 31), and, (b) upon written request by the Trustee, within 14 days of such request, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or treasurer as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture (which compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture), specifying if any Default has occurred and, in the event that any Default has occurred, specifying each such Default and the nature and status thereof of which such person may have knowledge.
Section 5.11 Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities. Except as otherwise specified or contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may fail or omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition set forth herein with respect to any series of Securities if the Company shall have obtained and filed with the Trustee, prior to the time of such failure or omission, evidence (as provided in Article VII) of the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount (or such other number of Holders as may be required by Section 13.02) of the Securities of such series affected by such waiver and at the time Outstanding, either waiving such compliance in such instance or generally waiving compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, or impair any right consequent thereon and, until such waiver shall have become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 5.12 Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee promptly and in any event within 30 calendar days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 5.13 Rule 144A Information. At any time when the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall furnish to the Holders of the Securities and to prospective investors, upon the requests of such Holders, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as any Securities are not freely transferable under the Securities Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the TIA.
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Article VI
REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 6.01 Events of Default. Except where otherwise indicated by the context or where the term is otherwise defined for a specific purpose, the term “Event of Default” as used in this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series shall mean one of the following described events unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the manner contemplated in Section 3.01:
(a) the Company fails to pay principal or premium, if any, in respect of a Security of such series by the due date for such payment (whether at Stated Maturity or upon repurchase, acceleration, redemption or otherwise);
(b) the Company fails to pay interest or Special Interest, if any, on a Security of such series within 30 days after the due date for such payment;
(c) the Company defaults in the performance of or breaches its obligations under Section 5.04;
(d) the Company, subject to the provisions of Section 5.11, defaults in the performance of or breaches any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or under the Securities of such series (other than a default specified in clause (a), (b) or (c) above) and such default or breach continues for a period of 30 consecutive days after written notice by the Trustee or the Holders of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding;
(e) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (i) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or (ii) a decree or order adjudging the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity of the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as final and nonappealable a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator, or other similar official of the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity of the Company or of any substantial part of its or their respective property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of their respective affairs (or any similar relief granted under any foreign laws), and in any such case 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 calendar days;
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(f) the commencement by the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity of the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Principal Controlled Entitiy of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity, or the filing by the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief with respect to the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or the consent by the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity 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 any Principal Controlled Entity of the Company or of any substantial part of its or their respective property pursuant to any such law, or the making by the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity of the Company of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors in respect of any indebtedness as a result of an inability to pay such indebtedness as it becomes due, or the admission by the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity of the Company in writing of the inability of the Company to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Principal Controlled Entity of the Company that resolves to commence any such action;
(g) the Securities of such series or this Indenture is or becomes or is claimed by the Company to be unenforceable, invalid or ceases to be in full force and effect otherwise than is permitted by this Indenture; or
(h) the occurrence of any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 3.01;
provided, however, that a Default under Section 6.01(d) above will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding provide written notice to the Company of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified in Section 6.01(d) above after receipt of such written notice. In the case of such written notice given to the Company by the Holders, the Company will provide a copy of such written notice to the Trustee.
Section 6.02 Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment.
(a) Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, if any one or more of the above-described Events of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or 6.01(f)) shall occur and continuing with respect to Securities any series at the time Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case, during the continuance of any such Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding may, and the Trustee upon written directions of holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such Series outstanding shall (subject to it being indemnified secured and/or pre-funded to its satisfaction), declare the unpaid principal (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the unpaid principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and any accrued but unpaid interest (and any Additional Amounts payable in respect thereof) on all the Securities of such series then Outstanding to be due and payable by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), such unpaid principal amount and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case, the unpaid principal amount of all of the Securities of that series then Outstanding and all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon shall automatically, and without any declaration or any other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become due and payable immediately. Upon payment of such amounts in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to Section 3.11 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01), all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of such series shall terminate.
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(b) At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the 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 provided in this Article VI, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding may, subject to Sections 6.06 and 13.02, waive all past Defaults and rescind and annul such acceleration if:
(i) the rescission of the acceleration with respect to the Securities of such series would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and
(ii) all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of such series, other than the non-payment of principal, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Securities of such series that became due solely because of such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.06.
(c) No rescission as provided in this Section 6.02 shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d) For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.
Section 6.03 Other Remedies. If the Company shall fail for a period of 30 calendar days to pay any installment of interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Securities of any series or shall fail to pay the principal of and premium, if any, on any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at Maturity, or by call for redemption, by declaration as authorized by this Indenture, or otherwise, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company shall pay to the Paying Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series then Outstanding, the whole amount which then shall have become due and payable on all the Securities of such series, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (so far as the same may be legally enforceable) on the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities of such series, and all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 10.01(a).
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In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, wherever situated, in the manner provided by law. Every recovery of judgment in any such action or other proceeding, subject to the payment to the Trustee of all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 10.01(a), shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of such series of Securities which shall be the subject of such action or proceeding. All rights of action upon or under any of the Securities or this Indenture may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities and without the production of any thereof at any trial or any proceeding relative thereto.
Section 6.04 Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact. The Trustee is hereby appointed, and each and every Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have appointed the Trustee, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of such Holder, with authority to make or file (whether or not the Company shall be in Default in respect of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, any of the Securities), in its own name and as trustee of an express trust or otherwise as it shall deem advisable, in any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or to their respective creditors or property, any and all claims, proofs of claim, proofs of debt, petitions, consents, other papers and documents and amendments of any thereof, as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of the Holders of the Securities allowed in any such proceeding and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to execute and deliver any and all other papers and documents and to do and perform any and all other acts and things, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to enforce in any such proceeding any of the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of any of such Holders in respect of any of the Securities; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor in any such proceeding is hereby authorized, and each and every Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have authorized any such receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor, to make any such payment or delivery only to or on the order of the Trustee, and to pay to the Trustee any amount due it and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 10.01(a); provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower the Trustee to consent to or accept or adopt, on behalf of any Holder of Securities, any plan of reorganization or readjustment affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize or empower the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of any Securities in any such proceeding. In no event shall the foregoing attorney-in-fact authorization be construed as imposing any duty or obligation on the Trustee.
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Section 6.05 Priorities. Any moneys or properties collected by the Trustee, or, after an Event of Default, any moneys or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, in either case with respect to a series of Securities under this Article VI shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or properties and, in the case of the distribution of such moneys or properties on account of the Securities of any series, upon presentation of the Securities of such series, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee, any predecessor trustee, and the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Tender Agent, and the Registrar and any predecessor paying agent, transfer agent, tender agent and registrar, under the terms of this Indenture, including, without limitation, under Section 10.01(a) hereof, and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of their agents, delegates, attorneys and counsel.
Second: In case the principal of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest and Special Interest, if any, ratably on the Securities of such series, in the chronological order of the Stated Maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by such Securities, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto.
Third: In case the principal of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Securities of such series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities of such series, and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Security of such series over any other Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest and Special Interest, if any.
Fourth: Any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Company, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be so entitled.
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Section 6.06 Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee hereunder, or of exercising any trust or power hereby conferred upon the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Section 10.02, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or would involve the Trustee in personal liability or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of any Holders not joining in the giving of such direction (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an obligation to determine is such direction is unduly prejudicial to the rights of the Holders) and may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction received from Holders. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities at the time Outstanding may on behalf of all Holders of the Securities of such series waive any existing or past Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default (i) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on (or Additional Amounts payable in respect of), the Securities of such series then Outstanding, in which event the consent of all Holders of the Securities of such series then Outstanding affected thereby is required, or (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision which under Section 13.02 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Security of such series then Outstanding affected thereby. Upon any such waiver, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; provided that no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 6.06, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Securities of such series and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
Section 6.07 Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity for the execution of any trust hereunder or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy hereunder, in each case with respect to an Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities, unless (i) such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of one or more continuing Events of Default herein specified with respect to such series of Securities, (ii) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have requested the Trustee in writing to take action in respect of the matter complained of, (iii) there shall have been offered to the Trustee pre-funding, security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and (iv) the Trustee, for 60 calendar days after receipt of such notification, request and offer of security, pre-funding and/or indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and have not received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding a written direction inconsistent with such request; and such notification, request and offer of security, pre-funding and/or indemnity are hereby declared in every such case to be conditions precedent to any such action, suit or proceeding by any Holder of any Security of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of the Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by his, her, its or their action to enforce any right hereunder, except in the manner herein provided, and that every action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be instituted, had and maintained in the manner herein provided and for the equal benefit of all Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series; provided, however, that nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series shall affect or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on and Special Interest, if any, the Securities of such series to the respective Holders of such Securities at the respective due dates in such Securities stated, or affect or impair the right, which is also absolute and unconditional, of such Holders to institute suit to enforce the payment thereof.
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No one or more of the Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever 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 therein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or any other document relating to the Securities, if the Trustee receives instructions from two or more groups of Holders, each holding at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities, and the Trustee believes (in its sole and absolute discretion and subject to such legal or other advice as it may deem appropriate) that such instructions are conflicting, the Trustee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, exercise any one or more of the following options:
| (1) | refrain from acting on any such conflicting instructions; |
| (2) | take the action requested by the Holders of the highest percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture (and always subject to such indemnification and/or security and/or pre-funding as is satisfactory to the Trustee); and |
| (3) | petition a court of competent jurisdiction for further instructions. |
In all such instances where the Trustee has acted or refrained from acting as provided for above, the Trustee shall not be responsible for any losses or liability of any nature whatsoever to any party.
Section 6.08 Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture and each Holder of any Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, shall be deemed to have agreed that any court may in its discretion require, in any action, suit or proceeding for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any action, suit or proceeding against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding of an undertaking to pay the costs of such action, suit or proceeding, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 6.08 shall not apply to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee, to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any one or more Holders of Securities holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities of any series Outstanding, or to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any Holder of Securities of any series for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or the interest or Special Interest, if any, on, any of the Securities of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Securities.
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Section 6.09 Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities of any series is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy or remedies, and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of the Securities of any series to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and every power and remedy given by this Article VI to the Trustee and to the Holders of Securities of any series, respectively, may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities of such series, as the case may be. In case the Trustee or any Holder of Securities of any series shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and the proceedings for the enforcement thereof shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of waiver or for any other reason, or shall have been adjudicated adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder of Securities, then and in every such case, subject to any determinations in such proceedings, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall severally and respectively be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, and thereafter all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken, except as to any matters so waived or adjudicated.
Article VII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 7.01 Evidence of Action of Securityholders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage or a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities or of any series of Securities may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage or majority have joined therein may be evidenced by (a) any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Securityholders in person, by an agent or by a proxy appointed in writing, including through an electronic system for tabulating consents operated by the Depository for such series or otherwise (such action becoming effective, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, when such instruments or evidence of electronic consents are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company), or (b) by the record of the Holders of Securities voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Securityholders.
Section 7.02 Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities. Proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his, her or its agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument may be proved (i) by the certificate of any notary public or other officer in any jurisdiction who, by the laws thereof, has power to take acknowledgments or proof of deeds to be recorded within such jurisdiction, that the Person who signed such instrument did acknowledge before such notary public or other officer the execution thereof, or (ii) by the affidavit of a witness of such execution sworn to before any such notary or other officer. Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority.
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(b) The ownership of Securities of any series shall be proved by the Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series.
(c) The record of any Holders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 8.06.
(d) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 7.02 as it shall deem appropriate or necessary, so long as the request is a reasonable one.
(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Securities of any series any action, the Company may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s discretion; provided that such record date shall not be more than 30 calendar days prior to the first solicitation of any consent or waiver or more than 30 calendar days prior to the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 312 of the TIA. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of such series have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be computed as of such record date.
Section 7.03 Persons Deemed Owners.
(a) The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered in the Register as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.08) interest and Special Interest, if any, 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. All payments made to any Holder, or upon his, her or its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon such Security.
(b) None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 7.04 Effect of Consents. After an amendment, supplement, waiver or other action becomes effective as to any series of Securities, a consent to it by a Holder of such series of Securities is a continuing consent conclusive and binding upon such Holder and every subsequent Holder of the same Securities or portion thereof, and of any Security issued upon the transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in place thereof, even if notation of the consent is not made on any such Security. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
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Article VIII
SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
Section 8.01 Purposes of Meetings. A meeting of Securityholders of any or all series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article VII;
(b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article X;
(c) to consent to the execution of an Indenture or of indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 13.02; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any one or more or all series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
Section 8.02 Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of all Securityholders of all series that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken, to take any action specified in Section 8.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders of a series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be delivered to Holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as they shall appear on the Register. Such notice shall be delivered not less than 20 calendar days nor more than 90 calendar days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
Section 8.03 Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders. In case at any time the Company or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a series (or of all series, as the case may be) then Outstanding that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders of such series (or of all series), by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have delivered the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 8.01, by delivering notice thereof as provided in Section 8.02.
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Section 8.04 Qualifications for Voting. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders, a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Securities affected by the action proposed to be taken at the meeting or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more such Securities. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
Section 8.05 Regulation of Meetings.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem fit.
(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.03, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chair. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.
(c) At any meeting of Securityholders of a series, each Securityholder of such series of such Securityholder’s proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each US$1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series Outstanding held or represented by him or her; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Securities of such series held by him or her or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him or her as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. At any meeting of the Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.02 or 8.03, the presence of Persons holding or representing Securities in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to take action upon the business for the transaction of which such meeting was called shall be necessary to constitute a quorum, and any such meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
Section 8.06 Voting. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Securityholders of a series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts of the Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was delivered as provided in Section 8.02. The record shall show the principal amounts of the Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee.
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Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
Section 8.07 No Delay of Rights by Meeting. Nothing contained in this Article VIII shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Securityholders of any series or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Securityholders of such series under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities of such series.
Article IX
REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
AND SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS
Section 9.01 Reports by Trustee.
(a) So long as any Securities are Outstanding, 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 therein.
(b) The Trustee shall, at the time of the transmission to the Holders of Securities of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.01, file a copy of such report with each securities exchange upon which the Securities are listed or each automated quotation system on which the Securities are quoted, if any, and also with the SEC in respect of a Security listed and registered on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system, if any. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee in writing when, as and if the Securities become listed or delisted on any securities exchange or admitted to trading on any automated quotation system and of any delisting thereof.
The Company shall reimburse the Trustee for all reasonable expenses incurred in the preparation and transmission of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.01 and of Section 9.02.
Section 9.02 Reports by the Company. The Company shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, 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 in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that, any such documents or reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 30 calendar days after the same is filed with the SEC (excluding any such information, documents, or report, or portions thereof, with respect to which the Company has received (or is actively seeking in good faith and has not been denied), confidential treatment), and after giving effect to any applicable grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act); provided further that the filing of the reports specified in Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act by an entity that is the direct or indirect parent of the Company shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 9.02 so long as such entity is an obligor or guarantor on the Securities; provided further that the reports of such entity shall not be required to include condensed consolidating financial information for the Company in a footnote to the financial statements of such entity.
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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 notice or knowledge of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). It is expressly understood that materials transmitted electronically by the Company to the Trustee or filed pursuant to the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor electronic filing system) shall be deemed filed with the Trustee and transmitted to Holders for purposes of this Section 9.02.
Section 9.03 Securityholders’ Lists. The Company covenants and agrees that it shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) semi-annually, within 15 calendar days after each Record Date, but in any event not less frequently than semi-annually, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities to which such Record Date applies, as of such Record Date, and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 calendar days after receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 calendar days prior to the time such list is furnished;
provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.
Article X
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 10.01 Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by this Indenture upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which the parties hereto and the Holders from time to time of the Securities agree:
(a) The Trustee shall be entitled to such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (including in any agent capacity in which it acts). The compensation of the Trustee shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon its request for all out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances (including costs of collection) incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture (including, without limitation, the reasonably incurred expenses and disbursements of its agents, delegates, attorneys and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance caused by its own gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction.
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The Company also agrees to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee hereunder for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim, or expense incurred without its own gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder and the performance of its duties (including in any agent capacity in which it acts), as well as the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except those caused by its own gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct as determined by a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity (including, without limitation, any and all reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses); provided, however, that the failure to so notify the Company shall not affect the obligations of the Company hereunder to indemnify.
As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 10.01(a), the Trustee shall have a lien upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust by the Trustee to pay principal of and interest and Special Interest, if any, on any Securities. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the obligations of the Company to compensate and indemnify the Trustee under this Section 10.01(a) shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, any satisfaction and discharge under Article XI, the payment of any Securities and the termination of this Indenture for any reason. In addition to and without prejudice to its other rights hereunder, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 6.01 occurs, the expenses and compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws. The indemnification provided in this Section 10.01(a) shall extend to the officers, directors, agents, employees and successors of the Trustee and to the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, including, without limitation, as Paying Agent, Registrar, Tender Agent and Transfer Agent.
(b) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereof and perform any duty hereunder either directly or by its agents, delegates and attorneys and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(c) The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for the correctness of the recitals herein or in the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon) contained, all of which are made solely by the Company; and the Trustee shall not be responsible or accountable in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to the validity or execution or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon), and the Trustee makes no representation with respect thereto, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Securities or the proceeds of any Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each Holder shall be solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal of, and investigation into, the financial condition, creditworthiness, condition, affairs, status and nature of the Company, and the Trustee shall not at any time have any responsibility for the same and each Holder shall not rely on the Trustee in respect thereof. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to any information, statement or recital in the offering memorandum, prospectus, prospectus supplement or other disclosure material prepared or distributed with respect to any of the Securities.
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(d) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and, subject to Section 10.02, the 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 the Trustee hereunder in reliance thereon.
(e) The Trustee, subject to Section 10.02, may rely upon the certificate of the Secretary or one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Company as to the adoption of any Board Resolution or resolution of the stockholders of the Company, and any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by, and whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee may rely upon, an Officer’s Certificate of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed).
(f) Subject to Section 10.04, the Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the TIA, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have had if it were not the Trustee or such agent.
(g) 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 or investment of any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.
(h) Any action taken by the Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof at the request or with the consent of any Person who at the time is the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding in respect of such Security upon all future Holders thereof or of any Security or Securities which may be issued for or in lieu thereof in whole or in part, whether or not such Security shall have noted thereon the fact that such request or consent had been made or given.
(i) 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, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
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(j) The Trustee shall not be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of the Securities, pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, unless the requisite number of Holders of the Securities have instructed the Trustee in writing and offered to the Trustee pre-funding, security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it therein or thereby.
(k) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within its discretion or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(l) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge or be charged with notice of any Default or Event of Default with respect to any Securities unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge by way of written notice thereof that is received by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and such notice references such Securities, the Company and this Indenture or unless the Holders of not less than 25% of the Outstanding Securities notify the Trustee thereof by a written notice to the Trustee that is received by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and such notice references such Securities, the Company and this Indenture.
(m) 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; provided, however, that the Trustee, may, but shall not be required to, make further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(n) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be secured, pre-funded and/or indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, including, without limitation, in its capacities as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Tender Agent and Registrar, and to each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder.
(o) In no event shall the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Tender Agent or the Registrar, be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit), whether or not foreseeable and irrespective of whether the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Tender Agent or the Registrar has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(p) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s 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 Officer’s 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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(q) The permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking action hereunder shall not be construed as a duty.
(r) The Trustee may refrain from taking any action in any jurisdiction if taking such action in that jurisdiction would, in the reasonable opinion of the Trustee based on written legal advice received from qualified legal counsel in the relevant jurisdiction, be contrary to any law of that jurisdiction or, to the extent applicable, the State of New York. Furthermore, the Trustee may refrain from taking such action if, in the reasonable opinion of the Trustee based on such legal advice, it would otherwise render the Trustee liable to any person in that jurisdiction or the State of New York and there has not been offered to the Trustee pre-funding, security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, or the Trustee would not have the legal capacity to take such action in that jurisdiction by virtue of applicable law in that jurisdiction or the State of New York or by virtue of a written order of any court or other competent authority in that jurisdiction that the Trustee does not have such legal capacity.
