Better Home & Finance Holding Co S-3/A, filed Jun 4, 2025
Better Home & Finance Holding Co (BETR)
S-3/A
2025-06-04
View Original
Added on
October 16, 2026
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 3, 2025
Registration No. 333-287335
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO.1
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Better Home & Finance Holding Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 93-3029990 | ||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||
1 World Trade Center
285 Fulton Street, 80th Floor, Suite A
New York, New York 10007
(415) 522-8837
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Kevin Ryan
Chief Financial Officer
1 World Trade Center
285 Fulton Street, 80th Floor, Suite A
New York, New York 10007
(415) 522-8837
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Bryan K. Brown
Justin W. McKithen
Jones Day
717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3300
Houston, Texas 77002
(832) 239-3939
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | ||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | ||||||||
| Emerging growth company | ☒ | ||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. o
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED, JUNE 3, 2025
PROSPECTUS
$200,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Debt Securities
Purchase Contracts
Units
We may offer and sell from time to time our Class A common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, subscription rights, debt securities and purchase contracts, as well as units that include any of these securities. We may sell any combination of these securities in one or more offerings with an aggregate initial offering price of $200,000,000 or the equivalent amount in other currencies or currency units.
We will provide the specific terms of the securities to be offered in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of those offered securities.
The securities may be offered and sold to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers, directly to purchasers, through block trades, through agents, in “at the market” offerings or otherwise through a combination of any of these methods of sale. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.
Investing in any of our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 7 of this prospectus for the risks and uncertainties you should consider before investing in our securities.
Our Class A common stock and warrants to purchase shares of our Class A common stock (“Public Warrants”) are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BETR” and “BETRW,” respectively. On June 2, 2025, the closing price of our Class A common stock was $12.74 per share and $0.10 per Public Warrant. None of the other securities that we may offer under this prospectus are currently publicly traded.
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and are eligible for reduced public company reporting requirements.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Prospectus Dated , 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration or continuous offering process. Under this shelf process, we may from time to time sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to an aggregate initial offering price of $200,000,000 or the equivalent amount in other currencies or currency units.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference.”
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information from the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus that we may provide you. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any document incorporated by reference or any free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date, other than the date mentioned on the cover page of these documents. We are not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “Better” and similar terms refer to Better Home & Finance Holding Company.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. We make available, free of charge, on our website at www.better.com, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports and statements as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with the SEC. The contents of our website are not part of this prospectus, and the reference to our website does not constitute incorporation by reference into this prospectus of the information contained on or through that site, other than documents we file with the SEC that are specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in documents we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in or omitted from this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, or in any other subsequently filed document, which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future documents that we file with the SEC (excluding any portion of such documents that are furnished and not filed with the SEC) under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (1) after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement and (2) after the date of this prospectus until the offering of the securities is terminated:
•our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 19.2025;
•those portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2025, that are incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024;
•our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2025;
•our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 23, 2025, March 17, 2025, April 14, 2025, and April 28, 2025, (except, in each case, any information, including exhibits, furnished and not filed with the SEC); and
•the description of our common stock set forth in Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 19, 2024, and all amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.
We will not, however, incorporate by reference in this prospectus any documents or portions thereof that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of our current reports on Form 8-K unless, and except to the extent, specified in such current reports.