(s) except as expressly set forth herein and in any applicable calculation agency agreement, the Company will be responsible for making calculations called for under this Indenture and with respect to any Securities, including but not limited to determination of redemption price, premium, if any, and any Additional Amounts or other amounts payable on the Securities. The Company will make the calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on the Holders. The Company will provide a schedule of their calculations to the Trustee when requested by the Trustee, and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification and shall be fully protected in relying upon such calculations.
(t) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
(u) In considering the interests of Holders of the Securities while title to the Securities is registered in the name of a nominee of DTC, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Tender Agent and the Registrar may (but will not be obliged to) rely conclusively upon any information made available to it by DTC as to the identity (either individually or by category) of its participants with entitlements to Securities and may (but will not be obliged to) consider such interests as if such accountholders were the holders of the Securities. None of the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent, the Tender Agent or the Registrar or any of their respective agents will have any responsibility or be liable for any aspect of the records relating to the book-entry interests.
Section 10.02 Duties of Trustee.
(a) If one or more of the Events of Default specified in Section 6.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened, then, during the continuance thereof, the Trustee shall, with respect to such Securities, exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and shall use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
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(b) Unless and until an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened which at the time is continuing,
(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties with respect to the Securities of that series as are specifically set out in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, whose duties and obligations shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture; and
(ii) the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, upon certificates and opinions furnished to it pursuant to the express provisions of this Indenture; provided that, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which, by the provisions of this Indenture, 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).
(c) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall be construed as relieving the Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, grossly negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that, anything in this Indenture contained to the contrary notwithstanding,
(i) the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder of Securities or to any other Person for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder of Securities or to any other Person with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of Securityholders given as provided in Section 6.06, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to it or exercising any trust or power conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(iii) none of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to 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 grounds for believing that reimbursement of such funds or satisfactory security, pre-funding and/or indemnity against such risk or liability is not assured to it; and
(iv) this subsection (c) shall not be construed to limit the effect of subsection (b) of this Section 10.02.
(d) 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 10.02.
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Section 10.03 Notice of Defaults. Within 90 calendar days after the occurrence thereof and if known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall give to the Holders of the Securities of a series notice of each Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series known to the Trustee, by transmitting such notice to Holders at their addresses as the same shall then appear on the Register, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice (the term “Default” being hereby defined to be the events specified in Section 6.01, which are, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, Events of Default as defined in said Section).
Section 10.04 Eligibility; Disqualification.
(a) The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least US$50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition, and shall have a Corporate Trust Office. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.04, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article X.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(i) of the TIA any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are Outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the TIA, 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. If Section 310(b) of the TIA is amended any time after the date of this Indenture to change the circumstances under which a Trustee shall be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to the Securities of any series or to change any of the definitions in connection therewith, this Section 10.04 shall be automatically amended to incorporate such changes.
Section 10.05 Resignation and Notice; Removal. The Trustee, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may at any time resign and be discharged of the trusts hereby created with respect to any one or more or all series of Securities by giving to the Company notice in writing. Such resignation shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Trustee. Any Trustee hereunder may be removed with respect to any series of Securities at any time by the filing with such Trustee and the delivery to the Company of an instrument or instruments in writing signed by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, specifying such removal and the date when it shall become effective.
If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the TIA 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
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(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 10.04 and shall fail to resign 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
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged 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, (i) the Company by written notice to the Trustee may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the TIA, any Securityholder 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.
Upon its resignation or removal, any Trustee shall be entitled to the payment of compensation for the services rendered hereunder by such Trustee and to the payment of all expenses incurred hereunder and all moneys then due to it hereunder (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel). The Trustee’s rights to indemnification and its lien provided in Section 10.01(a) shall survive its resignation or removal, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture for any reason.
Section 10.06 Successor Trustee by Appointment.
(a) In case at any time the Trustee shall resign, or shall be removed (unless the Trustee shall be removed as provided in Section 10.04 (b), in which event the vacancy shall be filled as provided in Section 10.04(b)), or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or if a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or if 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 with respect to the Securities of one or more series, a successor Trustee 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 series) may be appointed by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that or those series then Outstanding, by an instrument or instruments in writing signed in duplicate by such Holders and filed, one original thereof with the Company and the other with the successor Trustee; provided that, until a successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of Securities of that or those series as herein authorized, the Company, or, in case all or substantially all the assets of the Company shall be in the possession of one or more custodians or receivers lawfully appointed, or of trustees in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings (including a trustee or trustees appointed under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code), or of assignees for the benefit of creditors, such receivers, custodians, trustees or assignees, as the case may be, by an instrument in writing, shall appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series. Subject to the provisions of Sections 10.04 and 10.05, upon the appointment as above provided of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series shall cease to be Trustee hereunder. After any such appointment other than by the Holders of Securities of that or those series, the Person making such appointment shall forthwith cause notice thereof to be delivered to the Holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as the same shall then appear on the Register but any successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series so appointed shall, immediately and without further act, be superseded by a successor Trustee appointed by the Holders of Securities of such series in the manner above prescribed, if such appointment be made prior to the expiration of one year from the date of the delivery of such notice by the Company, or by such receivers, trustees or assignees.
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(b) If any Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall resign or be removed and a successor Trustee shall not have been appointed by the Company or by the Holders of the Securities of such series within 30 days of any notice of resignation or removal or, if any successor Trustee so appointed shall not have accepted its appointment within 30 calendar days after such appointment shall have been made, the resigning Trustee at the expense of the Company may appoint a successor Trustee or apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee. If in any other case a successor Trustee shall not be appointed pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.06 within three months after such appointment might have been made hereunder, the Holder of any Security of the applicable series or any retiring Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, in any such case, after such notice, if any, as such court may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.
(c) Any successor Trustee appointed hereunder with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor Trustee and to the Company, or to the receivers, trustees, assignees or court appointing it, as the case may be, an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties, indemnities, protections and obligations with respect to such series of such predecessor Trustee with like effect as if originally named as Trustee hereunder, and such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to pay over, and such successor Trustee shall be entitled to receive, all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee as Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 10.01(a). Nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee or of the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its said charges and disbursements, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee upon the trusts herein expressed all the rights, powers and trusts of such predecessor Trustee and shall assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 10.01(a); and, upon request of any such successor Trustee and the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties, indemnities, protections and obligations. In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, then , the predecessor Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to such Securities shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which 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.
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Section 10.07 Successor Trustee by Merger. Any Person into which the Trustee or any successor to it in the trusts created by this Indenture shall be merged or converted, or any Person with which it or any successor to it shall be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee or any such successor to it shall be a party, or any Person to which the Trustee or any successor to it shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor Trustee under this Indenture without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article X. In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture with respect to one or more series of Securities, any of such Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any successor to such Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to such Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor Trustee hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
Section 10.08 Right to Rely on Officer’s Certificate. Subject to Section 10.02, and subject to the provisions of Section 15.01 with respect to the certificates required thereby, whenever in the administration of the provisions of 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 (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate with respect thereto delivered to the Trustee, and such Officer’s Certificate, in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section 10.09 Appointment of Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) to authenticate the Securities, and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent. 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.
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Each Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than US$50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such corporation 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 Article X, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Article X, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Article X.
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 of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such Person shall be otherwise eligible under this Article X, 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 10.09, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall 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 10.09.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 10.09.
Section 10.10 Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders. Holders of Securities may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA with respect to such communications.
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Article XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
Section 11.01 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any series of Securities except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of such series. Defeasance provisions, if any, for Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01.
Section 11.02 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
(a) This Indenture, with respect to the Securities of any series (if all series issued under this Indenture are not to be affected), shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for and rights to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on, such Securities) when:
(i) either:
(A) all Securities of such series that have been authenticated, except (x) lost, stolen or destroyed Securities that have been replaced or paid and (y) Securities for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Paying Agent for cancellation; or
(B) all Securities of such series that have not been delivered to the Paying Agent for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the sending of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of such series of Securities, cash in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination of cash in U.S. Dollars and U.S. Government Obligations, in amounts as will be sufficient (in the case of a deposit not entirely in cash, in the opinion of an internationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants), without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire amount Outstanding on such Securities not delivered to the Paying Agent for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest and Special Interest, if any, to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(ii) no Default or Event of Default under this Indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to Securities of such series on the date of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);
(iii) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture with respect to all Securities of such series; and
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(iv) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Securities of such series at the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be.
(b) The Company must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an opinion of Independent Legal Counsel (which may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.
(c) Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (A)(y) of clause (i) of Section 11.02(a), the obligations of the Trustee under Section 11.07 and Section 5.03(e) shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.
Section 11.03 Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations.
(a) The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 11.03(b) or Section 11.03(c) applied to all Outstanding Securities of any series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Section 11.03.
(b) Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 11.03(a) of the option applicable to this Section 11.03(b), the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 11.03(d), be deemed to have been Discharged from its obligations with respect to all Outstanding Securities of such series on the date such conditions are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, “Legal Defeasance” means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and Discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the Securities of such series then Outstanding and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture, except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(i) the rights of Holders of the Securities of such series then Outstanding to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 11.03(d);
(ii) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities concerning registration of Securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;
(iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, indemnities and immunities of the Trustee, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and
(iv) this Section 11.03(b) and Section 11.03(c) with respect to the Securities of such series.
Following the Company’s exercise of its Legal Defeasance option, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. Subject to compliance with this Article XI, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 11.03(b) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 11.03(c).
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“Discharged” means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the Securities of a series and to have satisfied all the obligations under this Indenture relating to the Securities of such series (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except (A) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust fund described in clause (i) of 11.03(d), payment of the principal of, premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to Securities of such series under Sections 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 5.02, 5.03, 11.06 and 11.07 and (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, indemnities, protections and immunities of the Trustee hereunder.
(c) Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 11.03(a) of the option applicable to this Section 11.03(c), the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 11.03(d), be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Section 5.04, Section 5.05, Section 5.06, Section 5.08 and as provided pursuant to Section 3.01(z), on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 11.03(d) are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, “Covenant Defeasance” means that, with respect to this Indenture and the Securities of such series then Outstanding, 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 covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document, and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 11.03(a) of the option applicable to this Section 11.03(c), subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 11.03(d), Sections 6.01(c), and 6.01(d) (only with respect to covenants that are released as a result of such Covenant Defeasance), in each case, shall not constitute Events of Default.
(d) The following shall be the conditions to the exercise of either the Legal Defeasance option under Section 11.03(b) or the Covenant Defeasance option under Section 11.03(c):
(i) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee (or its agent), in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of all Securities subject to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, cash in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination of cash in U.S. Dollars and U.S. Government Obligations, in amounts as will be sufficient (in the case of a deposit not entirely in cash, in the opinion of an internationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants) to pay the principal of, or interest and premium, if any, on such Securities that are then Outstanding on the applicable Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether such Securities are being defeased to maturity or to a particular Redemption Date;
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(ii) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an opinion of Independent Legal Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of Independent Legal Counsel will confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such series then Outstanding will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(iii) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an opinion of Independent Legal Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the Securities of such series then Outstanding will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(iv) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series must have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);
(v) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by it with the intent of preferring the Holders of Securities over the Company’s other creditors with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding its creditors or others; and
(vi) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an opinion of Independent Legal Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
Section 11.04 Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company (or to its designee) upon Company Order any excess moneys or U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time, including any such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee under any escrow trust agreement entered into pursuant to Section 11.06. The provisions of the last paragraph of Section 5.03 shall apply to any moneys or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Article that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of any series of Securities for which moneys or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 11.03.
Section 11.05 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal or interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations other than any such tax, fee or charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities being defeased.
Section 11.06 Deposits to Be Held in Escrow. Any deposits with the Trustee referred to in Section 11.03 above shall be irrevocable (except to the extent provided in Sections 11.04 and 11.07) and shall be made under the terms of an escrow trust agreement. As contemplated under this Article XI, if any Outstanding Securities of a series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, pursuant to any optional redemption provisions, the applicable escrow trust agreement shall provide therefor and the Company shall make such arrangements as are satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.
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If Securities of a series with respect to which such deposits are made may be subject to later redemption at the option of the Company, the applicable escrow trust agreement may, at the option of the Company, provide therefor. In the case of an optional redemption in whole or in part, such agreement shall require the Company to deposit with the Trustee on or before the date notice of redemption is given funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Securities to be redeemed together with all unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. Upon such deposit of funds, the Trustee shall pay or deliver over to the Company as excess funds pursuant to Section 11.04 all funds or obligations then held under such agreement and allocable to the Securities to be redeemed.
Section 11.07 Application of Trust Money.
(a) Neither the Trustee nor any other paying agent shall be required to pay interest on any moneys deposited pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, except such as it shall agree with the Company in writing to pay thereon. Any moneys so deposited for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on the Securities of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after the date of the maturity of the Securities of such series or the date fixed for the redemption of all the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding, as the case may be, shall be applied as provided in Section 5.03(e).
(b) Subject to the provisions of clause (a) above, any moneys or U.S. Government Obligations which at any time shall be deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Trustee or any other paying agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Special Interest, if any, on any of the Securities shall be and are hereby assigned, transferred and set over to the Trustee or such other paying agent in trust for the respective Holders of the Securities for the purpose for which such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations shall have been deposited; provided that such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Section 11.08 Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, if the Securities of any series are payable in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars, the Currency or the nature of the government obligations to be deposited with the Trustee under the foregoing provisions of this Article XI shall be as set forth in the Officer’s Certificate or established in the supplemental indenture under which the Securities of such series are issued.
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Article XII
IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS
Section 12.01 No Personal Liability. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or the premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, on, any Security or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof or of the Indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer, employee or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor thereto, either directly or through the Company or any successor thereto, whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that this Indenture and the Securities are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any incorporator, stockholder, officer, employee or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor thereto, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, because of the incurring of the Indebtedness hereby authorized or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants, promises or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities, or to be implied herefrom or therefrom, and that all liability, if any, of that character against every such incorporator, stockholder, officer, employee and director is, by the acceptance of the Securities and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities expressly waived and released.
Article XIII
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 13.01 Without Consent of Securityholders. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any one or more of or all the following purposes:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency contained herein or in any supplemental indenture; provided, however, that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders;
(b) to evidence the succession of another corporation, partnership, trust or other entity to the Company in accordance with Section 5.04, or successive successions, and the assumption by such successor of the covenants and obligations of the Company contained in the Securities of one or more series and in this Indenture or any supplemental indenture;
(c) to comply with the rules of any applicable Depository;
(d) to secure any series of Securities;
(e) to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company, to be observed thereafter and during the period, if any, in such supplemental indenture or indentures expressed, and to add Events of Default, in each case, for the protection or benefit of the Holders of all or any series of the Securities (and if such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are to be for the benefit of fewer than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are expressly being included for the benefit of such series as shall be identified therein), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
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(f) to make any change in any series of Securities that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any Holder of such Securities in any material respect;
(g) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee; provided that the successor Trustee is otherwise qualified and eligible to act as such under the terms hereof;
(h) to conform the text of this Indenture or any series of the Securities to any provision of the section entitled “Description of the Notes” in the Prospectus to the extent that such provision in the Prospectus was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture or such series of the Securities as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate;
(i) to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of such series of Securities as permitted by this Indenture, including, but not limited to, facilitating the issuance and administration of any series of the Securities or, if incurred in compliance with this Indenture, additional Securities; provided, however, that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in such series of the Securities being transferred in violation of the Securities Act, or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Securities;
(j) to make any amendment to this Indenture necessary to qualify this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(k) to effect any changes to this Indenture in a manner necessary to comply with the procedures of DTC or any applicable clearing system;
(l) to establish the form and terms of Securities of any series as permitted in Section 3.01, and to provide for the issuance of additional Securities in accordance with the limitations set forth in this Indenture, or to add to the conditions, limitations or restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication or delivery of the Securities of any series, as herein set forth, or other conditions, limitations or restrictions thereafter to be observed; and
(m) to add guarantors or co-obligors with respect to any series of Securities.
Subject to the provisions of Section 13.03, the Trustee is authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make the further agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property or assets thereunder.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 13.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 13.02.
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Section 13.02 With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations.
(a) With the consent of the Holders (evidenced as provided in Article VII) of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture voting separately, the Company and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to be affected; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of each such series affected thereby,
(i) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of and premium, if any, or any installment of interest on any Security;
(ii) reduce the principal amount of, payments of interest or Special Interest, if any, on or stated time for payment of interest or Special Interest, if any, on any Security;
(iii) change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts with respect to any Security;
(iv) change the Currency in which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on such Security is denominated or payable;
(v) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment due on or with respect to any Security;
(vi) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any supplemental indenture;
(vii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, 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;
(viii) modify any of the provisions of this Section 13.02, Section 5.11, Section 6.06, except to increase any such percentage or 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 13.02 and Section 5.11, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 10.06 and 13.01(g);
(ix) amend, change or modify any provision of this Indenture or the related definition affecting the ranking of any series of Securities in a manner which adversely affects the Holders of such Securities; or
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(x) reduce the amount of the premium payable upon the redemption or repurchase of any Security or change the time at which any Security may be redeemed or repurchased as described in Section 4.07, Section 5.06 or as provided pursuant to Section 3.01, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise (except through amendments to the definition of “Triggering Event” if applicable).
(b) A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any 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.
(c) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 13.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. Any such consent of Securityholders given in connection with a tender of such Securityholders’ Securities of such series will not be rendered invalid by such tender.
(d) The Company may set a record date pursuant to Section 7.02(e) for purposes of determining the identity of the Holders of each series of Securities entitled to give a written consent or waive compliance by the Company as authorized or permitted by this Section 13.02.
(e) After the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 13.02, the Company shall mail a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Holders of Securities at their addresses as the same shall then appear in the Register. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
Section 13.03 Trustee Protected. Upon the written request of the Company, accompanied by the Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required by Section 15.01 stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture to be entered into pursuant to Section 13.01 or Section 13.02 is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of consent of the Holders if the supplemental indenture is to be executed pursuant to Section 13.02, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of said supplemental indenture unless said supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, indemnities, protections or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into said supplemental indenture. The Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon such Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel.
Section 13.04 Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIII, this Indenture shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties, indemnities, protections and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of all of the Securities or of the Securities of any series affected, as the case may be, shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
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Section 13.05 Notation on or Exchange of Securities. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article may bear a notation in the form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for the Securities then Outstanding in equal aggregate principal amounts, and such exchange shall be made without cost to the Holders of the Securities.
Section 13.06 Conformity with TIA. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIII shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
Article XIV
[RESERVED.]
Article XV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 15.01 Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent.
(a) Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates provided pursuant to Section 5.07 of this Indenture) shall include (i) a statement that the Person giving such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement that in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed view or opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
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(c) Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion is based are erroneous. Any certificate, statement or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate, statement or opinion of, or representations by, governmental or other officials, customary for opinions of the type required, or an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate, statement or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
(d) Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel to the Company 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, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion may be based are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any firm of independent registered public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.
(e) 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.
(f) 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 15.02 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with a provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of, the TIA, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the TIA, which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.
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Section 15.03 Notices to the Company and Trustee. Any notice or demand authorized or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, the Company or the Trustee shall be sufficiently made, given, furnished or filed for all purposes if it shall be mailed, by regular mail or overnight courier, delivered or faxed or sent electronically in PDF format to:
(a) the Company, at Alibaba Group Holding Limited, 26/F Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Facsimile No.: +852 2215 5200, Attn: Company Secretary at legalnotice@list.alibaba-inc.com, or at such other address or facsimile number as may have been furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
(b) the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
Any such notice, demand or other document shall be in the English language. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no such notice or demand shall be effective as to the Trustee unless it is actually received by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office.