We will provide you with a copy of any of these filings (other than an exhibit to these filings, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into the filing requested) at no cost, if you submit a request to us by writing or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number:
1 World Trade Center
285 Fulton Street, 80th Floor, Suite A
New York, New York 10007
(415) 522-8837
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement contain forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding our business, operations and financial performance. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievement to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including:
•Our ability to operate under and maintain or improve our business model;
•The effect of interest rates on our business, results of operations, and financial condition;
•Our ability to expand our customer base, grow market share in our existing markets and enter into new markets;
•Our ability to respond to general economic conditions, particularly elevated interest rates and lower home sales and refinancing activity;
•Our ability to restore our growth and our expectations regarding the development and long-term expansion of our business;
•Our ability to comply with laws and regulations related to the operation of our business, including any changes to such laws and regulations;
•Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability in the future;
•Our ability and requirements to raise additional financing in the future;
•Our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital and additional financing requirements;
•Our ability to maintain, expand and be successful in our strategic relationships with third parties;
•Our ability to remediate existing material weaknesses and implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting;
•Our ability to develop new products, features and functionality that meet market needs and achieve market acceptance;
•Our ability to retain, identify and hire individuals for the roles we seek to fill and staff our operations appropriately;
•The involvement of our CEO in litigation related to prior business activities, our business activities and associated negative media coverage;
•Our ability to recruit and retain additional directors, members of senior management and other team members, including our ability in general, and our CEO’s ability in particular, to maintain an experienced executive team;
•Our ability to successfully manage our international and banking operations;
•Our ability to maintain and improve morale and workplace culture and respond effectively to the effects of negative media coverage;
•Our ability to maintain, protect, assert and enhance our intellectual property rights;
•Our ability to maintain the listing of the Class A Common Stock and Warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market;
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•Our ability to maintain certain lines of credit and obtain future financing on commercially favorable terms to fund loans and otherwise operate our business; and
•The liquidity and trading of the Class A Common Stock and Warrants.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as guarantees of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Key factors that could cause actual results to differ from our expectations include, but are not limited to, the risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
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COMPANY OVERVIEW
About Better Home & Finance
Better Home & Finance principally operates a digital-first homeownership company featuring Betsy, the first voice-based AI loan assistant built for the mortgage industry, offering services including mortgage financing, real estate services, title and homeowners’ insurance. We offer a selection of loan products for home purchase and refinance, including cash-out refinance, debt consolidation and home equity lines of credit, across a range of maturities and interest rates as well as a suite of non-mortgage products, including real estate agent services offered by our network of third-party partner real estate agents and, through our insurance partners, title insurance and settlement services, and homeowners insurance. We serve customers in all 50 US states and the United Kingdom.
Corporate Information
Better Home & Finance Holding Company is a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 285 Fulton Street, 80th Floor, Suite A, New York, NY 10007 and our telephone number at that address is (415) 523-8837. Our website is located at www.better.com. We do not incorporate the information contained on, or accessible through, our corporate website into this prospectus, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus. We have included our website address only as an inactive textual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to our website.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (JOBS Act), and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and securityholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a registration statement under the Securities Act declared effective or that do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is not an emerging growth company or is an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the closing of the initial public offering of Aurora Acquisition Corp., (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common equity that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the end of the prior fiscal year’s second fiscal quarter; and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References to “emerging growth company” have the meaning ascribed to it in the JOBS Act.
We are also a smaller reporting company, as defined in the Exchange Act. Even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, we may still qualify as a smaller reporting company, which would allow us to continue taking advantage of many of the same exemptions from disclosure requirements, including reduced disclosure
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obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. In addition, for so long as we continue to qualify as a non-accelerated filer, we will not be required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before you decide to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks set forth under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein and may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future and the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The occurrence of one or more of the events or circumstances described in such risk factors, alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, may have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, revenue, financial condition, results of operations and future prospects, in which event you could lose all or part of your investment.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we specify otherwise in any prospectus supplement, we may use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus for capital expenditures, repayment of indebtedness, working capital, repurchases of our securities, asset or other acquisitions, investments or general corporate purposes or any combination thereof.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Authorized Capital Stock
The total amount of 166,000,000 authorized shares of capital stock consists of 36,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 14,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 16,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
Common Stock
Better Home & Finance has three classes of authorized Common Stock: Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock. Better Home & Finance has issued and, unless Better Home & Finance’s Board determines otherwise, will issue all of its capital stock in uncertificated form. All issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable.