The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method), the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. 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 instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties. Furthermore, notwithstanding the above, if any Trustee receives information or instructions delivered by electronic mail, other electronic method or other unsecured method of communication reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been sent by the proper person or persons, the Trustee shall have (i) no duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the person who sent such instructions is in fact a person authorized to give instructions or directions on behalf of the Company and (ii) absent its or their gross negligence or willful misconduct, no liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any Holder, the Company or any other person as a result of such reliance on or compliance with such information or instructions.
Section 15.04 Notices to Securityholders; Waiver. Any notice required or permitted to be given to Securityholders shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided), if to Holders, if given in writing by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such Holders at their addresses as the same shall appear on the Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depository for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depository, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice by this Indenture.
(a) In the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder.
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(b) 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 on such waiver. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice nor any defect in any notice so mailed to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given. In any case where notice to Holders is given by publication, any defect in any notice so published as to any particular Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is published in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given.
Section 15.05 Legal Holiday. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Maturity or other scheduled date of payment of any Security of any series shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Securities of that series, then payment of principal and premium, if any, interest or Special Interest, if any, 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 such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity, as the case may be, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day if such payment is made or duly provided for on such Business Day.
Section 15.06 Judgment Currency. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the obligations of the Company to any Holder under this Indenture or the Securities of any series, as the case may be, shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than U.S. Dollars, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Holder or the Trustee, as the case may be, of any amount in the Judgment Currency, such Holder or the Trustee, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the U.S. Dollars with the Judgment Currency. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if the amount of U.S. Dollars so purchased is less than the amount originally to be paid to such Holder or the Trustee, as the case may be, in U.S. Dollars, the Company agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding such judgment, to pay the difference, and if the amount of U.S. Dollars so purchased exceeds the amount originally to be paid to such Holder, such Holder or the Trustee, as the case may be, agrees to pay to or for the account of the Company such excess; provided that such Holder shall not have any obligation to pay any such excess as long as a Default by the Company in its obligations under this Indenture or such series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, in which case such excess may be applied by such Holder to such obligations. In the event the Trustee is required or requested to make such purchases of U.S. Dollars with the Judgment Currency, the Trustee will in good faith select a recognized banking institution in the City of New York through which the Trustee will purchase the U.S. Dollars with the Judgment Currency; provided that the Trustee will not be liable for any losses or shortfalls in amounts so paid as a result of the foreign exchange rate applied by such banking institution to such purchases of the U.S. Dollars with the Judgment Currency in accordance with normal banking procedures.
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Section 15.07 Effects 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 15.08 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the parties hereto shall bind their respective successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of their permitted successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 15.09 Severability. If any provision hereof shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable under applicable law, then the remaining provisions hereof shall be construed as though such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision were not contained herein.
Section 15.10 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or to give to, any Person other than the parties hereto and their successors and the Holders of the Securities any benefit or any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the Holders of the Securities.
Section 15.11 Counterparts. This Indenture 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.
Section 15.12 Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury. This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES.
Section 15.13 Submission to Jurisdiction. The Company irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. federal or New York State court located in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the Securities. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by registered mail addressed to the Company’s agent, Corporation Service Company, located at 19 West 44th Street, Suite 200, New York, NY 10036, shall be effective service of process against the Company for any suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court. The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. A final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and may be enforced in any other courts to whose jurisdiction the Company is or may be subject, by suit upon judgment. The Company further agrees that nothing herein shall affect any Holder’s right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or bring a suit action or proceeding (including a proceeding for enforcement of a judgment) in any other court or jurisdiction in accordance with applicable law.
-85-
Section 15.14 Waiver of Immunity. To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to each of the Company, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any such legal action, suit or proceeding, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any Cayman Islands, PRC, New York state or U.S. federal court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or from execution of judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any such court in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to the obligations and liabilities of the Company or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives or will waive such right to the extent permitted by applicable law, and agree not to plead or claim, any such immunity and consent to such relief and enforcement.
Section 15.15 Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 15.16 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
[Signatures on following page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED, | |||
| as Issuer | |||
| By: | /s/ Toby Hong Xu | ||
| Name: | Toby Hong Xu | ||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||
| CITIBANK, N.A., | |||
| as Trustee | |||
| By: | /s/ Peter Lopez | ||
| Name: | Peter Lopez | ||
| Title: | Senior Trust Officer | ||
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
[if a Global Security]
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY.
[if a Definitive Security]
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRUSTEE SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS THE REGISTRAR AND THE TRUSTEE MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
[if a Security that is offered and sold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act]
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES 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, ONLY (A) BY AN INITIAL INVESTOR (AS DEFINED BELOW) (1) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (2) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT AND ANY PERSON ACTING ON ITS BEHALF REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (3) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (4) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) (RESALES DESCRIBED IN SUBCLAUSES (1) THROUGH (4) OF THIS CLAUSE (A), “SAFE HARBOR RESALES”), OR (B) BY A SUBSEQUENT INVESTOR, IN A SAFE HARBOR RESALE OR PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (PROVIDED THAT, AS A CONDITION TO THE REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF ANY NOTES OTHERWISE THAN IN A SAFE HARBOR RESALE, THE COMPANY OR THE TRUSTEE MAY REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM EVIDENCING COMPLIANCE WITH SUCH EXEMPTION), OR (C) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, AND IN EACH OF SUCH CASES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT IT WILL INFORM EACH PERSON TO WHOM IT TRANSFERS THE SECURITIES OF ANY RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES. FOR ALL PURPOSES OF THIS SECURITY, THE TERM “INITIAL INVESTOR” MEANS ANY PERSON WHO, IN CONNECTION WITH THE INITIAL DISTRIBUTION OF THIS SECURITY, ACQUIRES SUCH SECURITY FROM THE ISSUER OR THE INITIAL PURCHASERS (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE) PARTICIPATING IN SUCH DISTRIBUTION OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING.
A-1
[If a Security offered and sold pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act]
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES 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 PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE OFFERING OF THE SECURITIES AND THE CLOSING, AS DEFINED IN THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 19, 2024 (THE “DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE TERMINATION DATE”), EXCEPT, (A) TO ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED (THE “ISSUER”), (B) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (D) 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 CLAUSE (D) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND MAY BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE TERMINATION DATE. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISSUER THAT IT WILL INFORM EACH PERSON TO WHOM IT TRANSFERS THE SECURITIES OF ANY RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THE SECURITIES.
A-2
FORM OF [ % NOTES DUE 20 ][ FLOATING RATE SENIOR NOTES DUE 20 ]
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
[ % Note Due 20 ][ Floating Rate Senior Notes Due 20 ]
| PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: US$ | ||
| CUSIP: | ||
| ISIN: |
| No.: |
Alibaba Group Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands (the “Company,” which term includes any successor thereto under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of __________ U.S. DOLLARS (US$__________) (or such other principal amount as shall be set forth in the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Note attached hereto) on , 20 , or on such earlier date as the principal hereof may become due in accordance with the provisions of this Note.
Interest Rate: [ % per annum][The Applicable Rate with respect to a particular Interest Period will be a rate equal to ____ as determined by the Paying Agent on the interest Determination Date plus %].
Interest Payment Dates: of each year, commencing on .
Record Dates: .
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been manually signed by the Trustee under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.
A-3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Alibaba Group Holding Limited has caused this Note to be duly executed.
| ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED, | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Title: | |||
A-4
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within−mentioned Indenture.
Date of authentication:
| CITIBANK, N.A., | ||
| as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Authorized Signatory | ||
A-5
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
[ % Note Due 20 ][ Floating Rate Senior Notes Due 20 ]
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of debt securities of the Company of the series designated as the [“ % Note Due 20 ”][“ Floating Rate Senior Notes Due 20 ”](the “Notes”), all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of November 26, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by and between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee), as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, dated as of , 20 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by and between the Company and the Trustee. The Base Indenture as supplemented and amended by the Supplemental Indenture is referred to herein as the “Indenture”. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given them in the Indenture. To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
1. Interest. The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this [Note at a rate of % per annum][at the Applicable Rate as described below determined by the Paying Agent (or its successor) for each Interest Period] and shall pay the Special Interest, if any, payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. The date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be , or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for. [The Applicable Rate with respect to a particular Interest Period will be a rate equal to ____ as determined on the interest Determination Date plus %. Promptly upon determination, the Paying Agent will inform the Company of the Applicable Rate for the next Interest Period. ]The Company will pay interest and Special Interest, if any, [semi−annually][quarterly] in arrears on of each year, beginning ,20 . In any case in which an Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Maturity or other payment date is not a Business Day as defined in the Indenture at a Place of Payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day. Any payment made on such Business Day will have the same force and effect as if made on the date on which the payment is due, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. Interest shall be computed on the basis of [a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months][the actual number of days that have elapsed in the applicable Interest Period and a 360-day year].
2. Method of Payment. The Company shall pay interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes (except Defaulted Interest), if any, to the Persons in whose name such Notes are registered at the close of business on the Record Date referred to on the face of this Note immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled, repurchased or redeemed on or after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date. Payment of interest and Special Interest, if any, on the Notes shall be made, in the currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, at the Corporate Trust Office or, in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.
A-6
3. Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent and Registrar. Initially, Citibank, N.A. will act as Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent and Registrar. The Company may change or appoint any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company may act in any such capacity.
4. 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, as amended (“TIA”), as in effect on the date the Indenture is qualified. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and TIA for a statement of such terms. The Notes are unsecured general obligations of the Company and constitute the series designated on the face of this Note as the [“ % Note Due 20 ”][“ Floating Rate Senior Notes Due 20 ”], initially limited to US$ in aggregate principal amount. The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement. Requests may be made to: Alibaba Group Holding Limited, 26/F Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Attn: Company Secretary at legalnotice@list.alibaba-inc.com.
5. Redemption and Repurchase. The Notes are [not]subject to optional redemption [other than as set forth in the Base Indenture], [and][but] are the subject of a Triggering Event Offer, as further described in the Indenture. The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
6. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in the denominations of US$200,000 or any integral multiple of US$1,000 in excess thereof. The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture. The Notes may be presented for exchange or for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by the Company or the Registrar) at the office of the Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by the Company for such purpose. The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption or tendered for repurchase upon a Triggering Event Offer, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed or repurchased in part.
7. Registration Rights. In addition to the rights set forth under the Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture, Holders of this Note will have all the rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, including the right to receive Special Interest pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
8. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder may be treated as its owner for all purposes.
9. Amendments, Supplements and Waivers. The Indenture and the Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture. Any consent or waiver by the Holders as provided in the Indenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holders and upon all future Holders and holders 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 the Notes.
A-7
10. Defaults and Remedies. The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Base Indenture. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights and obligations of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
11. No Recourse Against Others. No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or the Notes, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator as such, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer, director or employee, as such, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof.
12. Authentication. This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.
13. Governing Law. The Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and this Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
14. CUSIP and ISIN Numbers. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
A-8
ASSIGNMENT
To assign this Security, fill in the form below: I or we assign and transfer this Security 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 Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
| Date: | Your Signature: |
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.
| Signature Guarantee: | ||
| Signature must be guaranteed | Signature |
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A-9
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06 of the Indenture, check the box below:
¨ Section 5.06
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 5.06 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
US$_________
| Date: | Your Signature: | |||
| (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) | ||||
| Tax Identification No: | ||||
| Signature Guarantee: | ||||
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A-10
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN NOTE*
The initial principal amount of this Security is US$______________. The following increases or decreases in a part of this Security have been made:
| Date | Amount of decrease in principal amount of this Note |
Amount of increase in principal amount of this Note |
Principal amount of this Security following such decrease (or increase) | |||
* Insert in Global Notes.
A-11
EXHIBIT B
Form Of Certificate Of Transfer
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
26/F Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Attn: Company Secretary
(legalnotice@list.alibaba-inc.com)
Citibank, N.A., as Transfer Agent
388 Greenwich Street,
New York, New York 10013
Email: peter1.lopez@citi.com / citi.cspag.debt@citi.com,
Attention: Agency & Trust – Alibaba Group Holding Limited
Re: [Title of Securities]
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 26, 2024 (as supplemented to the date hereof, the “Indenture”), among Alibaba Group Holding Limited, as issuer (the “Company”), and Citibank, N.A., as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________________, (the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the [Security][Securities] or beneficial interest in such [Security][Securities] specified in Exhibit 1 hereto, in the principal amount of US$___________ (the “Transfer”), to ___________________________ (the “Transferee”), as further specified in Exhibit 1 hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Global Security or a Certificated Security Pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Certificated Security is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Certificated Security for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Certificated Security will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the applicable legend printed on the Global Security and/or the Certificated Security pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
B-1
2. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Global Security or a Certificated Security pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the offer and sale is pursuant to an offshore transaction in compliance with an exemption from registration pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act, (ii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iii) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the 40-day “Distribution Compliance Period”, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person and the transferred beneficial interest will be held immediately after such Transfer through Euroclear or Clearstream. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Certificated Security will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the applicable legend printed on the Global Security and/or the Certificated Security and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. ¨ Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or of an Unrestricted Certificated Security.
(a) ¨ Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the applicable legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Certificated Security will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the applicable legend printed on the Restricted Global Securities, on Restricted Certificated Securities and in the Indenture.
(b) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with an exemption from registration pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act, in an offshore transaction and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the applicable legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Certificated Security will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the applicable legend printed on the Restricted Global Securities, on Restricted Certificated Securities and in the Indenture.
(c) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to an Effective Registration Statement. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
B-2
(d) ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the applicable legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Certificated Security will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the applicable legend printed on the Restricted Global Securities or Restricted Certificated Securities and in the Indenture.
4. ¨ Check if Transfer is to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.
| [Insert Name of Transferor] |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
| Dated: |
B-3
EXHIBIT 1 TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
(a) ¨ a beneficial interest in the:
(i) ¨ Global Security offered and sold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act (CUSIP _________), or
(ii) ¨ Global Security offered and sold pursuant to Regulation S (CUSIP _________)
(b) ¨ a Restricted Certificated Security.
2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:
[CHECK ONE]
(a) ¨ a beneficial interest in the:
(i) ¨ Global Security offered and sold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act (CUSIP _________), or
(ii) ¨ Global Security offered and sold pursuant to Regulation S (CUSIP _________), or
(iii) ¨ Unrestricted Global Security (CUSIP _________); or
(b) ¨ a Restricted Certificated Security; or
(c) ¨ an Unrestricted Certificated Security, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
B-4
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
26/F Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Attn: Company Secretary
(legalnotice@list.alibaba-inc.com)
Citibank, N.A., as Transfer Agent and Registrar
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013
Email: peter1.lopez@citi.com / citi.cspag.debt@citi.com,
Attention: Agency & Trust – Alibaba Group Holding Limited
Re: [Title of Securities]
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of November 26, 2024 (as supplemented to the date hereof, the “Indenture”), among Alibaba Group Holding Limited, as issuer (the “Company”), and Citibank, N.A., as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
__________________________, (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or beneficial interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of US$____________ (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
1. Exchange of Restricted Certificated Securities or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Security for Unrestricted Certificated Securities or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Security
(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Securities and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the applicable legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
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(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security to Unrestricted Certificated Security. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security for an Unrestricted Certificated Security, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Certificated Security is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Securities and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the applicable legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Certificated Security is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(c) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Certificated Security to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Certificated Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Certificated Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the applicable legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(d) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Certificated Security to Unrestricted Certificated Security. In connection with the Owner’s Exchange of a Restricted Certificated Security for an Unrestricted Certificated Security, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Certificated Security is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Certificated Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the applicable legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Certificated Security is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
2. Exchange of Restricted Certificated Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Securities for Restricted Certificated Securities or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Securities
(a) ¨ Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security to Restricted Certificated Security. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security for a Restricted Certificated Security with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Certificated Security is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Certificated Security issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the applicable legend printed on the Restricted Certificated Security and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
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(b) ¨ Check if Exchange is from Restricted Certificated Security to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Security. In connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Restricted Certificated Security for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] ¨ Global Note offered and sold pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, ¨ Global Note offered and sold pursuant to Regulation S, with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owner’s own account without transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Securities and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the applicable legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Security and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company.
| [Insert Name of Transferor] |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
| Dated: |
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Exhibit 4.8
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated November 26, 2024 (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and among Alibaba Group Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities plc, Morgan Stanley Asia Limited and UBS AG Hong Kong Branch1 as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the initial purchasers listed in Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (the “Initial Purchasers”).
The Company and the Representatives are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated November 19, 2024 (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of US$2,650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Offered Securities (as defined therein) (the “Securities”). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Business Day” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.
“Depositary” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Exchange Dates” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company of each series of Exchange Securities 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.
1 UBS AG is incorporated in Switzerland with limited liability.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form F-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange Securities” shall mean senior notes of a series issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms substantially identical in all material respects 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 in exchange for Registrable 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 of this Agreement, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.
“Indemnified Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.
“Indemnifying Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) hereof.
“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of November 26, 2024 between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
“Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Inspector” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiv) hereof.
“Issuer Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) 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.
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“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 Holders” shall mean the Holders participating in a given registration relating to Registrable Securities.
“Participating Broker-Dealers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of the following: (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement; (ii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding; and (iii) on November 26, 2027.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange and FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws and comparable non-U.S. laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of the Company in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the reasonable 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 fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Participating Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Participating Holders holding a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities held by such Participating Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers); and (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
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“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Representatives” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Shelf Additional Interest Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(d) hereof.
“Shelf Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Securities (but no other securities unless approved by the Participating Holders holding a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement) on an appropriate form pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Shelf Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Staff” shall mean the staff of the SEC.
“Suspension Actions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Target Registration Date” shall mean November 26, 2025.
“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.
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“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.
“Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(e) hereof.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
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 commercially reasonable efforts to (i) 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 (ii) have such Exchange Offer Registration Statement become effective on or before the Target Registration Date and remain effective until 180 days after the last Exchange Date for use by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers. The Company shall commence the Exchange Offer promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer for the Registrable Securities duly tendered for exchange by the last Exchange Date not later than 60 days after such effective date.
After the Exchange Offer Registration Statement has become effective, the Company shall commence the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities by mailing, or delivering in compliance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary and applicable law the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:
(i) that such Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange;
(ii) the dates of acceptance for exchange of Securities (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days from the date such notice is disseminated) (each, an “Exchange Date”);
(iii) that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein;
(iv) that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary, in each case prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date; and
(v) that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary.
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As a condition to participating in an Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Company that (i) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) at the time of the commencement of such Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (iii) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company, (iv) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) 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 and not directly from the Company, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange Registrable Securities or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and
(ii) deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Company and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities tendered by such Holder.
The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws, rules and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. No Exchange Offer shall be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff.
(b) In the event that (i) the Company determines that the Exchange Offer provided for in Section 2(a) above is not available or may not be completed as soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date because it would violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, (ii) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not for any other reason declared effective by the SEC by the Target Registration Date or (iii) the Company receives a written request (a “Shelf Request”) from any Holder representing that it holds Registrable Securities that are or were ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed as soon as practicable after such determination, Target Registration Date or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective; provided that (a) no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Securities included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Company as is contemplated by Section 3(b) hereof, and (b) the Company shall be under no obligation to file any such Shelf Registration Statement before the Target Registration Date.
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In the event that the Company is required to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file and have become effective both an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof with respect to all Registrable Securities and a Shelf Registration Statement (which may be a combined Registration Statement with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement) with respect to offers and sales of Registrable Securities held by the Holders after completion of the Exchange Offer.
The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the Securities covered thereby cease to be Registrable Securities (the “Shelf Effectiveness Period”). The Company further agrees to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder or if reasonably requested by a Participating Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Participating Holder, and to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus to become usable as soon as practicable thereafter. The Company agrees to furnish to the Participating Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC, as requested by the Participating Holders.
(c) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC. A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the Securities Act.