Voting Rights
Each holder of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share, and each holder of Class B Common Stock is entitled to three votes per share, on each matter submitted to a vote of securityholders, as provided by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Amended and Restated Charter”). Except as otherwise required by applicable law or the Amended and Restated Charter, holders of Class C Common Stock will not be entitled to vote on any matter submitted to a vote of securityholders. The holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will generally vote together as a single class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of securityholders, unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Amended and Restated Charter. The holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will not be entitled to vote on any amendment to the Amended and Restated Charter that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected shares are entitled, either separately or as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon.
The Bylaws provide that the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at all meetings of the securityholders for the transaction of business; provided, however, that where a separate vote by a class or classes or series of stock is required by applicable law or the Amended and Restated Charter, the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on such matter, present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, will constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on such matter. When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required to take action, unless otherwise specified by law, the Bylaws or the Amended and Restated Charter, and except for the election of directors in contested elections, which is determined by a plurality vote. There are no cumulative voting rights.
Conversion
Each outstanding share of Class B Common Stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder into one share of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock. In addition, each share of Class B Common Stock will convert automatically into one share of Class A Common Stock upon any transfer, whether or not for value, except for certain permitted transfers described herein and further described in the Amended and Restated Charter. Once converted into Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock will not be reissued. In addition, all the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock will convert automatically into one share of Class A Common Stock on (i) the trading day falling on or immediately after the date on which the number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding ceases to be at least 5% of the total number of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) the trading day falling on or immediately after the date of the affirmative vote of the holders of Class B Common Stock representing at least 85% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, voting as a single class, elect to convert all the then-outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock to Class A Common Stock; and (iii) any trading day specified by the board of directors (the “Board”) no less than 60 and no more than 180 days following the date of the death or Permanent Disability (as defined in the Amended and
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Restated Charter) of our CEO, Vishal Garg (the date on which no shares of Class B Common Stock remain outstanding, or the Final Class B Conversion Date).
Each outstanding share of Class C Common Stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder into one share of Class A Common Stock. Following the Final Class B Conversion Date, on the date or time specified by (i) the holders of a majority of the then-outstanding Class C Common Stock, voting as a separate class, or (ii) two-thirds of Better Home & Finance’s Board, each outstanding share of Class C Common Stock will automatically convert into one share of Class A Common Stock. In addition, each share of Class C Common Stock will automatically convert into one share of Class A Common Stock upon any transfer, except for certain permitted transfers, whether or not for value as described herein and further described in the Amended and Restated Charter.
Dividend Rights
Each holder of shares of Common Stock is entitled to the payment of dividends and other distributions as may be declared by the Board from time to time out of Better Home & Finance’s assets or funds legally available for dividends or other distributions. These rights are subject to the preferential rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, if any, and any contractual limitations on Better Home & Finance’s ability to declare and pay dividends.
Other Rights
Each holder of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock is subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock that Better Home & Finance may designate and issue in the future. Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock are not entitled to preemptive rights and are not subject to conversion (except as noted above), redemption, or sinking fund provisions.
Liquidation Rights
If Better Home & Finance is involved in voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of Better Home & Finance’s affairs, or a similar event, each holder of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock will participate pro rata in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of Preferred Stock, if any, then outstanding.
Change of Control Transactions
The holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock will be treated equally and identically with respect to shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock owned by them on any distribution or payment in respect of the shares of such class upon the merger or consolidation of Better Home & Finance with or into any other entity, or in the case of any other transaction having an effect on securityholders substantially similar to that resulting from a merger or consolidation, unless different treatment of the shares of each class is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the class treated differently, voting separately as a class; provided, however, that shares of one such class may receive different consideration in connection with such merger, consolidation or other transaction if the only difference is that any securities received by such holders have rights and obligations substantially similar to those set forth in the Amended and Restated Charter, including that the holders of a share of Class B Common Stock has three times the voting power of any securities distributed to the holders of a share of Class A Common Stock and any securities received by the holders of Class C Common Stock have no voting power except as otherwise required by applicable law or consistent with the Amended and Restated Charter. In general, consideration to be paid or received by a holder of Common Stock in connection with any such asset sale, consolidation, merger, or reorganization under any employment, consulting, severance, or other compensatory arrangement will be disregarded for the purposes of determining whether holders of Common Stock are treated equally and identically.
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Preferred Stock
The Board has authority to issue shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, to fix for each such series such voting powers, designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences for the issue of such series, all to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may also be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then-outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of Better Home & Finance without a separate vote of the holders of Preferred Stock. The issuance of Preferred Stock could have the effect of decreasing the trading price of Common Stock, restricting dividends on capital stock, diluting the voting power of Common Stock, impairing the liquidation rights of capital stock, or delaying or preventing a change in control of Better Home & Finance. As of May 15, 2025, Better Home & Finance had no shares of Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.
Warrants
We have outstanding Public Warrants and Private Warrants which entitle the holder to acquire Class A Common Stock. Every 50 Warrants entitles the registered holder to purchase one whole share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $575.00 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below. Pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, a Warrant holder may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock. The Warrants will expire on August 22, 2028, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
We are not obligated to deliver any shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration. No Warrant will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Class A Common Stock issuable upon such Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant will not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any Warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised Warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such Warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the share of Class A Common Stock underlying such unit.
On December 26, 2023, our registration statement on Form S-1 (“Registration Statement”) became effective, which registered the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. On May 9, 2024, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement became effective, which updates the Registration Statement’s prospectus to include, among other things, the information contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
We will use our best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement; provided that if the Class A Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of Warrants who exercise their Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
Redemption of Warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $900.00.
Once the Warrants become exercisable, we may call the Warrants for redemption:
in whole and not in part;
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at a price of $0.01 per Warrant;
upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each Warrant holder; and
if, and only if, the reported last sales price of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $900.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the Warrant holders.
We will not redeem the Warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A Common Stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the Warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
We have established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the Warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the Warrants, each Warrant holder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its Warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Common Stock may fall below the $900.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) as well as the $575.00 Warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
Redemption of Warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $500.00
Once the Warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants:
•in whole and not in part;
•at $0.10 per Warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A Common Stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described below; and
•if, and only if, the closing price of our Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $500.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a Warrant as described under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments”) for any 20 trading days within the 30-trading day period ending three trading days before we send the notice of redemption to the Warrant holders.
Beginning on the date the notice of redemption is given until the Warrants are redeemed or exercised, holders may elect to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis. The numbers in the table below represent the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that a Warrant holder will receive upon such cashless exercise in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, based on the “fair market value” of our Class A Common Stock on the corresponding redemption date (assuming holders elect to exercise their Warrants and such Warrants are not redeemed for $0.10 per Warrant), determined for these purposes based on volume weighted average price of our Class A Common Stock during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of Warrants, and the number of months that the corresponding redemption date precedes the expiration date of the Warrants, each as set forth in the table below. We will provide our Warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the 10-trading day period described above ends.
The share prices set forth in the column headings of the table below will be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant or the exercise price of a Warrant is adjusted as set forth under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” below. If the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant is
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adjusted, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the share prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant as so adjusted. The number of shares in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant. If the exercise price of a Warrant is adjusted, (a) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to the fifth paragraph under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” below, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the unadjusted share price multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price as set forth under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” and the denominator of which is $500.00 and (b) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to the second paragraph under the heading “—Anti-dilution Adjustments” below, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the unadjusted share price less the decrease in the exercise price of a Warrant pursuant to such exercise price adjustment.