In the event that either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the Target Registration Date or a Shelf Registration Statement, if required pursuant to Section 2(b)(i) or 2(b)(ii) hereof, does not become effective on or prior to the 60th day after the Target Registration Date, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period following the Target Registration Date and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum thereafter until the applicable Exchange Offer is completed or the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, becomes effective. In the event that the Company receives a Shelf Request pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii), and the Shelf Registration Statement required to be filed thereby does not become effective by the later of (x) the Target Registration Date and (y) 90 days after the delivery of such Shelf Request (such later date, the “Shelf Additional Interest Date”), then the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period following the Shelf Additional Interest Date and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum thereafter until the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective.
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If the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, has become effective and thereafter either ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable for resales of Registrable Securities on more than two occasions, 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 for resales of Registrable Securities exists for more than 30 consecutive days in any 12-month period, then the interest rate on the Registrable Securities will be increased by 0.25% per annum commencing on the day after the 30th day of the second such 30-consecutive-day period in such 12-month period and ending on such date that the Shelf Registration Statement has again become effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable.
(e) The Company shall be entitled to suspend its obligation to file any amendment to a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish any supplement or amendment to a Prospectus included in a Shelf Registration Statement, make any other filing with the SEC that would be incorporated by reference into a Shelf Registration Statement, cause a Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective or the Prospectus usable or take any similar action (collectively, “Suspension Actions”) if there is a possible acquisition or business combination or other transaction, business development or event involving the Company or its subsidiaries or consolidated variable interest entities that may require disclosure in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus and the Company determines that such disclosure is not in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders or obtaining any financial statements relating to any such acquisition or business combination required to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus would be impracticable. Upon the occurrence of any of the conditions described in the foregoing sentence, the Company shall give prompt notice of the delay or suspension (but not the basis thereof) to the Participating Holders. Upon the termination of such condition, the Company shall promptly proceed with all Suspension Actions that were delayed or suspended and, if required, shall give prompt notice to the Participating Holders of the cessation of the delay or suspension (but not the basis thereof).
(f) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Company’s obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures. (a) In connection with its obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Company shall:
(i) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Company, (y) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Participating Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include or, if permitted by applicable law, incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
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(ii) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(a)(3) of, and Rule 174 under, the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;
(iii) to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain a copy of any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed;
(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 the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or 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 Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
(v) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities, blue sky laws or comparable non-U.S. laws of such jurisdictions as any Participating Holder shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; cooperate with such Participating Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Participating Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject;
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(vi) notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such notice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective and when any Free Writing Prospectus or amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed (in each case other than for the purpose of naming a Participating Holder as selling security holder therein), (2) of any request (but not the nature of details regarding such request) by the SEC or any other securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (3) of the issuance by the SEC or any other securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (4) if 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 (but not the nature or details concerning such event) during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement, Prospectus or 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 would be appropriate;
(vii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement on the proper form, as soon as reasonably practicable and provide prompt notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;
(viii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, without charge, upon request, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested), if such documents are not available via the SEC’s EDGAR system;
(ix) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Participating Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (unless such Registrable Securities are in book-entry form only) representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and, in the case of certificated securities, registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Participating Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;
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(x) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, subject to Section 2(e) hereof, use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or 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 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 Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Participating Holders, Participating Broker-Dealers and Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission and expressly agree to maintain the information contained in such notice confidential (except that such information may be disclosed to its counsel) until it has been publicly disclosed by the Company;
(xi) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or of any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Representatives and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Participating Holders and their counsel) and make the representatives of the Company available for discussion of such document as reasonably requested by the Representatives or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel); and the Company shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, of which the Representatives and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Representatives or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object in writing on a timely basis, except for any document that is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus (a copy of which has been previously furnished as provided in the preceding sentence) which counsel to the Company has advised in writing is required to be filed in order to comply with applicable law;
(xii) utilize the CUSIP numbers obtained and made eligible with the Depositary prior to the closing of the initial offering of the Securities and provided to the Company for the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be;
(xiii) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
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(xiv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon written request, 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, one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants designated by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration and one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants designated by such Underwriter, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries or consolidated variable interest entities reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant, and cause the officers, partners, directors and employees of the Company to supply all pertinent information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement, provided that such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant shall first agree to enter into arrangements with the Company as the Company may reasonably require to take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information; and provided further that such records, information or documents shall be used solely for the purposes of exercising rights under this Agreement and satisfying “due diligence” obligations under the Securities Act and not be used in connection with any market transactions in violation of any applicable securities laws;
(xv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cause all Registrable Securities covered thereby to be listed on the securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar senior unconvertible debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company are then listed if requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, to the extent such Registrable Securities satisfy applicable listing requirements;
(xvi) if reasonably requested by any Participating Holder, promptly include or, if permitted by applicable law, incorporate by reference, in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Participating Holder as such Participating Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing; and
(xvii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (1) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries or consolidated variable interest entities and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and 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 consistent with the applicable representations and warranties in the Purchase Agreement and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and consistent with the opinions delivered pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and addressed to (i) each Underwriter of Registrable Securities and (ii) each Participating Holder who requests to be an addressee of the opinions of counsel to the Company, provided that such Participating Holder shall pay the Company for any additional legal fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with addressing the opinions of counsel to the Company to such Participating Holder, (3) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary or consolidated variable interest entities of the Company, or of any business acquired or to be acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to each Participating Holder (to the extent permitted by applicable professional standards) and Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus or Prospectus and (4) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.
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(b) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require, as a condition to including such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company a completed and signed 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 and require such Holder to agree in writing to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder. The Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any Holder so long as such Holder fails to furnish such Notice and Questionnaire or information or fails to agree in writing to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement within a reasonable time after receiving such request. No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to additional interest pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement unless and until such Holder shall have provided such Notice and Questionnaire and all such information and have agreed in writing to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement if requested by the Company. Each Holder of Registrable Securities as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed so that the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder is not materially misleading and does not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.
(c) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Participating Holder of Registrable Securities covered in such Shelf Registration Statement agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(vi)(3), 3(a)(vi)(4) or 3(a)(vi)(5) hereof, such Participating Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until, (i) in the case of Section 3(a)(vi)(3), such Participating Holder’s receipt of notice from the Company that the Shelf Registration Statement resumes effectiveness, (ii) in the case of Section 3(a)(vi)(4), such Participating Holder’s receipt of notice from the Company that the Registrable Securities regain qualification for sale in such jurisdiction, or (iii) in the case of Section 3(a)(vi)(5), such Participating Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(x) hereof and, if so directed by the Company, such Participating Holder will deliver to the Company all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Participating Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.
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(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.
(e) The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “Underwriter”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering, subject in each case to consent by the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(f) No Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements that have been approved by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such Underwritten Offering, and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer. (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.
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(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) of this Agreement), if requested by one or more Participating Broker-Dealer, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Company further agrees that Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.
(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) above.
5. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective affiliates within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, 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, against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“Issuer Information”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser or information relating to any Participating Holder furnished to the Company in writing through the Representatives or any Participating Holder expressly for use therein.
(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, liabilities or actions that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement and any Prospectus.
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(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 this Section 5 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 5. If any such suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, upon request of the Indemnified Person, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel 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 fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; or (ii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are reasonably incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, (y) for any Holder, its directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the Majority Holders and (z) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. 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.
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(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company from the offering of the Securities and the Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Holders and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(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 documented out-of-pocket legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.
(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.
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6. General.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that (i) the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Company under any other agreement and (ii) the Company has not entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent other than any Registrable Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its affiliates; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto. Each Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the time of any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent thereafter shall be bound by any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section 6(b), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment, modification, supplement waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is delivered to such Holder. Each Holder may waive compliance with respect to any obligation of the Company under this Agreement as it may apply or be enforced by such particular Holder.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Representatives, the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.
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(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. Any successor to the Company, whether by merger, consolidation or other transaction, shall expressly assume the obligations of the Company hereunder. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Company with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.
(e) Third Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company and the Initial Purchasers, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of laws to the extent the laws of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.
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(i) Jurisdiction. The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company irrevocable and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. In connection with this Agreement, the Company has irrevocably appointed Corporation Service Company as its authorized agent in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York upon which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and the Company agrees that service of process upon such agent, and written notice of said service to the Company by the person serving the same to the address given in accordance with the provisions of Section 6(c) of this Agreement, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action as may be necessary to maintain such designation and appointment of such agent in full force and effect for a period of seven years from the date of this Agreement.
(j) Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(k) 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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED | |||
| By: | /s/ Toby Hong Xu | ||
| Name: | Toby Hong Xu | ||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||
Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above:
| CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. | ||
| For itself and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers | ||
| By: | /s/ Adrian Khoo | |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above:
| J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC | ||
| For itself and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers | ||
| By: | /s/ Jessica Chen | |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
| Jessica Chen | ||
| Executive Director | ||
Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above:
| MORGAN STANLEY ASIA LIMITED | ||
| For itself and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers | ||
| By: | /s/ Saurabh Dinakar | |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
| Saurabh Dinakar | ||
| Head of APAC Global Capital Markets | ||
Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above:
| UBS AG HONG KONG BRANCH1 | ||
| For itself and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers | ||
| By: | /s/ Allan Chu | |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
| By: | /s/ XU Xiaohui | |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
1 UBS AG is incorporated in Switzerland with limited liability.
Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit 5.1
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
| ||
icbc tower, 35th floor 3 garden road, central hong kong
| ||
telephone: +852-2514-7600 facsimile: +852-2869-7694 | ||
Direct Dial Number +852-2514-7660 |
E-mail Address dfertig@stblaw.com |
|
July 21, 2025
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
26/F Tower One, Times Square
1 Matheson Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as United States counsel to Alibaba Group Holding Limited, an exempted company with limited liability under the law of the Cayman Islands (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance by the Company of up to US$1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”), up to US$1,150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035 (the “2035 Notes”) and up to US$500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “2035 Notes” and, together with the 2030 Notes and the 2035 Notes, the “Exchange Securities”). The Exchange Securities will be issued under an Indenture, dated as of November 26, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 26, 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee relating to the 2030 Notes, a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 26, 2024 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee relating to the 2035 Notes, and a Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 26, 2024 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the First Supplemental Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture, the “Supplemental Indentures”, and each Supplemental Indenture, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee relating to the 2054 Notes. The Exchange Securities will be offered by the Company in exchange for an equal principal amount of the Company’s outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035 and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054.
| michael j.c.M. ceulen | marjory j. ding | daniel fertig | adam C. furber | YI GAO | MAKIKO HARUNARI | Ian C. Ho | JONATHAN HWANG | anthony d. king | Daniel a. mARGULIES | jin hYUK park | ANUJ J. SHAH | Erik p. wang | christopher k.s. wong |
resident partners
simpson thacher & bartlett, hong kong is an affiliate of simpson thacher & bartlett llp with offices in: |
| New York | Beijing | Boston | Brussels | Houston | London | Los Angeles | luxembourg | Palo Alto | SÃO PAULO | TOKYO | WASHINGTON, D.C. |
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
| ||
| July 21, 2025 | -2- | |
We have examined the Registration Statement and the Indenture (including the form of Exchange Securities set forth therein), which is an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth.
In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including electronic signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
| ||
| July 21, 2025 | -3- | |
In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed further that (1) the Company is validly existing and in good standing under the law of the Cayman Islands and has duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered the Indenture and the Exchange Securities, as applicable, in accordance with its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and the law of the Cayman Islands, (2) the execution, issuance, delivery and performance by the Company of the Indenture and the Exchange Securities, as applicable, do not constitute a breach or violation of its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association or violate the law of the Cayman Islands or any other jurisdiction (except that no such assumption is made with respect to the law of the State of New York) and (3) the execution, issuance, delivery and performance by the Company of the Indenture and the Exchange Securities, as applicable, do not constitute a breach or default under any agreement or instrument which is binding upon the Company.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that when the Exchange Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture pursuant to the exchange offer described in the Registration Statement, the Exchange Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
| ||
| July 21, 2025 | -4- | |
Our opinion set forth above is subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and (iv) to the effects of the possible judicial application of foreign laws or foreign governmental or judicial action affecting creditors’ rights. In addition, we express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of Section 15.09 of the Base Indenture and Section 3.02 of each of the Supplemental Indentures relating to the severability of provisions of such indentures.
In connection with Section 15.13 of the Base Indenture whereby the parties submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the United States of America in the State of New York, we note the limitations of 28 U.S.C. Sections 1331 and 1332 on subject matter jurisdiction of the U.S. federal courts. In connection with the provisions of Section 15.13 of the Base Indenture which relate to forum selection (including, without limitation, any waiver of any objection to venue or any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum), we note that under N.Y.C.P.L.R. Section 510 a New York State court may have discretion to transfer the place of trial, and under 28 U.S.C. Section 1404(a) a United States District Court has discretion to transfer an action from one U.S. federal court to another. We also note that the recognition and enforcement in New York State courts or U.S. federal courts sitting in the State of New York of a foreign judgment obtained against the Company is subject to the Uniform Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition Act (N.Y.C.P.L.R. Article 53 Section 5301, et seq.).
We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
| ||
| July 21, 2025 | -5- | |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| /s/ SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT | ||
| SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT |
Exhibit 5.2
| Our ref | KKZ/604743-000083/32648968v4 | |
| karen.zhangpallaras@maples.com |
|
Alibaba Group Holding Limited 26/F Tower One, Times Square 1 Matheson Street Causeway Bay Hong Kong |
|
21 July 2025
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
We have acted as Cayman Islands legal advisers to Alibaba Group Holding Limited (the “Company”) in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-4, including all amendments or supplements thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended to date, in connection with the Company’s exchange of all of its outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035, and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054, that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for an equal principal amount of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”), 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035 (the “2035 Notes”), and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “2054 Notes”, and together with the 2030 Notes and the 2035 Notes, the “Notes”)), respectively, that are freely tradable.
We are furnishing this opinion as Exhibits 5.2, 8.1 and 23.3 to the Registration Statement.
| 1 | Documents Reviewed |
For the purposes of this opinion, we have reviewed originals, copies or final drafts of the following documents and such other documents as we have deemed necessary in order to render the opinions below:
| 1.1 | The certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 28 June 1999, the certificate of incorporation on change of name of the Company dated 6 December 2007, the certificate of incorporation on adoption of dual foreign name dated 7 October 2014, and the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as adopted by a special resolution passed on 22 August 2024 (the “Memorandum and Articles”). |
| 1.2 | A certified extract of the minutes (the “Minutes”) of the meeting of the board of directors of the Company held on 14 May 2025 (the “Meeting”). |
| 1.3 | A certificate of good standing with respect to the Company issued by the Registrar of Companies dated 8 July 2025 (the “Certificate of Good Standing”). |
| 1.4 | A certificate from an officer of the Company a copy of which is attached to this opinion letter (the “Officer’s Certificate”). |
| 1.5 | The Registration Statement. |
| 2 | Assumptions |
The following opinions are given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion letter. These opinions only relate to the laws of the Cayman Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion letter. In giving these opinions we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy, as at the date of this opinion letter, of the Certificate of Good Standing and the Officer’s Certificate. We have also relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:
| 2.1 | Copies of documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals, and translations of documents provided to us are complete and accurate. |
| 2.2 | All signatures, initials and seals are genuine. |
| 2.3 | The Notes are, or will be, legal, valid, binding and enforceable against all relevant parties in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of New York (the “Relevant Law”) and all other relevant laws (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws of the Cayman Islands). |
| 2.4 | The capacity, power, authority and legal right of all parties under all relevant laws and regulations (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws and regulations of the Cayman Islands) to enter into, execute, unconditionally deliver and perform their respective obligations under the Notes. |
| 2.5 | There is nothing contained in the minute book or corporate records of the Company (which we have not inspected) which would or might affect the opinions set out below. |
| 2.6 | There is no contractual or other prohibition or restriction (other than as arising under Cayman Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting or restricting it from entering into and performing its obligations under the Notes. |
| 2.7 | No monies paid to or for the account of any party under the Notes or any property received or disposed of by any party to the Notes in each case in connection with the Notes or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby represent or will represent proceeds of criminal conduct or criminal property or terrorist property (as defined in the Proceeds of Crime Act (As Revised) and the Terrorism Act (As Revised), respectively). |
| 2.8 | There is nothing under any law (other than the law of the Cayman Islands) which would or might affect the opinions set out below. Specifically, we have made no independent investigation of the Relevant Law. |
| 3 | Opinion |
Based upon the foregoing assumptions and subject to the qualifications set out below and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
| 3.1 | The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar of Companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
2
| 3.2 | The execution, issuance, delivery and performance of the Notes have been duly authorised by and on behalf of the Company, and when the Notes have been executed, issued and unconditionally delivered for and on behalf of the Company pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms of the Registration Statement and any relevant prospectus, the Notes will have been duly executed, issued and delivered on behalf of the Company and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms. |
| 3.3 | The statements under the caption “Taxation” in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement are accurate in so far as such statements are summaries of or relate to Cayman Islands law, and such statements constitute our opinion. |
| 4 | Qualifications |
The opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:
| 4.1 | The obligations assumed by the Company under the Notes will not necessarily be enforceable in all circumstances in accordance with their terms. In particular: |
| (a) | enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, readjustment of debts or moratorium or other laws of general application relating to, protecting or affecting the rights of creditors and/or contributories; |
| (b) | enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity. For example, equitable remedies such as specific performance may not be available, inter alia, where damages are considered to be an adequate remedy; |
| (c) | some claims may become barred under relevant statutes of limitation or may be or become subject to defences of set off, counterclaim, estoppel and similar defences; |
| (d) | where obligations are to be performed in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands, they may not be enforceable in the Cayman Islands to the extent that performance would be illegal under the laws of that jurisdiction; |
| (e) | the courts of the Cayman Islands have jurisdiction to give judgment in the currency of the relevant obligation and statutory rates of interest payable upon judgments will vary according to the currency of the judgment. If the Company becomes insolvent and is made subject to a liquidation proceeding, the courts of the Cayman Islands will require all debts to be proved in a common currency, which is likely to be the “functional currency” of the Company determined in accordance with applicable accounting principles. Currency indemnity provisions have not been tested, so far as we are aware, in the courts of the Cayman Islands; |
| (f) | arrangements that constitute penalties will not be enforceable; |
| (g) | enforcement may be prevented by reason of fraud, coercion, duress, undue influence, misrepresentation, public policy or mistake or limited by the doctrine of frustration of contracts; |
| (h) | provisions imposing confidentiality obligations may be overridden by compulsion of applicable law or the requirements of legal and/or regulatory process; |
| (i) | the courts of the Cayman Islands may decline to exercise jurisdiction in relation to substantive proceedings brought in matters where they determine that such proceedings may be tried in a more appropriate forum; |
3
| (j) | we reserve our opinion as to the enforceability of the relevant provisions of the documents to the extent that they purport to grant exclusive jurisdiction as there may be circumstances in which the courts of the Cayman Islands would accept jurisdiction notwithstanding such provisions; and |
| (k) | a company cannot, by agreement or in its articles of association, restrict the exercise of a statutory power and there is doubt as to the enforceability of any provision in the Warrant Agreements, the Subscription Rights Agreements and the Unit Agreements whereby the Company covenants to restrict the exercise of powers specifically given to it under the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Act”), including, without limitation, the power to increase its authorised share capital, amend its memorandum and articles of association or present a petition to a Cayman Islands court for an order to wind up the Company. |
| 4.2 | Applicable court fees will be payable in respect of the enforcement of the Notes. |
| 4.3 | To maintain the Company in good standing with the Registrar of Companies under the laws of the Cayman Islands, annual filing fees must be paid and returns made to the Registrar of Companies within the time frame prescribed by law. |
| 4.4 | A certificate, determination, calculation or designation of any party to the Notes as to any matter provided therein might be held by a Cayman Islands court not to be conclusive final and binding if, for example, it could be shown to have an unreasonable or arbitrary basis, or in the event of manifest error. |
| 4.5 | The obligations of the Company may be subject to restrictions pursuant to: |
| (a) | United Nations and United Kingdom sanctions extended to the Cayman Islands by Orders in Council; and |
| (b) | sanctions imposed by Cayman Islands authorities under Cayman Islands legislation. |
| 4.6 | We express no opinion as to the meaning, validity or effect of any references to foreign (i.e. non-Cayman Islands) statutes, rules, regulations, codes, judicial authority or any other promulgations and any references to them in the Notes. |
We express no view as to the commercial terms of the Notes or whether such terms represent the intentions of the parties and make no comment with regard to warranties or representations that may be made by the Company.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our name under the headings “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” and “Legal Matters” and elsewhere in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP
Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP
4
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-4 of Alibaba Group Holding Limited of our report dated July 21, 2023, except for Note 29 and the change in the composition of reportable segments as discussed in Note 5 and Note 28 to the consolidated financial statements, as to which the date is May 23, 2024, and except for the change in the presentation of segment information as discussed in Note 2(ai) and Note 28 to the consolidated financial statements, as to which the date is June 26, 2025 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Alibaba Group Holding Limited’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2025. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers
Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China
July 21, 2025
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-4 of Alibaba Group Holding Limited of our report dated June 26, 2025 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Alibaba Group Holding Limited’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2025. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP
Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China
July 21, 2025
Exhibit 25.1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE
ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
Check if an application to determine eligibility of a Trustee
pursuant to Section 305 (b)(2) x
CITIBANK, N.A.