| Fair Market Value of Class A Ordinary Shares | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Redemption Date (period to expiration of warrants) | ≤ $500 | $550 | $600 | $650 | $700 | $750 | $800 | $850 | ≥ $900 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
60 months | 0.00522 | 0.00562 | 0.00594 | 0.00622 | 0.00648 | 0.00674 | 0.00696 | 0.00716 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
57 months | 0.00514 | 0.00554 | 0.00588 | 0.0062 | 0.00648 | 0.00674 | 0.00696 | 0.00716 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
54 months | 0.00504 | 0.00544 | 0.00582 | 0.00614 | 0.00644 | 0.0067 | 0.00694 | 0.00714 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
51 months | 0.00492 | 0.00536 | 0.00574 | 0.00608 | 0.0064 | 0.00666 | 0.00692 | 0.00714 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
48 months | 0.00482 | 0.00526 | 0.00566 | 0.00602 | 0.00634 | 0.00664 | 0.00688 | 0.00712 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
45 months | 0.0047 | 0.00516 | 0.00558 | 0.00596 | 0.0063 | 0.0066 | 0.00686 | 0.00712 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
42 months | 0.00456 | 0.00504 | 0.00548 | 0.00588 | 0.00624 | 0.00656 | 0.00684 | 0.0071 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
39 months | 0.00442 | 0.00492 | 0.00538 | 0.0058 | 0.00618 | 0.0065 | 0.0068 | 0.00708 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
36 months | 0.00426 | 0.00478 | 0.00526 | 0.0057 | 0.0061 | 0.00646 | 0.00678 | 0.00706 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
33 months | 0.0041 | 0.00464 | 0.00514 | 0.0056 | 0.00602 | 0.0064 | 0.00674 | 0.00704 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
30 months | 0.00392 | 0.00448 | 0.005 | 0.00548 | 0.00594 | 0.00632 | 0.0067 | 0.00702 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27 months | 0.0037 | 0.00428 | 0.00484 | 0.00536 | 0.00582 | 0.00626 | 0.00664 | 0.007 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24 months | 0.00346 | 0.00408 | 0.00466 | 0.0052 | 0.0057 | 0.00616 | 0.00658 | 0.00696 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 months | 0.00322 | 0.00386 | 0.00446 | 0.00504 | 0.00558 | 0.00608 | 0.00652 | 0.00694 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 months | 0.00292 | 0.00358 | 0.00422 | 0.00484 | 0.00542 | 0.00596 | 0.00644 | 0.0069 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 months | 0.0026 | 0.00328 | 0.00394 | 0.0046 | 0.00524 | 0.00582 | 0.00634 | 0.00684 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 months | 0.00222 | 0.00292 | 0.00362 | 0.00432 | 0.005 | 0.00564 | 0.00624 | 0.00678 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 months | 0.0018 | 0.0025 | 0.00324 | 0.00398 | 0.00474 | 0.00544 | 0.0061 | 0.00672 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 months | 0.0013 | 0.00198 | 0.00274 | 0.00356 | 0.00438 | 0.00518 | 0.00592 | 0.00662 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 months | 0.00068 | 0.0013 | 0.00208 | 0.003 | 0.00394 | 0.00486 | 0.00572 | 0.00652 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 months | — | — | 0.00084 | 0.0023 | 0.00358 | 0.00466 | 0.00562 | 0.00646 | 0.00722 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The exact fair market value and redemption date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the fair market value is between two values in the table or the redemption date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued for each Warrant exercised will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower fair market values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365 or 366-day year, as applicable. For example, if the volume weighted average price of our Class A Common Stock during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the Warrants is $575.00 per share, and at such time there are 57 months until the expiration of the Warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their Warrants for 0.00571 shares of Class A Common Stock for each whole Warrant. For an example where the exact fair market value and redemption date are not as set forth in the table above, if the volume weighted average price of our Class A Common Stock during the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the Warrants is $675.00 per share, and at such time
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there are 38 months until the expiration of the Warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their Warrants for 0.00596 shares of Class A Common Stock for each whole Warrant. In no event will the Warrants be exercisable on a cashless basis in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.00722 shares of Class A Common Stock per Warrant (subject to adjustment). Finally, as reflected in the table above, if the Warrants are “out of the money” (i.e., the trading price of our Class A Common Stock is below the exercise price of the Warrants) and about to expire, they cannot be exercised on a cashless basis in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, since they will not be exercisable for any shares of Class A Common Stock.
This redemption feature differs from the typical warrant redemption features used in some other blank check offerings, which only provide for a redemption of Warrants for cash (other than Private Warrants) when the trading price for the Class A Common Stock exceeds $900.00 per share for a specified period of time. This redemption feature is structured to allow for all of the outstanding Warrants to be redeemed when the Class A Common Stock are trading at or above $500.00 per public share, which may be at a time when the trading price of our Class A Common Stock is below the exercise price of the Warrants. We have established this redemption feature to provide us with the flexibility to redeem the Warrants without the Warrants having to reach the $900.00 per share threshold set forth above under “-Redemption of Warrants when the price per share of Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $900.00.” Holders choosing to exercise their warrants in connection with a redemption pursuant to this feature will, in effect, receive a number of shares for their Warrants based on an option pricing model with a fixed volatility input as of the date of this prospectus. This redemption right provides us with an additional mechanism by which to redeem all of the outstanding Warrants, and therefore have certainty as to our capital structure as the Warrants would no longer be outstanding and would have been exercised or redeemed. We will be required to pay the applicable redemption price to Warrant holders if we choose to exercise this redemption right and it will allow us to quickly proceed with a redemption of the Warrants if we determine it is in our best interest to do so. As such, we would redeem the Warrants in this manner when we believe it is in our best interest to update our capital structure to remove the Warrants and pay the redemption price to the Warrant holders.
As stated above, we can redeem the Warrants when shares of Class A Common Stock are trading at a price starting at $500.00, which is below the exercise price of $575.00, because it will provide certainty with respect to our capital structure and cash position while providing Warrant holders with the opportunity to exercise their Warrants on a cashless basis for the applicable number of shares. If we choose to redeem the Warrants when shares of Class A Common Stock are trading at a price below the exercise price of the Warrants, this could result in the warrant holders receiving fewer shares of Class A Common Stock than they would have received if they had chosen to wait to exercise their Warrants for shares of Class A Common Stock if and when such shares of Class A Common Stock were trading at a price higher than the exercise price of $575.00.
No fractional shares of Class A Common Stock will be issued upon exercise. If, upon exercise, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the holder.
Redemption Procedures
A holder of a Warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Anti-dilution Adjustments
If the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock is increased by a share capitalization, a share dividend payable in shares of Class A Common Stock, a split-up of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of Class A Common Stock entitling
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holders to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a share dividend of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for shares of Class A Common Stock) and (ii) the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A Common Stock paid in such rights offering and (y) the fair market value. For these purposes, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Class A Common Stock, in determining the price payable for shares of Class A Common Stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of Class A Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which shares of Class A Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to all or substantially all of the holders of Class A Common Stock on account of such shares of Class A Common Stock, other than (a) as described above or (b) any cash dividends or cash distributions which, when combined on a per share basis with all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the shares of Class A Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution does not exceed $25 (as adjusted to appropriately reflect any other adjustments and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the exercise price or to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each warrant) but only with respect to the amount of the aggregate cash dividends or cash distributions equal to or less than $25 per share, then the Warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A Common Stock in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, or reclassification of shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant, as applicable, will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
Whenever the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such share of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the Warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the Class A Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of common stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a liquidation following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their Warrants immediately prior to such event. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A Common Stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the Warrant properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the Warrant Agreement
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based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) of the Warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the Warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the warrants pursuant to which the holders of the Warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the Warrants.
The Warrant Agreement provides that the terms of the Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding Warrants (including Private Warrants) to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders.
The Warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of Warrants being exercised. The Warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A Common Stock and any voting rights until they exercise their Warrants and receive shares of Class A Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by securityholders.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder.