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
| A National Banking Association | 13-5266470 |
| (Jurisdiction of Incorporation or organization if not a U.S. national bank) |
(I.R.S. Employer Indentifiction No.) |
| 399 Park Ave., New York, NY | 10043 |
| (Address of principal executive office) | (Zip Code) |
|
Citibank, N.A. (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
|
||
| ALIBABA
GROUP HOLDING LIMITED (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter) | ||
| Cayman Islands | Not Applicable |
| (Jurisdiction of Incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Indentifiction No.) |
|
Trident Trust Company (Cayman) Limited George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands |
|
| (Address of principal executive office) |
c/o Alibaba Group
Services Limited
26/F Tower One, Times Square
1 Matheson Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Telephone: +852-2215-5100
(Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)
4.875% Senior Notes due 2030
5.250% Senior Notes due 2035
5.625% Senior Notes due 2054
(Title of the indenture securities)
| Item 1. | General Information. |
Furnish the following information as to the trustee:
| (a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
| Name | Address | |
| Comptroller of the Currency | Washington, D.C. | |
| Federal Reserve Bank of New York | New York, NY | |
| 33 Liberty Street | ||
| New York, NY | ||
| Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation | Washington, D.C. |
| (b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes.
| Item 2. | Affiliations with Obligor. |
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
Items 3. -15. Not Applicable
Item 16. List of Exhibits.
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits hereto.
Exhibit 1 - Copy of Articles of Association of the Trustee, as now in effect. (Exhibit 1 to T-1 filed as exhibit to the Filing 305B2 dated October 5, 2012 under File No. 333-183223).
Exhibit 2 - Copy of certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business. (attached).
Exhibit 3 - Copy of authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 3 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No.333-195697).
Exhibit 4 - Copy of existing By-Laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to T-1 filed as exhibit to the Filing 305B2 dated October 5, 2012 under File No. 333-183223).
Exhibit 5 - Not applicable.
Exhibit 6 - The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. (Exhibit 6 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No. 333-195697).
Exhibit 7 - Copy of the latest Report of Condition of Citibank, N.A. (as of December 31, 2024- attached)
Exhibit 8 - Not applicable.
Exhibit 9 - Not applicable.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee, Citibank, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York and State of New York, on the 21st day of July, 2025.
| CITIBANK, N.A. | ||
| By | /s/ Peter Lopez | |
| Peter Lopez | ||
| Senior Trust Officer | ||
Exhibit 7
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | Citigroup Inc. and Subsidiaries |
| December 31, | ||||||||
| In millions of dollars | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Cash and due from banks (including segregated cash and other deposits) | $ | 22,782 | $ | 27,342 | ||||
| Deposits with banks, net of allowance | 253,750 | 233,590 | ||||||
| Securities borrowed and purchased under agreements to resell (including $140,855 and $206,059 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, at fair value), net of allowance | 274,062 | 345,700 | ||||||
| Brokerage receivables, net of allowance | 50,841 | 53,915 | ||||||
| Trading account assets (including $193,291 and $197,156 pledged to creditors at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively) | 442,747 | 411,756 | ||||||
| Investments: | ||||||||
| Available-for-sale debt securities (including $5,389 and $11,868 pledged to creditors as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively) | 226,876 | 256,936 | ||||||
| Held-to-maturity debt securities, net of allowance (fair value of which is $224,410 and $235,001 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively) (includes $0 and $71 pledged to creditors as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively) | 242,382 | 254,247 | ||||||
| Equity securities (including $578 and $766 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, at fair value) | 7,399 | 7,902 | ||||||
| Total investments | $ | 476,657 | $ | 519,085 | ||||
| Loans: | ||||||||
| Consumer (including $281 and $313 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, at fair value) | 393,102 | 389,197 | ||||||
| Corporate (including $7,759 and $7,281 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, at fair value) | 301,386 | 300,165 | ||||||
| Loans, net of unearned income | $ | 694,488 | $ | 689,362 | ||||
| Allowance for credit losses on loans (ACLL) | (18,574 | ) | (18,145 | ) | ||||
| Total loans, net | $ | 675,914 | $ | 671,217 | ||||
| Goodwill | 19,300 | 20,098 | ||||||
| Intangible assets (including MSRs of $760 and $691 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively) | 4,494 | 4,421 | ||||||
| Premises and equipment, net of depreciation and amortization | 30,192 | 28,747 | ||||||
| Other assets (including $13,703 and $12,290 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, at fair value), net of allowance | 102,206 | 95,963 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 2,352,945 | $ | 2,411,834 | ||||
Statement continues on the next page.
1
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET | Citigroup Inc. and Subsidiaries | |
| (Continued) |
| December 31, | ||||||||
| In millions of dollars, except shares and per share amounts | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||
| Deposits (including $3,608 and $2,440 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, at fair value) | $ | 1,284,458 | $ | 1,308,681 | ||||
| Securities loaned and sold under agreements to repurchase (including $49,154 and $62,485 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, at fair value) | 254,755 | 278,107 | ||||||
| Brokerage payables (including $5,207 and $4,321 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, at fair value) | 66,601 | 63,539 | ||||||
| Trading account liabilities | 133,846 | 155,345 | ||||||
| Short-term borrowings (including $12,484 and $6,545 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, at fair value) | 48,505 | 37,457 | ||||||
| Long-term debt (including $112,719 and $116,338 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, at fair value) | 287,300 | 286,619 | ||||||
| Other liabilities, plus allowances | 68,114 | 75,835 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | 2,143,579 | $ | 2,205,583 | ||||
| Stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Preferred stock ($1.00 par value; authorized shares: 30 million), issued shares: as of December 31, 2024—714,000 and as of December 31, 2023—704,000, at aggregate liquidation value | $ | 17,850 | $ | 17,600 | ||||
| Common stock ($0.01 par value; authorized shares: 6 billion), issued shares: as of December 31, 2024—3,099,719,006 and as of December 31, 2023—3,099,691,704 | 31 | 31 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 109,117 | 108,955 | ||||||
| Retained earnings | 206,294 | 198,905 | ||||||
| Treasury stock, at cost: December 31, 2024—1,222,647,540 shares and December 31, 2023—1,196,577,865 shares | (76,842 | ) | (75,238 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI) | (47,852 | ) | (44,800 | ) | ||||
| Total Citigroup stockholders’ equity | $ | 208,598 | $ | 205,453 | ||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 768 | 798 | ||||||
| Total equity | $ | 209,366 | $ | 206,251 | ||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 2,352,945 | $ | 2,411,834 | ||||
The Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
2
Exhibit 99.1

Fangda Partners
http://www.fangdalaw.com
| 中国上海市石门一路288号 | 电子邮件 | E-mail: | email@fangdalaw.com | |||
| 兴业太古汇香港兴业中心二座24楼 | 电 话 | Tel.: | 86-21-2208-1166 | |||
| 邮政编码:200041 | 传 真 | Fax: | 86-21-5298-5599 | |||
| 文 号 | Ref.: | 25CF0350 |
24/F, HKRI Centre Two, HKRI Taikoo Hui,
288 Shi Men Yi Road,
Shanghai 200041, China
To: Alibaba Group Holding Limited (阿里巴巴集團控股有限公司)
July 21, 2025
Re: Legal Opinion on Certain PRC Law Matters
Dear Sirs,
We are lawyers qualified in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”, which, for the purpose of this opinion, does not include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan) and, as such, are qualified to issue this opinion on PRC Laws (as defined below).
We are acting as the legal advisers on PRC Laws (as defined below) for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (the “Company”) solely in connection with the Company’s registration statement on Form F-4, including all amendments or supplements thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the proposed offer to exchange all of (i) outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030; (ii) outstanding 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035; and (iii) outstanding 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (collectively, the “Outstanding Notes”) for an equal principal amount of (i) 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030; (ii) 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035; and (iii) 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (collectively, the “Exchange Notes”) (the “Exchange Offer”).

Fangda Partners
http://www.fangdalaw.com
| 中国上海市石门一路288号 | 电子邮件 | E-mail: | email@fangdalaw.com | |||
| 兴业太古汇香港兴业中心二座24楼 | 电 话 | Tel.: | 86-21-2208-1166 | |||
| 邮政编码:200041 | 传 真 | Fax: | 86-21-5298-5599 | |||
| 文 号 | Ref.: | 25CF0350 |
24/F, HKRI Centre Two, HKRI Taikoo Hui,
288 Shi Men Yi Road,
Shanghai 200041, China
As used herein, (A) “PRC Authority(ies)” means any national, provincial or local governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission in the PRC, or any court, tribunal or any other judicial or arbitral body in the PRC; (B) “PRC Laws” means the laws and regulations of the PRC effective and available to the public as of the date hereof and does not include any informal interpretation made by any PRC Authority, which may or may not be consistent with our Opinion hereunder; (C) “Governmental Authorizations” means any approval, consent, waiver, sanction, permit, authorization, certificates, filing, registration, exemption, permission, annual inspection, qualification and license required by the applicable PRC Laws and to be obtained from any PRC Authority; (D) “PRC Material Subsidiaries” means the principal subsidiaries of the Company incorporated in the PRC, a detailed list of which is set forth in Part I of Appendix A hereto, and each, a PRC Material Subsidiary; (E) “Material VIEs” means the principal variable interest entities incorporated in the PRC and controlled by the Company, a detailed list of which is set forth in Part II of Appendix A hereto, and each, a Material VIE; and (F) “Material PRC Group Entities” means any and all of (i) PRC Material Subsidiaries and (ii) Material VIEs, and each, a Material PRC Group Entity.
In so acting, we have examined the originals or copies of documents provided to us by the Company and the Material PRC Group Entities and such other documents, corporate records, certificates, Governmental Authorizations and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering this Opinion, including, without limitation, originals or copies of the agreements listed in Appendix B hereof (the “Contractual Arrangements”), the Transaction Documents and the certificates issued by the PRC Authorities (collectively, the “Documents”).
In reviewing the Documents and for the purpose of this Opinion, we have assumed:
| (1) | the genuineness of all the signatures, seals and chops; |

Fangda Partners
http://www.fangdalaw.com
| 中国上海市石门一路288号 | 电子邮件 | E-mail: | email@fangdalaw.com | |||
| 兴业太古汇香港兴业中心二座24楼 | 电 话 | Tel.: | 86-21-2208-1166 | |||
| 邮政编码:200041 | 传 真 | Fax: | 86-21-5298-5599 | |||
| 文 号 | Ref.: | 25CF0350 |
24/F, HKRI Centre Two, HKRI Taikoo Hui,
288 Shi Men Yi Road,
Shanghai 200041, China
| (2) | the authenticity of the Documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the originals of the Documents provided to us as copies and the authenticity of such originals; |
| (3) | the truthfulness, accuracy, completeness and fairness of all the Documents, as well as the factual statements contained in such Documents; |
| (4) | that the Documents (other than the Contractual Arrangements) provided to us remain in full force and effect up to the date of this Opinion and have not been revoked, amended, varied or supplemented except as otherwise indicated in such Documents; |
| (5) | that all information (including factual statements) provided to us by the Company and the Material PRC Group Entities in response to our enquiries for the purpose of this Opinion is true, accurate, complete and not misleading, and that the Company and the Material PRC Group Entities have not withheld anything that, if disclosed to us, would reasonably cause us to alter this Opinion in whole or in part; |
| (6) | that all parties other than the Material PRC Group Entities have the requisite power and authority to enter into, execute, deliver and perform the Documents to which they are parties; |
| (7) | that all parties other than the Material PRC Group Entities have duly executed, delivered and performed the Documents to which they are parties, and all parties will duly perform their obligations under the Documents to which they are parties; |
| (8) | that all Governmental Authorizations and other official statements or documentation obtained from competent PRC Authorities that were provided to us as part of the Documents were obtained by lawful means in due course; and |

Fangda Partners
http://www.fangdalaw.com
| 中国上海市石门一路288号 | 电子邮件 | E-mail: | email@fangdalaw.com | |||
| 兴业太古汇香港兴业中心二座24楼 | 电 话 | Tel.: | 86-21-2208-1166 | |||
| 邮政编码:200041 | 传 真 | Fax: | 86-21-5298-5599 | |||
| 文 号 | Ref.: | 25CF0350 |
24/F, HKRI Centre Two, HKRI Taikoo Hui,
288 Shi Men Yi Road,
Shanghai 200041, China
| (9) | that all the Documents are legal, valid, binding and enforceable under all such laws as govern or relate to them, other than PRC Laws. |
| I. | Opinions |
Based on the foregoing and subject to the disclosures contained in the Registration Statement and the qualifications set out below, we are of the opinion that, as of the date hereof, so far as PRC Laws are concerned:
(1) Based on our understanding of the current PRC Laws (a) the ownership structure of the Material PRC Subsidiaries and the Material Variable Interest Entities, both currently and immediately after giving effect to the Exchange Offer, does not and will not violate applicable PRC Laws; and (b) each of the VIE Agreements is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms and applicable PRC Laws, and will not violate applicable PRC Laws. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC Laws and future PRC laws and regulations, and there can be no assurance that the PRC Authorities will take a view that is not contrary to or otherwise different from our opinion stated above.
(2) The statements set forth in the Registration Statement under the heading “Taxation — PRC Taxation”, to the extent that the discussion states definitive legal conclusions under PRC tax laws and regulations, subject to the qualifications therein, constitute our opinion on such matters.
(3) The statements set forth in the Registration Statement under the heading “Risk Factors” and “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities”, to the extent that they constitute matters of PRC Laws or summaries of the provisions of legal documents therein described, are correct and accurate in all material aspects, and nothing has been omitted from such statements which would make the same misleading in any material aspect.

Fangda Partners
http://www.fangdalaw.com
| 中国上海市石门一路288号 | 电子邮件 | E-mail: | email@fangdalaw.com | |||
| 兴业太古汇香港兴业中心二座24楼 | 电 话 | Tel.: | 86-21-2208-1166 | |||
| 邮政编码:200041 | 传 真 | Fax: | 86-21-5298-5599 | |||
| 文 号 | Ref.: | 25CF0350 |
24/F, HKRI Centre Two, HKRI Taikoo Hui,
288 Shi Men Yi Road,
Shanghai 200041, China
| II. | Qualifications |
This Opinion is subject to the following qualifications:
(1) This Opinion is subject to, in so far as it relates to the validity and enforceability of a contract, (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) possible judicial, arbitral or administrative actions or any PRC Laws affecting creditors’ rights, (iii) certain equitable, legal or statutory principles affecting the validity and enforceability of contractual rights generally under concepts of public interest, interests of the State, national security, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and applicable statutes of limitation; (iv) any circumstance in connection with formulation, execution or implementation of any legal documents that would be deemed materially mistaken, clearly unconscionable, fraudulent, coercionary at the conclusions thereof; and (v) any possible judicial discretion, discretion arbitration tribunal or of administrative action affecting creditors’ rights or with respect to the availability of indemnifications or injunctive relief, remedies or defenses, the calculation of damages, the entitlement to attorney’s fees and other costs, the waiver of immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from legal process.
(2) This Opinion is subject to the discretion of any competent PRC legislative, administrative, judicial or arbitral bodies in exercising their authority to implement, interpret, apply and/or change PRC Laws in the PRC.
(3) This Opinion relates only to PRC Laws and we express no opinion as to any other laws and regulations. This Opinion is based on PRC Laws currently in force as of the date of this opinion. There is no assurance that any of such PRC Laws, or the interpretation of implementation thereof, will not be changed, amended, revoked or replaced in the immediate future or in the longer term with or without retrospective effect.
(4) Where certain facts were not, or may not be practical to be verified by us, we have relied upon certificates or statements or representations issued or made by relevant PRC Authorities, third party entities, the appropriate representatives of the Company or any Material PRC Group Entity with the proper powers and functions without further independent investigation.

Fangda Partners
http://www.fangdalaw.com
| 中国上海市石门一路288号 | 电子邮件 | E-mail: | email@fangdalaw.com | |||
| 兴业太古汇香港兴业中心二座24楼 | 电 话 | Tel.: | 86-21-2208-1166 | |||
| 邮政编码:200041 | 传 真 | Fax: | 86-21-5298-5599 | |||
| 文 号 | Ref.: | 25CF0350 |
24/F, HKRI Centre Two, HKRI Taikoo Hui,
288 Shi Men Yi Road,
Shanghai 200041, China
(5) This Opinion is intended to be used in the context which is specially referred to herein and each section should be considered as a whole and no part should be extracted and referred to independently.
(6) This Opinion is subject to change and qualification by reason of change of law and circumstances, lapse of time and other matters. We express no opinion as to the rights, obligations or other matters arising subsequent to the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you or any other person or entity of any changes to our opinion subsequent to the date hereof.
This opinion is delivered solely for the purpose of and in connection with the Registration Statement publicly submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date of this opinion and may not be used for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion in, and the filing hereof as an exhibit to, the Registration Statement, and to the use of our firm’s name under the captions “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” and “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.
| Yours sincerely, | |
| /s/ Fangda Partners | |
| Fangda Partners |
Exhibit 99.2
ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
FORM OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Offer to Exchange Any and All Outstanding
4.875% Senior Notes due 2030
5.250% Senior Notes due 2035
5.625% Senior Notes due 2054
For an Equal Principal Amount of
4.875% Senior Notes due 2030
5.250% Senior Notes due 2035
5.625% Senior Notes due 2054
(Registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended)
Pursuant to the Prospectus dated , 2025
The Registered Exchange
Offer and Withdrawal Period Will Expire at 5:00 PM, New York City Time, on
, 2025, Unless Extended (the
“Expiration Date”)
The Exchange Agent (the “Exchange Agent”) for the Exchange Offer is:
Citibank, N.A.
By Mail:
Citibank, N.A.
P.O. Box 219287
Kansas City, MO 64121-9287
Ref: Alibaba Exchange Offer
By Overnight Mail:
Citibank, N.A.
801 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 219287
Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
Ref: Alibaba Exchange Offer
DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE VALID DELIVERY.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meaning given them in the Prospectus (as defined below).
This Letter of Transmittal is being furnished by Alibaba Group Holding Limited (the “Company”) in connection with its offer to exchange its 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035, and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “Outstanding Notes”), that were issued and sold in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), under an Indenture dated as of November 26, 2024 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), for an equal principal amount of its newly issued 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035, and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “Notes”) that have been registered under the Act. The Company has prepared and delivered to holders of the Outstanding Notes a Prospectus dated , 2025 (the “Prospectus”). The Prospectus, this Letter of Transmittal and the related materials together constitute the Company’s offer (the “Exchange Offer”).
For each Outstanding Note accepted for exchange, the holder will receive a Note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered Outstanding Note. The Notes will bear interest from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on the Outstanding Notes. Accordingly, registered holders of Notes on the relevant record date for the first interest payment date following completion of the Exchange Offer will receive interest accruing from the most recent date to which interest has been paid. Outstanding Notes accepted for exchange will cease to accrue interest from and after the date of completion of the Exchange Offer. Holders whose Outstanding Notes are accepted for exchange will not receive any payment of interest on the Outstanding Notes otherwise payable on any interest payment date the record date for which occurs after completion of the Exchange Offer.
The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 PM, New York City time, on , 2025 (the “Expiration Date”) unless extended, in which case the term “Expiration Date” shall mean the last time and date to which the Exchange Offer is extended.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a holder (a) if certificates representing Outstanding Notes are to be physically delivered to the Exchange Agent herewith by the holder, (b) if tender of Outstanding Notes is to be made by book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through the DTC Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”), and an Agent’s Message (as defined below) is not delivered as provided in the next paragraph, or (c) if tenders are to be made according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.”
Holders of Outstanding Notes who wish to tender but whose certificates representing the Outstanding Notes are not immediately available, or who are unable to complete the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, or who cannot deliver all documents required hereby to the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time, on the Expiration Date, must tender their Outstanding Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” in the Prospectus. See Instructions 1 and 4 below. Holders of Outstanding Notes who are tendering by book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC can execute their tender through ATOP. DTC participants that are accepting the Exchange Offer must transmit their acceptance to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC. DTC will then send an Agent’s Message (as defined below) to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance. Delivery of the Agent’s Message by DTC will satisfy the terms of the Exchange Offer in lieu of execution and delivery of a Letter of Transmittal by the participant(s) identified in the Agent’s Message. Accordingly, this Letter of Transmittal need not be completed by a holder tendering through ATOP. As used herein, the term “Agent’s Message” means, with respect to any tendered Outstanding Notes, a message transmitted by DTC to and received by the Exchange Agent and forming part of a book-entry confirmation, stating that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from each tendering participant to the effect that, with respect to those Outstanding Notes, the participant has received and agrees to be bound by this Letter of Transmittal and that the Company may enforce this Letter of Transmittal against the participant. Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the Exchange Agent.
THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THE BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION OR CERTIFICATES, THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE OPTION AND SOLE RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDER AND THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, WE RECOMMEND USING REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE DELIVERY PRIOR TO 5:00 PM, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING ANY BOX BELOW. THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE FOLLOWED.
Holders who wish to tender their Outstanding Notes must complete Box 1, Box 2 and Box 4 and must sign this Letter of Transmittal in Box 4.
|
BOX 1
¨ CHECK HERE IF CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING THE TENDERED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE ENCLOSED WITH THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
¨ CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
Name of Tendering Institution:____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Account Number:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Transaction Code Number:__________________________________________________________________________________________________
¨ CHECK HERE AND ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY OF THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY IF TENDERED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO THE DATE HEREOF AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
Name(s) of Registered Owner(s): _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Window Ticket Number (if any): ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: _______________________________________________________________________________
Name of Eligible Institution which Guaranteed Delivery:____________________________________________________________________________
¨ CHECK HERE IF TENDERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND NON-EXCHANGED OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE TO BE RETURNED BY CREDITING THE DTC ACCOUNT NUMBER SET FORTH ABOVE. |
List below the Outstanding Notes being tendered herewith. If the space provided is inadequate, list the certificate numbers and principal amounts on a separately executed schedule and affix the schedule to this Letter of Transmittal. Tenders of Outstanding Notes will be accepted only in minimum denominations of US$200,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted.
BOX 2
DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING NOTES TENDERED
| All Tendering Holders of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030 Complete This Box: | |||
| Description of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030 | |||
| Name(s) and address(es) of registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Outstanding Notes, or on a security position |
Certificate number(s) of Outstanding Notes* |
Aggregate principal amount represented by principal certificate(s) |
Aggregate principal amount tendered** |
| TOTAL: | |||
| All Tendering Holders of 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035 Complete This Box: | |||
| Description of 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035 | |||
| Name(s) and address(es) of registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Outstanding Notes, or on a security position |
Certificate number(s) of Outstanding Notes* |
Aggregate principal amount represented by principal certificate(s) |
Aggregate principal amount tendered** |
| TOTAL: | |||
| All Tendering Holders of 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 Complete This Box: | |||
| Description of 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 | |||
| Name(s) and address(es) of registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Outstanding Notes, or on a security position |
Certificate number(s) of Outstanding Notes* |
Aggregate principal amount represented by principal certificate(s) |
Aggregate principal amount tendered** |
| TOTAL: | |||
| * | DOES NOT need to be completed if Outstanding Notes are tendered by book-entry transfer. |
| ** | Unless otherwise indicated, the holder will be deemed to have tendered the entire face amount of all Outstanding Notes represented by tendered certificates. See Instruction 4. |
If not already printed above, the name(s) and address(es) of the registered holder(s) should be printed exactly as they appear on the certificate(s) representing the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby or, if tendered by a participant in DTC, exactly as such participant’s name appears on a security position listing as the owner of those Outstanding Notes.
BOX 3
SPECIAL ISSUANCE/DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1 AND 2)
Complete the information in the blanks below this paragraph ONLY if (1) either (a) the Notes issued in exchange for Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, or (b) Outstanding Notes in a principal amount not tendered or not accepted for exchange, are to be issued or reissued in the name of someone other than the person(s) whose signature(s) appear(s) within this Letter of Transmittal or sent to an address different from that shown in Box 2 entitled “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered” within this Letter of Transmittal, or if (2) either (a) the Notes that are delivered by book-entry transfer, or (b) the Outstanding Notes delivered by book-entry transfer that are not accepted for exchange, are to be returned by credit to an account maintained by DTC other than the account indicated in Box 1 above entitled “Tender of Outstanding Notes.”
Issue Notes or return unexchanged Outstanding Notes to:
Name:___________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________
________________________________________________
(Include Zip Code)
________________________________________________
(Tax Identification or Social Security Number)
| ¨ | Credit Notes or unexchanged Outstanding Notes delivered by book-entry transfer to the DTC account set forth below: |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Complete the following only if certificates for Notes or for unexchanged Outstanding Notes are to be sent to someone other than the person named above or to that person at an address other than that shown in Box 2 entitled “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered.”
Name:___________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________
________________________________________________
(Include Zip Code)
________________________________________________
(Tax Identification or Social Security Number)
(See IRS Form W-9 herein)
NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.
PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned is a holder of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035, or 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “Outstanding Notes”) issued by Alibaba Group Holding Limited (the “Company”) under an Indenture dated as of November 26, 2024 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”).
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus dated , 2025 (the “Prospectus”) and this Letter of Transmittal, which together constitute the Company’s offer (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange an aggregate principal amount of up to US$2,650,000,000 of Outstanding Notes that were issued and sold in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) for an equal principal amount of its newly issued 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035, and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 that have been registered under the Act.
The undersigned hereby tenders to the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus, and in accordance with this Letter of Transmittal, the principal amount of Outstanding Notes indicated in Box 2 above entitled “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered” under each column heading “Aggregate principal amount tendered” (or, if nothing is indicated therein, with respect to the entire aggregate principal amounts represented by the Outstanding Notes described in that table). The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that Outstanding Notes may not be tendered except in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal.
Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the Outstanding Notes tendered herewith in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby exchanges, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company, all right, title and interest in and to all of the Outstanding Notes that are being tendered hereby and that are being accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer. By executing this Letter of Transmittal, subject to and effective upon acceptance for exchange of the Outstanding Notes tendered therewith, the undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned (with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent also acts as the agent of the Company) with respect to such Outstanding Notes, with full powers of substitution and revocation (such powers of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to (i) present such Outstanding Notes and all evidences of transfer and authenticity to, or transfer ownership of such Outstanding Notes on the account books maintained by DTC to, or upon the order of, the Company, (ii) present such Outstanding Notes for transfer of ownership on the books of the Company and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Outstanding Notes, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer.
If the undersigned is not the registered holder of the Outstanding Notes listed in Box 2 above labeled “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered” under the column heading “Aggregate principal amount tendered” or such registered holder’s legal representative or attorney-in-fact, then in order to validly consent, the undersigned has obtained a properly completed irrevocable proxy that authorizes the undersigned (or the undersigned’s legal representative or attorney-in-fact) to deliver a Letter of Transmittal in respect of such Outstanding Notes on behalf of the registered holder thereof, and that proxy is being delivered with this Letter of Transmittal.
THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT THE UNDERSIGNED HAS FULL POWER AND AUTHORITY TO TENDER, EXCHANGE, ASSIGN AND TRANSFER THE OUTSTANDING NOTES TENDERED HEREBY, AND THAT WHEN THOSE OUTSTANDING NOTES ARE ACCEPTED FOR EXCHANGE BY THE COMPANY, THE COMPANY WILL ACQUIRE GOOD AND UNENCUMBERED TITLE THERETO, FREE AND CLEAR OF ALL LIENS, RESTRICTIONS, CHARGES AND ENCUMBRANCES, AND THOSE OUTSTANDING NOTES WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY ADVERSE CLAIMS. THE UNDERSIGNED WILL, UPON REQUEST, EXECUTE AND DELIVER ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS DEEMED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT OR THE COMPANY TO BE NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE TO COMPLETE THE EXCHANGE, ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER OF THE OUTSTANDING NOTES TENDERED HEREBY. THE UNDERSIGNED HAS READ AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that a tender of Outstanding Notes pursuant to any of the procedures described in the Prospectus and in this Letter of Transmittal and an acceptance of such Outstanding Notes by the Company will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.
The undersigned understands that the Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 PM, New York City time, on , 2025, unless extended by the Company in its sole discretion or earlier terminated (the “Expiration Date”).
The name(s) and address(es) of the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby should be printed above, if they are not already set forth above, as they appear on the certificates representing such Outstanding Notes. The certificate number(s) and the Outstanding Notes that the undersigned wishes to tender should be indicated in the appropriate boxes above.
No authority conferred or agreed to be conferred by this Letter of Transmittal shall be affected by, and all such authority shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned, and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy, personal and legal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned. This tender of Outstanding Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date. See “The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders” in the Prospectus.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that: (i) the undersigned is acquiring the Notes in the ordinary course of its business; (ii) the undersigned, if not a broker-dealer, is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of the Notes; (iii) the undersigned has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Notes; (iv) the undersigned is not an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act; and (v) the undersigned is not prohibited by any law or policy from participating in the Exchange Offer. By tendering Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer and executing, or otherwise becoming bound by, this letter of transmittal, a holder of Outstanding Notes that is a broker-dealer represents and agrees, consistent with certain interpretive letters issued by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Staff”) to third parties, that (a) such Outstanding Notes held by the broker-dealer are held only as a nominee or (b) such Outstanding Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and it will deliver the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented from time to time) meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with any resale of such Notes (provided that, by so acknowledging and by delivering a Prospectus, such broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act).
The undersigned also acknowledges that this Exchange Offer is being made in reliance upon interpretations by the Staff, as set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, that the Notes issued in exchange for Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than any holder that is an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Act, provided that such Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders’ business and the holders have no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution of the Notes. However, the Company has not obtained a no-action letter specifically for this Exchange Offer, and there can be no assurance that the Staff would make a similar determination with respect to the Exchange Offer as in other circumstances. If any holder is an affiliate of the Company, or is engaged in or intends to engage in or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, that holder (a) cannot rely on the applicable interpretations of the Staff and (b) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with any resale transaction.
The undersigned acknowledges that, other than in the United States, no action has been taken by the Company that would permit a public offering of the Notes in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The undersigned, if outside the United States, represents and warrants that the undersigned is acquiring the Notes only in circumstances permitted under applicable law as described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus. The undersigned, if a resident in Hong Kong, further represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned is a “professional investor” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (ii) the undersigned is acquiring the Notes in circumstances which do not result in the Prospectus being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance.
The Company has agreed that, subject to the provisions of the registration rights agreement among the Company and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities plc, Morgan Stanley Asia Limited and UBS AG Hong Kong Branch, dated as of November 26, 2024 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), the Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a participating broker-dealer (as defined below) in connection with resales of Notes received in exchange for Outstanding Notes, where such Outstanding Notes were acquired by such participating broker-dealer for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, for a period ending 180 days after the Expiration Date (subject to extension under certain limited circumstances) or, if earlier, when all such Notes have been disposed of by such participating broker-dealer. In that regard, each broker dealer who acquired Outstanding Notes for its own account as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “participating broker-dealer”), by tendering such Outstanding Notes and executing, or otherwise becoming bound by, this Letter of Transmittal, agrees that, upon receipt of notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any fact which makes any statement contained in the Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which causes the Prospectus to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or of the occurrence of certain other events specified in the Registration Rights Agreement, such participating broker-dealer will suspend the sale of Notes pursuant to the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission and has furnished copies of the amended or supplemented Prospectus to the participating broker-dealer or the Company has given notice that the sale of the Notes may be resumed, as the case may be.
Outstanding Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn will be accepted as soon as practicable after the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the Exchange Offer. The undersigned understands that the Company will deliver the Notes as promptly as practicable following acceptance of the tendered Outstanding Notes. The Exchange Offer is subject to a number of conditions, as more particularly set forth in the Prospectus. See “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” in the Prospectus. The undersigned recognizes that as a result of these conditions the Company may not be required to accept any of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby. In that event, the Outstanding Notes not accepted for exchange will be returned to the undersigned at the address shown in Box 2, “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered,” unless otherwise indicated in Box 3, “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions.”
If any tendered Outstanding Notes are not exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for any reason, or if certificates are submitted for more Outstanding Notes than are tendered or accepted for exchange, certificates for such unaccepted or non-exchanged Outstanding Notes will be returned (or, in the case of Outstanding Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, such Outstanding Notes will be credited to an account maintained at DTC), without expense to the tendering holder, promptly following the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.
Unless otherwise indicated in Box 3, “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions,” the undersigned hereby request(s) that any Outstanding Notes representing principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for exchange, and that the Notes with respect to Outstanding Notes accepted for exchange, be issued in the name(s) of, and delivered to, the undersigned (and in the case of Outstanding Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, by credit to the account of DTC indicated therein).
In the event that Box 3, “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions,” is completed, the undersigned hereby request(s) that any Outstanding Notes representing principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for exchange, and that the Notes with respect to Outstanding Notes accepted for exchange, be issued in the name(s) of, and be delivered to, the person(s) at the address(es) therein indicated, or in the case of a book-entry delivery of Outstanding Notes, please credit the account indicated therein maintained at DTC. The undersigned recognizes that the Company has no obligation pursuant to the “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions” box to transfer any Outstanding Notes from the names of the registered holder(s) thereof or to issue any Notes in the name(s) of anyone other than the name(s) of the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes in respect of which those Notes are issued, if the Company does not accept for exchange any of the principal amount of such Outstanding Notes so tendered. The undersigned recognizes that the undersigned must comply with all of the terms and conditions of the Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms to transfer Outstanding Notes either not tendered for exchange or not accepted for exchange from the name of the registered holder(s).
For purposes of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned understands that the Company will be deemed to have accepted for exchange validly tendered Outstanding Notes (or defectively tendered Outstanding Notes with respect to which the Company has waived the defect) if, as and when the Company gives oral (confirmed in writing) or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent.
The undersigned understands that the delivery and surrender of the Outstanding Notes is not effective, and the risk of loss of the Outstanding Notes does not pass to the Company, until receipt by the Exchange Agent of this Letter of Transmittal properly completed and duly executed (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message, if applicable, in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal), together with all accompanying evidences of authority and any other required documents in a form satisfactory to the Company. All questions as to the form of all documents and the validity (including time of receipt) and acceptance of tenders and withdrawals of Outstanding Notes will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding. The undersigned has completed the appropriate boxes and signed this Letter of Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect to the Exchange Offer.
Name:___________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________
________________________________________________
(Include Zip Code)
Phone Number:____________________________________
Contact Person:____________________________________
BOX 4
PLEASE SIGN HERE
(To be completed by all tendering holders of Outstanding Notes regardless of whether Outstanding Notes are being physically delivered herewith)
By completing, executing and delivering this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby tenders the principal amount of the Outstanding Notes listed in Box 2 above labeled “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered” under the column heading “Aggregate principal amount tendered” (or if nothing is indicated therein, with respect to the entire aggregate principal amount represented by the Outstanding Notes described in that box).
This Letter of Transmittal must be signed by the registered holder(s) exactly as the name(s) appear(s) on the certificate(s) representing Outstanding Notes or, if tendered by a participant in DTC, exactly as such participant’s name appears on a security position listing as the owner of those Outstanding Notes. If signature is by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth the full title and see Instruction 2.
SIGNATURE OF REGISTERED
HOLDER(S) OR AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
(SEE GUARANTEE REQUIREMENT BELOW)
Dated__________________________________________
Name(s)_________________________________________
(Please Print)_____________________________________
Capacity (full title)_________________________________
Area Code and Telephone No.________________________
Tax Identification or Social Security No.________________
MEDALLION SIGNATURE
GUARANTEE
(If Required—See Instructions 1 and 2)
Authorized Signature:______________________________
Name of Firm:____________________________________
(Place Seal Here)
COMPLETE ACCOMPANYING IRS FORM W-9 OR IRS FORM W-8, AS APPLICABLE
INSTRUCTIONS
FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER
1. Signature Guarantees. Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a recognized participant in the Securities Exchange Agents Medallion Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (a “Medallion Signature Guarantor”) (generally, a member of a registered national securities exchange or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office in the United States (each, an “Eligible Institution”)), unless (a) the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby are tendered by a registered holder (or by a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes) that has not completed Box 3 entitled “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions” in this Letter of Transmittal or (b) the Outstanding Notes are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. If the Outstanding Notes are registered in the name of a person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal, if Outstanding Notes not accepted for exchange or not tendered are to be returned to a person other than the registered holder, or if Notes are to be issued to someone other than the signatory of this Letter of Transmittal, then the signatures on this Letter of Transmittal accompanying the tendered Outstanding Notes must be guaranteed by a Medallion Signature Guarantor as described above. See Instruction 2.
2. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal, Instruments of Transfer and Endorsements. If the registered holders of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby sign this Letter of Transmittal, the signatures must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the certificate(s) without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a participant in DTC whose name is shown on a security position listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name shown on the security position listing as the owner of the Outstanding Notes.
If any of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby are registered in the name of two or more holders, all registered holders must sign this Letter of Transmittal. If any of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby are registered in different names on several certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of certificates. If this Letter of Transmittal or any Outstanding Note or instrument of transfer is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, agent, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of such person’s authority to so act must be submitted.
When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, no endorsements of the Outstanding Notes or separate instruments of transfer are required unless payment is to be made, or Outstanding Notes not tendered or exchanged are to be issued to a person other than the registered holders, in which case signatures on the Outstanding Notes or instruments of transfer must be guaranteed by a Medallion Signature Guarantor.
This Letter of Transmittal and Outstanding Notes should be sent only to the Exchange Agent, and not to the Company or DTC.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed other than by the registered holder(s) of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, such Outstanding Notes must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, and a duly completed proxy entitling the signer to tender those Outstanding Notes on behalf of the registered holders, in any case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered holders appear on the Outstanding Notes and signatures on those Outstanding Notes or instruments of transfer and proxy are required and must be guaranteed by a Medallion Signature Guarantor, unless the signature is that of an Eligible Institution.
3. Transfer Taxes. Except as set forth in this Instruction 3, the Company will pay or cause to be paid any transfer taxes with respect to the transfer of Outstanding Notes to it, or to its order, pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If Notes are to be issued or delivered to, or if Outstanding Notes not tendered or exchanged are to be registered in the name of, any persons other than the registered owners, or if tendered Outstanding Notes are registered in the name of any persons other than the persons signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or such other person) payable on account of the transfer to such other person will be billed to the holder unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is submitted.
4. Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal and Certificates; Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. This Letter of Transmittal is to be used if (a) certificates for Outstanding Notes are to be physically delivered to the Exchange Agent herewith, (b) tender of Outstanding Notes is to be made by book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent’s account at the DTC through ATOP, and an Agent’s Message is not delivered, or (c) tenders are to be made according to the guaranteed delivery procedures, all as set forth in the Prospectus. For holders whose Outstanding Notes are being delivered by book-entry transfer, delivery of an Agent’s Message by DTC will satisfy the terms of the Exchange Offer in lieu of execution and delivery of a Letter of Transmittal by the participant(s) identified in the Agent’s Message.
To validly tender Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, either (a) the Exchange Agent must receive a properly completed and duly executed copy of this Letter of Transmittal with any required signature guarantees, together with certificates for the Outstanding Notes, or an Agent’s Message, as the case may be, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, or (b) a holder of Outstanding Notes must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below.
Holders of Outstanding Notes who desire to tender them pursuant to the Exchange Offer but whose certificates representing the Outstanding Notes are not immediately available, or who are unable to complete the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, or who cannot deliver all documents required hereby to the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time, on the Expiration Date, may tender their Outstanding Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.” Pursuant to those procedures, (a) tender must be made through an Eligible Institution, (b) the Exchange Agent must have received from the Eligible Institution, prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time, on the Expiration Date, a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (by mail, hand delivery, overnight carrier, or facsimile transmission), or a properly transmitted Agent’s Message and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, and (c) the Exchange Agent must have received the properly completed and executed letter of transmittal as well as all tendered Outstanding Notes in proper form for transfer or a book-entry confirmation, and all other required documents within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, all as provided in the Prospectus under the caption “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.”
THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, THE CERTIFICATES FOR OUTSTANDING NOTES AND OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDER. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED HEREIN AND IN THE PROSPECTUS, DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE HOLDER USE PROPERLY INSURED, REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, AND THAT THE MAILING BE MADE SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE OF THE EXPIRATION DATE TO PERMIT DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 PM, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.
All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance, withdrawal and revocation of Outstanding Notes tendered for exchange will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion, whose determination will be final and binding. The Company reserves the right to waive any defects or irregularities in the tender or conditions of the Exchange Offer as to any particular Outstanding Notes. The interpretation of the Company of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including these Instructions) will be final and binding. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders must be cured within the time determined by the Company. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted. Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any tender or will incur any liability for failure to give any notice. Tenders of Outstanding Notes will not be deemed to have been made until irregularities have been cured or waived. Any certificates constituting Outstanding Notes received by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered or as to which irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange Agent to the tendering holders, unless otherwise provided in this Letter of Transmittal, as soon as practicable following the Expiration Date.
5. Partial Tenders and Withdrawal Rights. Tenders of Outstanding Notes will be accepted only in minimum denominations of US$200,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof. If less than all the Outstanding Notes evidenced by any certificate submitted are to be tendered, fill in the principal amount of Outstanding Notes which are to be tendered in the box entitled “Aggregate principal amount tendered.” In such case, new certificate(s) for the remainder of the Outstanding Notes that were evidenced by your old certificate(s) will only be sent to the holder of the Outstanding Notes, promptly after the Expiration Date. All Outstanding Notes represented by certificates delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.
Outstanding Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn, as provided below, at any time prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time, on the Expiration Date. For the withdrawal of a tender to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth above prior to the Expiration Date. Any notice of withdrawal must (a) specify the name of the person who tendered the Outstanding Notes, (b) identify the Outstanding Notes to be withdrawn, (c) if certificates for Outstanding Notes have been delivered to the Exchange Agent, specify the name in which the Outstanding Notes are registered, if different from that of the withdrawing holder, (d) if certificates for Outstanding Notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Exchange Agent, then, prior to the release of those certificates, submit the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn, (e) if Outstanding Notes have been tendered using the procedure for book-entry transfer described above, specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn Outstanding Notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of that facility, and (f) be signed in the same manner required by the Letter of Transmittal by which the Outstanding Notes were tendered (including any required signature guarantees, endorsements and/or powers). All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Company, whose determination will be final and binding on all parties. The Outstanding Notes so withdrawn, if any, will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Any Outstanding Notes which have been tendered for exchange but which are withdrawn will be returned to the holder without cost to the holder as soon as practicable after withdrawal. Properly withdrawn Outstanding Notes may be retendered on or prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time, on the Expiration Date by following the procedures for tender described in this Letter of Transmittal. Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or will incur any liability for failure to give such a notice.
6. IRS Form W-9 and Form W-8. Under U.S. federal income tax law, a tendering holder whose Outstanding Notes are accepted for exchange for Exchange Notes may be subject to backup withholding unless the holder provides the Exchange Agent with its correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) and certain other information on Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9, which is provided below, or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding. If the Exchange Agent is not provided with the correct TIN or an adequate basis for an exemption, a holder may be subject to a penalty imposed by the IRS, and backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) may apply to any reportable payments made to such holder. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability of a person subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained, provided that the required information is timely provided to the IRS.
To prevent backup withholding on reportable payments, each holder that is a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes should provide a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-9. Please see the instructions to the enclosed IRS Form W-9 for further information.
Certain holders (including, among others, generally all corporations and certain non-U.S. persons) are not subject to backup withholding. Exempt U.S. holders may establish their exempt status on IRS Form W-9. A non-U.S. holder may qualify as an exempt recipient by submitting a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI, W-8EXP or W-8IMY, as the case may be, signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to that holder’s exempt status. The applicable IRS Form W-8 can be obtained from the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov.
7. Inadequate Space. If the space provided in the box captioned “Description of Outstanding Notes Tendered” is inadequate, the certificate number(s) and/or the principal amount of Outstanding Notes and any other required information should be listed on a separate signed schedule which is attached to this Letter of Transmittal.
8. Lost, Destroyed or Stolen Certificates. If any certificate(s) representing Outstanding Notes have been lost, destroyed or stolen, the holder should promptly notify the Exchange Agent. The holder will then be instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the certificate(s). This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed or stolen certificate(s) have been followed.
In order to tender, a holder should send or deliver a properly completed and signed Letter of Transmittal, certificates for the Outstanding Notes and any other required documents to the Exchange Agent at the address set forth below or tender pursuant to DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program. The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:
Citibank, N.A.
By Mail:
Citibank, N.A.
P.O. Box 219287
Kansas City, MO 64121-9287
Ref: Alibaba Exchange Offer
By Overnight Mail:
Citibank, N.A.
801 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 219287
Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
Ref: Alibaba Exchange Offer
| Form W-9 (Rev. March 2024) Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information. Give form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS. Before you begin. For guidance related to the purpose of Form W-9, see Purpose of Form, below. Print or type. See Specific Instructions on page 3. 1 Name of entity/individual. An entry is required. (For a sole proprietor or disregarded entity, enter the owner’s name on line 1, and enter the business/disregarded entity’s name on line 2.) 2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above. 3a Check the appropriate box for federal tax classification of the entity/individual whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one of the following seven boxes. Individual/sole proprietor C corporation S corporation Partnership Trust/estate LLC. Enter the tax classification (C = C corporation, S = S corporation, P = Partnership) . . . . Note: Check the “LLC” box above and, in the entry space, enter the appropriate code (C, S, or P) for the tax classification of the LLC, unless it is a disregarded entity. A disregarded entity should instead check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Other (see instructions) 3b If on line 3a you checked “Partnership” or “Trust/estate,” or checked “LLC” and entered “P” as its tax classification, and you are providing this form to a partnership, trust, or estate in which you have an ownership interest, check this box if you have any foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries. See instructions . . . . . . . . . 4 Exemptions (codes apply only to certain entities, not individuals; see instructions on page 3): Exempt payee code (if any) Exemption from Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) reporting code (if any) (Applies to accounts maintained outside the United States.) 5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.). See instructions. 6 City, state, and ZIP code Requester’s name and address (optional) 7 List account number(s) here (optional) Part I Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the instructions for Part I, later. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN, later. Note: If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1. See also What Name and Number To Give the Requester for guidelines on whose number to enter. Social security number – – or Employer identification number – Part II Certification Under penalties of perjury, I certify that: 1. The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and 2. I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and 3. I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and 4. The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct. Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and, generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions for Part II, later. Sign Here Signature of U.S. person Date General Instructions Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted. Future developments. For the latest information about developments related to Form W-9 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/FormW9. What’s New Line 3a has been modified to clarify how a disregarded entity completes this line. An LLC that is a disregarded entity should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Otherwise, it should check the “LLC” box and enter its appropriate tax classification. New line 3b has been added to this form. A flow-through entity is required to complete this line to indicate that it has direct or indirect foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries when it provides the Form W-9 to another flow-through entity in which it has an ownership interest. This change is intended to provide a flow-through entity with information regarding the status of its indirect foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries, so that it can satisfy any applicable reporting requirements. For example, a partnership that has any indirect foreign partners may be required to complete Schedules K-2 and K-3. See the Partnership Instructions for Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065). Purpose of Form An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS is giving you this form because they Cat. No. 10231X Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) Page 2 must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN), which may be your social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN), to report on an information return the amount paid to you, or other amount reportable on an information return. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following. • Form 1099-INT (interest earned or paid). • Form 1099-DIV (dividends, including those from stocks or mutual funds). • Form 1099-MISC (various types of income, prizes, awards, or gross proceeds). • Form 1099-NEC (nonemployee compensation). • Form 1099-B (stock or mutual fund sales and certain other transactions by brokers). • Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions). • Form 1099-K (merchant card and third-party network transactions). • Form 1098 (home mortgage interest), 1098-E (student loan interest), and 1098-T (tuition). • Form 1099-C (canceled debt). • Form 1099-A (acquisition or abandonment of secured property). Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN. Caution: If you don’t return Form W-9 to the requester with a TIN, you might be subject to backup withholding. See What is backup withholding, later. By signing the filled-out form, you: 1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued); 2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding; or 3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee; and 4. Certify to your non-foreign status for purposes of withholding under chapter 3 or 4 of the Code (if applicable); and 5. Certify that FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that you are exempt from the FATCA reporting is correct. See What Is FATCA Reporting, later, for further information. Note: If you are a U.S. person and a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request your TIN, you must use the requester’s form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9. Definition of a U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are: • An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien; • A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States; • An estate (other than a foreign estate); or • A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7). Establishing U.S. status for purposes of chapter 3 and chapter 4 withholding. Payments made to foreign persons, including certain distributions, allocations of income, or transfers of sales proceeds, may be subject to withholding under chapter 3 or chapter 4 of the Code (sections 1441–1474). Under those rules, if a Form W-9 or other certification of non-foreign status has not been received, a withholding agent, transferee, or partnership (payor) generally applies presumption rules that may require the payor to withhold applicable tax from the recipient, owner, transferor, or partner (payee). See Pub. 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities. The following persons must provide Form W-9 to the payor for purposes of establishing its non-foreign status. • In the case of a disregarded entity with a U.S. owner, the U.S. owner of the disregarded entity and not the disregarded entity. • In the case of a grantor trust with a U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner, generally, the U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner of the grantor trust and not the grantor trust. • In the case of a U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust), the U.S. trust and not the beneficiaries of the trust. See Pub. 515 for more information on providing a Form W-9 or a certification of non-foreign status to avoid withholding. Foreign person. If you are a foreign person or the U.S. branch of a foreign bank that has elected to be treated as a U.S. person (under Regulations section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv) or other applicable section for chapter 3 or 4 purposes), do not use Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 or Form 8233 (see Pub. 515). If you are a qualified foreign pension fund under Regulations section 1.897(l)-1(d), or a partnership that is wholly owned by qualified foreign pension funds, that is treated as a non-foreign person for purposes of section 1445 withholding, do not use Form W-9. Instead, use Form W-8EXP (or other certification of non-foreign status). Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax treaties contain a provision known as a saving clause. Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes. If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items. 1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien. 2. The treaty article addressing the income. 3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions. 4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax. 5. Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article. Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if their stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first Protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on their scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption. If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8 or Form 8233. Backup Withholding What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS 24% of such payments. This is called “backup withholding.” Payments that may be subject to backup withholding include, but are not limited to, interest, tax-exempt interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, payments made in settlement of payment card and third-party network transactions, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding. You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return. Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if: 1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester; 2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the instructions for Part II for details); 3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN; 4. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only); or 5. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding, as described in item 4 under “By signing the filled-out form” above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only). |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) Page 3 Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See Exempt payee code, later, and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information. See also Establishing U.S. status for purposes of chapter 3 and chapter 4 withholding, earlier. What Is FATCA Reporting? The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires a participating foreign financial institution to report all U.S. account holders that are specified U.S. persons. Certain payees are exempt from FATCA reporting. See Exemption from FATCA reporting code, later, and the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information. Updating Your Information You must provide updated information to any person to whom you claimed to be an exempt payee if you are no longer an exempt payee and anticipate receiving reportable payments in the future from this person. For example, you may need to provide updated information if you are a C corporation that elects to be an S corporation, or if you are no longer tax exempt. In addition, you must furnish a new Form W-9 if the name or TIN changes for the account, for example, if the grantor of a grantor trust dies. Penalties Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect. Civil penalty for false information with respect to withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty. Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment. Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties. Specific Instructions Line 1 You must enter one of the following on this line; do not leave this line blank. The name should match the name on your tax return. If this Form W-9 is for a joint account (other than an account maintained by a foreign financial institution (FFI)), list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of Form W-9. If you are providing Form W-9 to an FFI to document a joint account, each holder of the account that is a U.S. person must provide a Form W-9. • Individual. Generally, enter the name shown on your tax return. If you have changed your last name without informing the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the name change, enter your first name, the last name as shown on your social security card, and your new last name. Note for ITIN applicant: Enter your individual name as it was entered on your Form W-7 application, line 1a. This should also be the same as the name you entered on the Form 1040 you filed with your application. • Sole proprietor. Enter your individual name as shown on your Form 1040 on line 1. Enter your business, trade, or “doing business as” (DBA) name on line 2. • Partnership, C corporation, S corporation, or LLC, other than a disregarded entity. Enter the entity’s name as shown on the entity’s tax return on line 1 and any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2. • Other entities. Enter your name as shown on required U.S. federal tax documents on line 1. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. Enter any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2. • Disregarded entity. In general, a business entity that has a single owner, including an LLC, and is not a corporation, is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (a disregarded entity). See Regulations section 301.7701-2(c)(2). A disregarded entity should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Enter the owner’s name on line 1. The name of the owner entered on line 1 should never be a disregarded entity. The name on line 1 should be the name shown on the income tax return on which the income should be reported. For example, if a foreign LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes has a single owner that is a U.S. person, the U.S. owner’s name is required to be provided on line 1. If the direct owner of the entity is also a disregarded entity, enter the first owner that is not disregarded for federal tax purposes. Enter the disregarded entity’s name on line 2. If the owner of the disregarded entity is a foreign person, the owner must complete an appropriate Form W-8 instead of a Form W-9. This is the case even if the foreign person has a U.S. TIN. Line 2 If you have a business name, trade name, DBA name, or disregarded entity name, enter it on line 2. Line 3a Check the appropriate box on line 3a for the U.S. federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one box on line 3a. IF the entity/individual on line 1 is a(n) . . . THEN check the box for . . . • Corporation Corporation. • Individual or • Sole proprietorship Individual/sole proprietor. • LLC classified as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes or • LLC that has filed Form 8832 or 2553 electing to be taxed as a corporation Limited liability company and enter the appropriate tax classification: P = Partnership, C = C corporation, or S = S corporation. • Partnership Partnership. • Trust/estate Trust/estate. Line 3b Check this box if you are a partnership (including an LLC classified as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes), trust, or estate that has any foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries, and you are providing this form to a partnership, trust, or estate, in which you have an ownership interest. You must check the box on line 3b if you receive a Form W-8 (or documentary evidence) from any partner, owner, or beneficiary establishing foreign status or if you receive a Form W-9 from any partner, owner, or beneficiary that has checked the box on line 3b. Note: A partnership that provides a Form W-9 and checks box 3b may be required to complete Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065). For more information, see the Partnership Instructions for Schedules K-2 and K-3 (Form 1065). If you are required to complete line 3b but fail to do so, you may not receive the information necessary to file a correct information return with the IRS or furnish a correct payee statement to your partners or beneficiaries. See, for example, sections 6698, 6722, and 6724 for penalties that may apply. Line 4 Exemptions If you are exempt from backup withholding and/or FATCA reporting, enter in the appropriate space on line 4 any code(s) that may apply to you. Exempt payee code. • Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding. • Except as provided below, corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, including interest and dividends. • Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding for payments made in settlement of payment card or third-party network transactions. • Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding with respect to attorneys’ fees or gross proceeds paid to attorneys, and corporations that provide medical or health care services are not exempt with respect to payments reportable on Form 1099-MISC. The following codes identify payees that are exempt from backup withholding. Enter the appropriate code in the space on line 4. 1—An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2). |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) Page 4 2—The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. 3—A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or territory, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities. 4—A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities. 5—A corporation. 6—A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. commonwealth or territory. 7—A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 8—A real estate investment trust. 9—An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940. 10—A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a). 11—A financial institution as defined under section 581. 12—A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian. 13—A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947. The following chart shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 13. IF the payment is for . . . THEN the payment is exempt for . . . • Interest and dividend payments All exempt payees except for 7. • Broker transactions Exempt payees 1 through 4 and 6 through 11 and all C corporations. S corporations must not enter an exempt payee code because they are exempt only for sales of noncovered securities acquired prior to 2012. • Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends Exempt payees 1 through 4. • Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over $5,0001 Generally, exempt payees 1 through 5.2 • Payments made in settlement of payment card or third-party network transactions Exempt payees 1 through 4. 1See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Information, and its instructions. 2However, the following payments made to a corporation and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys’ fees, gross proceeds paid to an attorney reportable under section 6045(f), and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency. Exemption from FATCA reporting code. The following codes identify payees that are exempt from reporting under FATCA. These codes apply to persons submitting this form for accounts maintained outside of the United States by certain foreign financial institutions. Therefore, if you are only submitting this form for an account you hold in the United States, you may leave this field blank. Consult with the person requesting this form if you are uncertain if the financial institution is subject to these requirements. A requester may indicate that a code is not required by providing you with a Form W-9 with “Not Applicable” (or any similar indication) entered on the line for a FATCA exemption code. A—An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) or any individual retirement plan as defined in section 7701(a)(37). B—The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. C—A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or territory, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities. D—A corporation the stock of which is regularly traded on one or more established securities markets, as described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i). E—A corporation that is a member of the same expanded affiliated group as a corporation described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i). F—A dealer in securities, commodities, or derivative financial instruments (including notional principal contracts, futures, forwards, and options) that is registered as such under the laws of the United States or any state. G—A real estate investment trust. H—A regulated investment company as defined in section 851 or an entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940. I—A common trust fund as defined in section 584(a). J—A bank as defined in section 581. K—A broker. L—A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947(a)(1). M—A tax-exempt trust under a section 403(b) plan or section 457(g) plan. Note: You may wish to consult with the financial institution requesting this form to determine whether the FATCA code and/or exempt payee code should be completed. Line 5 Enter your address (number, street, and apartment or suite number). This is where the requester of this Form W-9 will mail your information returns. If this address differs from the one the requester already has on file, enter “NEW” at the top. If a new address is provided, there is still a chance the old address will be used until the payor changes your address in their records. Line 6 Enter your city, state, and ZIP code. Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and you do not have, and are not eligible to get, an SSN, your TIN is your IRS ITIN. Enter it in the entry space for the Social security number. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to get a TIN below. If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN. If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner, enter the owner’s SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entity’s EIN. Note: See What Name and Number To Give the Requester, later, for further clarification of name and TIN combinations. How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local SSA office or get this form online at www.SSA.gov. You may also get this form by calling 800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at www.irs.gov/EIN. Go to www.irs.gov/Forms to view, download, or print Form W-7 and/or Form SS-4. Or, you can go to www.irs.gov/OrderForms to place an order and have Form W-7 and/or Form SS-4 mailed to you within 15 business days. If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, apply for a TIN and enter “Applied For” in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, you will generally have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester. Note: Entering “Applied For” means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon. See also Establishing U.S. status for purposes of chapter 3 and chapter 4 withholding, earlier, for when you may instead be subject to withholding under chapter 3 or 4 of the Code. Caution: A disregarded U.S. entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8. |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) Page 5 Part II. Certification To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if item 1, 4, or 5 below indicates otherwise. For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). In the case of a disregarded entity, the person identified on line 1 must sign. Exempt payees, see Exempt payee code, earlier. Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in items 1 through 5 below. 1. Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification. 2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form. 3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification. 4. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN. “Other payments” include payments made in the course of the requester’s trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services (including payments to corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services, payments made in settlement of payment card and third-party network transactions, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations). 5. Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), ABLE accounts (under section 529A), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification. What Name and Number To Give the Requester For this type of account: Give name and SSN of: 1. Individual The individual 2. Two or more individuals (joint account) other than an account maintained by an FFI The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account1 3. Two or more U.S. persons (joint account maintained by an FFI) Each holder of the account 4. Custodial account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) The minor2 5. a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee) The grantor-trustee1 b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law The actual owner1 6. Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual The owner3 7. Grantor trust filing under Optional Filing Method 1 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(A))** The grantor* For this type of account: Give name and EIN of: 8. Disregarded entity not owned by an individual The owner 9. A valid trust, estate, or pension trust Legal entity4 10. Corporation or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 or Form 2553 The corporation 11. Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization The organization 12. Partnership or multi-member LLC The partnership 13. A broker or registered nominee The broker or nominee 14. Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments The public entity 15. Grantor trust filing Form 1041 or under the Optional Filing Method 2, requiring Form 1099 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(B))** The trust 1 List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that person’s number must be furnished. 2Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s SSN. 3You must show your individual name on line 1, and enter your business or DBA name, if any, on line 2. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one), but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN. 4 List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.) *Note: The grantor must also provide a Form W-9 to the trustee of the trust. **For more information on optional filing methods for grantor trusts, see the Instructions for Form 1041. Note: If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed. Secure Your Tax Records From Identity Theft Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, SSN, or other identifying information, without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund. To reduce your risk: • Protect your SSN, • Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and • Be careful when choosing a tax return preparer. If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter. If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft but you think you are at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity, or a questionable credit report, contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 800-908-4490 or submit Form 14039. For more information, see Pub. 5027, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers. |
| Form W-9 (Rev. 3-2024) Page 6 Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a systemic problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 800-829-4059. Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts. If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to phishing@irs.gov. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov or report them at www.ftc.gov/complaint. You can contact the FTC at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338). If you have been the victim of identity theft, see www.IdentityTheft.gov and Pub. 5027. Go to www.irs.gov/IdentityTheft to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk. Privacy Act Notice Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons (including federal agencies) who are required to file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, or certain other income paid to you; mortgage interest you paid; the acquisition or abandonment of secured property; the cancellation of debt; or contributions you made to an IRA, Archer MSA, or HSA. The person collecting this form uses the information on the form to file information returns with the IRS, reporting the above information. Routine uses of this information include giving it to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and territories for use in administering their laws. The information may also be disclosed to other countries under a treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce civil and criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism. You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Under section 3406, payors must generally withhold a percentage of taxable interest, dividends, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to the payor. Certain penalties may also apply for providing false or fraudulent information. |
Exhibit 99.3
FORM OF NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
for Tender of Outstanding
4.875% Senior Notes due 2030
5.250% Senior Notes due 2035
5.625% Senior Notes due 2054
of Alibaba Group Holding Limited
As set forth in the Exchange Offer (as defined below), this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (or a facsimile hereof) or one substantially equivalent hereto or the electronic form used by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for this purpose must be used to accept the Exchange Offer if certificates representing outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035, and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “Outstanding Notes”) of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (the “Company”), are not immediately available to the registered holder of such Outstanding Notes, or if a participant in DTC is unable to complete the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis of Outstanding Notes to the account maintained by Citibank, N.A. (the “Exchange Agent”) at DTC, or if time will not permit all documents required by the Letter of Transmittal to reach the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time, on , 2025, unless extended (the “Expiration Date”). This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (or a facsimile hereof) or one substantially equivalent hereto may be delivered by mail (registered or certified mail is recommended), hand delivery, overnight carrier, or facsimile transmission to the Exchange Agent. See “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.” Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Letter of Transmittal.
The Exchange Agent (the “Exchange Agent”) for the Exchange Offer is:
Citibank, N.A.
By Mail:
Citibank, N.A.
P.O. Box 219287
Kansas City, MO 64121-9287
Ref: Alibaba Exchange Offer
By Overnight Mail:
Citibank, N.A.
801 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 219287
Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
Ref: Alibaba Exchange Offer
For Notice of Guaranteed Delivery Only:
By Facsimile Transmission:
(For Eligible Institutions Only)
(816) 374-7427
Confirm Facsimile Transmission:
(By Telephone Only)
(844) 460-9413
Delivery of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to an address other than as set forth above or transmission of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery via a facsimile number other than the number listed above will not constitute a valid delivery.
This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on a Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined therein) under the instructions thereto, such signature guarantee must appear in the applicable space provided in the signature box on the Letter of Transmittal.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tenders to the Company, the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Notes indicated below pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the accompanying Prospectus dated , 2025 (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”) and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which together with the Prospectus constitute the “Exchange Offer”), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, exchange, assign and transfer the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, and that when those Outstanding Notes are accepted for exchange by the Company, the Company will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and those Outstanding Notes will not be subject to any adverse claims. The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Exchange Agent or the Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the exchange, assignment and transfer of the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby. The undersigned has read and agrees to all of the terms of the Exchange Offer.
By tendering Outstanding Notes and executing this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, the undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned is acquiring the Notes in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) the undersigned, if not a broker-dealer, is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of the Notes, (iii) the undersigned has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Notes, (iv) the undersigned is not an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) and (v) the undersigned is not prohibited by any law or policy from participating in the Exchange Offer. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer, it acknowledges that it will deliver a copy of the Prospectus in connection with any resale of the Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a Prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act.
The undersigned acknowledges that, other than in the United States, no action has been taken by the Company that would permit a public offering of the Notes in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The undersigned, if outside the United States, represents and warrants that the undersigned is acquiring the Notes only in circumstances permitted under applicable law as described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus. The undersigned, if a resident in Hong Kong, further represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned is a “professional investor” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (ii) the undersigned is acquiring the Notes in circumstances which do not result in the Prospectus being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance.
All questions as to the form of documents, validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of tendered Outstanding Notes will be determined by the Company, in its sole discretion, whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties. The Company reserves the absolute right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to reject any and all tenders determined by the Company not to be in proper form or the acceptance of which, or exchange for, may, in the view of the Company or its counsel, be unlawful.
All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and every obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.
SIGN HERE
| Name(s) of Registered Holder(s): | Address(es): | ||
| Signature(s) of Owner(s) or Authorized Signatory: | |||
| X | |||
| Tel. No(s): | |||
| X | |||
| Date:________________________________________________ | |||
Must be signed by the registered holder(s) of the tendered Outstanding Notes as their name(s) appear(s) on certificates for such tendered Outstanding Notes, or on a security position listing, or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by endorsement and documents transmitted with this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person must set forth his or her full title below.
| Description of Outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030 Tendered | |||
| Name of Tendering Holder |
Name and Address of Registered Holder as It Appears on the Outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030 |
Certificate Number(s) of Outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030 Tendered (or Account Number for Book-Entry Facility) |
Aggregate Principal Amount of Outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030 Tendered |
| Description of Outstanding 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035 Tendered | |||
| Name of Tendering Holder |
Name and Address of Registered Holder as It Appears on the Outstanding 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035 |
Certificate Number(s) of Outstanding 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035 Tendered (or Account Number for Book-Entry Facility) |
Aggregate Principal Amount of Outstanding 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035 Tendered |
| Description of Outstanding 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 Tendered | |||
| Name of Tendering Holder |
Name and Address of Registered Holder as It Appears on the Outstanding 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 |
Certificate Number(s) of Outstanding 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 Tendered (or Account Number for Book-Entry Facility) |
Aggregate Principal Amount of Outstanding 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 Tendered |
If Outstanding Notes will be delivered by Book-Entry Transfer to The Depository Trust Company, provide the following information:
| DTC Account Number: | |
| Date: |
THE GUARANTEE ON THE REVERSE SIDE MUST BE COMPLETED
GUARANTEE
(Not to be used for signature guarantee)
The undersigned, a firm or other entity identified in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as an “eligible guarantor institution,” including (as such terms are defined therein): (i) a bank; (ii) a broker, dealer, municipal securities broker, municipal securities dealer, government securities broker, government securities dealer; (iii) a credit union; (iv) a national securities exchange, registered securities association or clearing agency; or (v) a savings association that is a participant in a Securities Transfer Association recognized program (each of the foregoing being referred to as an “Eligible Institution”), hereby guarantees delivery to the Exchange Agent, at one of its addresses set forth above, either certificates for the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby, in proper form for transfer, or confirmation of the book-entry transfer of such Outstanding Notes to the Exchange Agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company, pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in the Prospectus, in either case together with one or more properly completed and duly executed Letter(s) of Transmittal (or an Agent’s Message in lieu thereof) and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, all within three (3) New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date of execution of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
The undersigned acknowledges that it must communicate the guarantee to the Exchange Agent and must deliver the Letter of Transmittal and certificates for the Outstanding Notes tendered hereby to the Exchange Agent within the time period shown hereon and that failure to do so could result in a financial loss to the undersigned.
| Firm | Authorized Signature | |
| Address (Please Type or Print) | Name | |
| Zip Code | Title | |
| Area Code and Tel. No. | Date |
DO NOT SEND CERTIFICATES FOR OUTSTANDING NOTES WITH THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY. ACTUAL SURRENDER OF ORIGINAL NOTES MUST BE MADE PURSUANT TO, AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY, A PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ANY OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.
Exhibit 99.4
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
OFFER TO EXCHANGE ALL OUTSTANDING
4.875% Senior Notes due 2030
5.250% Senior Notes due 2035
5.625% Senior Notes due 2054
For an Equal Principal Amount of
4.875% Senior Notes due 2030
5.250% Senior Notes due 2035
5.625% Senior Notes due 2054
Which Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933
, 2025
To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,
Trust Companies and Other Nominees:
We are enclosing herewith an offer by Alibaba Group Holding Limited (the “Company”), to exchange the Company’s outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035, and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “Outstanding Notes”), for an equal principal amount of the Company’s 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035, and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “Notes”), which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the accompanying Prospectus, dated , 2025 (as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”), and related Letter of Transmittal (which together with the Prospectus constitutes the “Exchange Offer”).
The Exchange Offer provides a procedure for holders to tender the Outstanding Notes by means of guaranteed delivery.
Your prompt action is requested. The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 PM, New York City time, on , 2025, unless extended (the “Expiration Date”). Tendered Outstanding Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
Based on an interpretation by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as set forth in certain interpretative letters addressed to third parties in other transactions, Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Outstanding Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by a holder thereof (other than a holder that is an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act or a “broker” or “dealer” registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder’s business and such holder is not engaging, does not intend to engage, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the distribution of such Notes. See “Shearman & Sterling,” SEC No-Action Letter (available July 2, 1993), “Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.,” SEC No-Action Letter (available June 5, 1991) and “Exxon Capital Holding Corporation,” SEC No-Action Letter (available May 13, 1988). Accordingly, each broker-dealer that receives Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a Prospectus in connection with any resale of those Notes.
The Exchange Offer is not conditioned on any minimum aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Notes being tendered, except that Outstanding Notes may be tendered only in minimum denominations of US$200,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Exchange Offer, or any extension of the Exchange Offer, the Company will not be required to accept for exchange, or to exchange any Outstanding Notes for, any Notes and may terminate the Exchange Offer (whether or not any Outstanding Notes have been accepted for exchange) or may waive any conditions to or amend the Exchange Offer, if any of the conditions described in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” have occurred or exist or have not been satisfied.
We are requesting that you contact your clients from whom you hold Outstanding Notes regarding the Exchange Offer. For your information and for forwarding to your clients for whom you hold Outstanding Notes registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, we are enclosing the following documents:
| 1. | A Prospectus, dated , 2025. |
| 2. | A Letter of Transmittal for your use and for the information of your clients. |
| 3. | A Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to be used to accept the Exchange Offer if certificates representing the Outstanding Notes are not immediately available, or if procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis, or if time will not permit all required documents to reach the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time, on the Expiration Date (as defined above). |
| 4. | A printed form of letter which may be sent to your clients for whose accounts you hold Outstanding Notes registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients’ instructions with regard to the Exchange Offer. |
| 5. | Form W-9 of the Internal Revenue Service (included in the Letter of Transmittal after the instructions thereto). |
WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR CLIENTS AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.
The Company will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or other person for soliciting tenders of Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. You will, however, be reimbursed by the Company for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by you in forwarding any of the enclosed materials to your clients. The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the tender of Outstanding Notes to them or their order, except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal.
To participate in the Exchange Offer, certificates for Outstanding Notes, or a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Outstanding Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at The Depositary Trust Company, and, if applicable, a duly executed and properly completed Letter of Transmittal, with any required signature guarantees, and any other required documents, must be received by the Exchange Agent by 5:00 PM, New York City time, on the Expiration Date as indicated in the Letter of Transmittal and the Prospectus.
If holders of the Outstanding Notes wish to tender, but certificates representing their Outstanding Notes are not immediately available, or they are unable to complete the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, or if time will not permit all documents required by the Letter of Transmittal to reach the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, a tender may be effected by following the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” and the Letter of Transmittal.
| Very truly yours, | |
| Alibaba Group Holding Limited |
NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU AS THE AGENT OF THE COMPANY, THE EXCHANGE AGENT OR ANY OTHER PERSON, OR AUTHORIZE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO USE ANY DOCUMENT OR MAKE ANY STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER OTHER THAN THE DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED HEREWITH AND THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED THEREIN.
Exhibit 99.5
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
OFFER TO EXCHANGE ALL OUTSTANDING
4.875% Senior Notes due 2030
5.250% Senior Notes due 2035
5.625% Senior Notes due 2054
For an Equal Principal Amount of
4.875% Senior Notes due 2030
5.250% Senior Notes due 2035
5.625% Senior Notes due 2054
Which Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933
To Our Clients:
Enclosed for your consideration are the Prospectus, dated , 2025 (as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”), and the related Letter of Transmittal (which together with the Prospectus constitute the “Exchange Offer”), in connection with the offer by Alibaba Group Holding Limited (the “Company”), to exchange the Company’s outstanding 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035, and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “Outstanding Notes”), for an equal principal amount of the Company’s 4.875% Senior Notes due 2030, 5.250% Senior Notes due 2035, and 5.625% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “Notes”), which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 PM, New York City time, on , 2025, unless extended (the “Expiration Date”).
We are holding Outstanding Notes for your account. An exchange of the Outstanding Notes can be made only by us and pursuant to your instructions. The Letter of Transmittal is furnished to you for your information only and cannot be used by you to exchange the Outstanding Notes held by us for your account. The Exchange Offer provides a procedure for holders to tender by means of guaranteed delivery.
We request information as to whether you wish us to exchange any or all of the Outstanding Notes held by us for your account upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.
Your attention is directed to the following:
| 1. | The forms and terms of the Notes are the same in all material respects as the forms and terms of the Outstanding Notes (which they replace), except that the Notes have been registered under the Securities Act and will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest for failure to observe obligations in the registration rights agreement among the Company and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities plc, Morgan Stanley Asia Limited and UBS AG Hong Kong Branch, dated as of November 26, 2024. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date on which interest was paid or provided for on the Outstanding Notes. |
| 2. | Based on an interpretation by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as set forth in certain interpretive letters addressed to third parties in other transactions, Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Outstanding Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by a holder thereof (other than a holder which is an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act or a “broker” or “dealer” registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder’s business and such holder is not engaging, does not intend to engage, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the distribution of such Notes. See “Shearman & Sterling,” SEC No-Action Letter (available July 2, 1993), “Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.,” SEC No-Action Letter (available June 5, 1991) and “Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation,” SEC No-Action Letter (available May 13, 1988). Accordingly, each broker-dealer that receives Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a Prospectus in connection with any resale of those Notes. |
| 3. | The Exchange Offer is not conditioned on any minimum aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Notes being tendered, except that Outstanding Notes may be tendered only in minimum denominations of US$200,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof. |
| 4. | Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Exchange Offer, or any extension of the Exchange Offer, the Company will not be required to accept for exchange, or to exchange any Outstanding Notes for, any Notes and may terminate the Exchange Offer (whether or not any Outstanding Notes have been accepted for exchange) or may waive any conditions to or amend the Exchange Offer, if any of the conditions described in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” have occurred or exist or have not been satisfied. |
| 5. | Tendered Outstanding Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 PM, New York City time, on the Expiration Date. |
| 6. | Any transfer taxes applicable to the exchange of Outstanding Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be paid by the Company, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 3 of the Letter of Transmittal. |
If you wish to have us tender any or all of your Outstanding Notes, please so instruct us by completing, detaching and returning to us the instruction form attached hereto. If you authorize a tender of your Outstanding Notes, the entire principal amount of Outstanding Notes held for your account will be tendered unless otherwise specified on the instruction form. Your instructions should be forwarded to us in ample time to permit us to submit a tender on your behalf by the Expiration Date.
The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of the Outstanding Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Exchange Offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction or would otherwise not be in compliance with any provision of any applicable securities law.
In addition, the Notes are only available in Hong Kong or to persons resident in Hong Kong who are (a) “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) acquiring the Notes in circumstances which do not result in the Prospectus being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
OFFER TO EXCHANGE ALL OUTSTANDING
4.875% Senior Notes due 2030
5.250% Senior Notes due 2035
5.625% Senior Notes due 2054
For an Equal Principal Amount of
4.875% Senior Notes due 2030
5.250% Senior Notes due 2035
5.625% Senior Notes due 2054
Which Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933
Instructions from Beneficial Owner:
The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter and the enclosed Prospectus and the related Letter of Transmittal in connection with the offer by the Company to exchange Outstanding Notes for Notes.
This will instruct you to tender the principal amount of Outstanding Notes indicated below held by you for the account of the undersigned, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the related Letter of Transmittal.
The undersigned represents that (i) the undersigned is acquiring the Notes in the ordinary course of its business, (ii) the undersigned, if not a broker-dealer, is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of the Notes, (iii) the undersigned has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the distribution of the Notes, (iv) the undersigned is not an “affiliate,” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, of the Company and (v) the undersigned is not prohibited by an law or policy from participating in the Exchange Offer. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Notes for its own account in exchange for Outstanding Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a copy of the prospectus in connection with any resale of the Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.
The undersigned acknowledges that, other than in the United States, no action has been taken by the Company that would permit a public offering of the Notes in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The undersigned, if outside the United States, represents and warrants that the undersigned is acquiring the Notes only in circumstances permitted under applicable law as described in the “Description of the Notes” section of the Prospectus. The undersigned, if a resident in Hong Kong, further represents and warrants that (i) the undersigned is a “professional investor” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (ii) the undersigned is acquiring the Notes in circumstances which do not result in the Prospectus being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance.
| Sign here | |
| Signature(s) |
With respect to the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby instructs you (check appropriate box):
| ¨ | To TENDER the following Outstanding Notes held by you for the account of the undersigned (insert principal amount of Outstanding Note to be tendered, if any): |
| $ of the Outstanding Notes | |
| ¨ | Not to TENDER any Outstanding Notes held by you for the account of the undersigned |
SIGN HERE
| Name(s) of Registered Owner(s): | Address(es): | ||
| Signature(s) of Owner(s) or Authorized Signatory: | |||
| X | |||
| Tel. No(s): | |||
| X | |||
| Date: | Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number: |