We have agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the Warrant Agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Private Warrants
Private Warrants (including the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Warrants) are freely transferable, assignable and salable and are not redeemable by us so long as they are held by such persons or their respective permitted transferee. Novator Capital Sponsor Ltd., or the Sponsor directors and officers or their permitted transferees have the option to exercise the Private Warrants on a cashless basis. Except as described herein, the Private Warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the Public Warrants. If the Private Warrants are held by a holder other than the Sponsor or its permitted transferees, such warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
If holders of the Private Warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering his, her or its Private Warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Private Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the Private Warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” will mean the average reported closing price of shares of Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise of the Private Warrants is sent to the warrant agent.
Anti-takeover Effects of the Amended and Restated Charter and the Bylaws
The Amended and Restated Charter and the Bylaws contain provisions that may delay, defer or discourage another party from acquiring control of Better Home & Finance. Better Home & Finance expects that these provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of Better Home & Finance to first negotiate with the Board, which Better Home & Finance believes may result in an improvement of the terms of
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any such acquisition in favor of securityholders. However, they also give the Board the power to discourage mergers that some securityholders may favor.
Multiple Classes of Common Stock
As described above, the Amended and Restated Charter provides for a multiple class common stock structure pursuant to which holders of Class B Common Stock have the ability to control the outcome of matters requiring securityholder approval, even if they own significantly less than a majority of the shares of outstanding Common Stock, including the election of directors and significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of Better Home & Finance or Better Home & Finance’s assets. Current investors, executives, and employees, including our CEO, have the ability to exercise significant influence over those matters.
Special Meetings of Securityholders
The Amended and Restated Charter provides that a special meeting of securityholders may be called only by (a) the Chairperson of the Board, (b) the Chief Executive Officer, (c) the Lead Independent Director (as defined in the Bylaws) or (d) any two directors, and may not be called by any other person or persons; provided, that at any time before the Final Class B Conversion Date, special meetings of the securityholders of Better Home & Finance will also be promptly called by the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Lead Independent Director upon the written request of the holders of at least 50% in voting power of the stock of Better Home & Finance entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Action by Written Consent
The Amended and Restated Charter provides that, after the date on which the number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding cease to be at least 15% of the total number of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the securityholders must be effected at an annual or special meeting of the securityholders, and may not be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
Securityholders Not Entitled to Cumulative Voting
The Amended and Restated Charter does not permit securityholders to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting power of Common Stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election, if they choose, other than any directors that holders of Preferred Stock may be entitled to elect.
Delaware Anti-takeover Statute
Better Home & Finance is not subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The Amended and Restated Charter provide that Better Home & Finance will indemnify Better Home & Finance’s directors or officers to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law. Better Home & Finance entered into agreements to indemnify Better Home & Finance’s directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by the Board, substantially in the form of the Form of Indemnification Agreement. Under the Bylaws, Better Home & Finance is required to indemnify each of Better Home & Finance’s directors and officers if the basis of the indemnitee’s involvement was by reason of the fact that the indemnitee is or was a director or executive officer of Better Home & Finance or was serving at Better Home & Finance’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent for another entity. Better Home & Finance must indemnify Better Home & Finance’s directors and executive officers against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Better Home & Finance, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful. The Bylaws also require Better Home & Finance to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending such action, suit or proceeding, provided that, if the DGCL so requires, such advancement will be made only upon an
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undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses. Any claims for indemnification by Better Home & Finance directors and officers may reduce Better Home & Finance’s available funds to satisfy successful third-party claims against Better Home & Finance and may reduce the amount of money available to Better Home & Finance.
Exclusive Jurisdiction of Certain Actions
The Amended and Restated Charter provides that, unless Better Home & Finance consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) is the exclusive forum for: (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on Better Home & Finance’s behalf; (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of Better Home & Finance to Better Home & Finance or its securityholders; (3) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Amended and Restated Charter or the Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time); or (4) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a securityholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in the exclusive forum provisions. In such instance, we would expect to vigorously assert the validity and enforceability of the exclusive forum provisions of the Amended and Restated Charter. This may require significant additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions and there can be no assurance that the provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions.
Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for our Common Stock and the warrant agent for the Warrants is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
We may offer depositary shares representing fractional shares of our preferred stock of any series. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the depositary shares that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the depositary shares, including the fraction of a share of preferred stock that such depositary share will represent, and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the depositary shares so offered, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a depositary agreement between us and a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us, which we refer to as the “bank depositary.” Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering. The deposit agreement will also contain provisions relating to the manner in which any subscription or similar rights we offer to holders of the preferred stock will be made available to the holders of depositary shares.
The following description is a general summary of some common provisions of a depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts. The description below and in any prospectus supplement does not include all of the terms of the depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts. Copies of the form of depositary agreement and the depositary receipts relating to any particular issue of depositary shares will be filed with the SEC each time we issue depositary shares, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the forms of the depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Dividends and Other Distributions
If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will distribute these dividends to the record holders of these depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the bank depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. However, if the bank depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the bank depositary may, with our approval, sell this property and distribute the net proceeds from this sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the bank depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the bank depositary may determine.
Voting the Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the bank depositary will mail the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock) may instruct the bank depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by this holder’s depositary shares. The bank depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with these instructions, and we will take all action which the bank depositary deems necessary in order to enable the bank depositary to do so. The bank depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing this preferred stock.
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Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the depositary agreement may be amended by agreement between the bank depositary and us. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless this amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The depositary agreement may be terminated by the bank depositary or us only if:
•all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or
•there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and this distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.
Charges of Bank Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the bank depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer, tax and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the depositary agreement to be for their accounts.
Withdrawal of Preferred Stock
Except as may be provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the bank depositary, subject to the terms of the depositary agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Fractional shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the bank depositary will deliver to this holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the depositary agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.
Miscellaneous
The bank depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the bank depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of preferred stock.
Neither the bank depositary nor we will be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the depositary agreement. The obligations of the bank depositary and us under the depositary agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our duties thereunder, and we will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or shares of preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting shares of preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
Resignation and Removal of Bank Depositary
The bank depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the bank depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor bank depositary and the successor’s acceptance of this appointment. The successor bank depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company meeting the requirements of the depositary agreement.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, contingent value rights or debt securities. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the warrants and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the warrants so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
A copy of the forms of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate relating to any particular issue of warrants will be filed with the SEC each time we issue warrants, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the forms of the warrant agreement and the related warrant certificate, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Debt Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue debt securities will describe the terms of those warrants, including the following:
•the title of the warrants;
•the offering price for the warrants, if any;
•the aggregate number of the warrants;
•the designation and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
•if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each debt security;
•if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any debt securities issued with them will be separately transferable;
•the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the debt securities may be purchased upon exercise;
•the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;
•if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
•whether the warrants represented by the warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form;
•information relating to book-entry procedures, if any;
•the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
•if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;
•anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;
•redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;
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•any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and
•any other information we think is important about the warrants.
Stock and Depositary Share Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares will describe the terms of the common stock warrants, preferred stock warrants and depositary share warrants, including the following:
•the title of the warrants;
•the offering price for the warrants, if any;
•the aggregate number of the warrants;
•the designation and terms of the common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
•if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each security;
•if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with them will be separately transferable;
•the number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the shares may be purchased upon exercise;
•the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;
•if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
•the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
•if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;
•anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;
•redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;
•any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and
•any other information we think is important about the warrants.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder of the warrant to purchase at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares or the principal amount of debt securities being offered. Holders may exercise warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants are void. Holders may exercise warrants as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered.
Until a holder exercises the warrants to purchase our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities, the holder will not have any rights as a holder of our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or debt securities, as the case may be, by virtue of ownership of warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may issue to our securityholders subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, contingent value rights or debt securities. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the subscription rights that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the subscription rights and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the subscription rights so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered by this prospectus and may or may not be transferable by the securityholder receiving the rights in the rights offering. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter will purchase any securities that remain unsubscribed for upon completion of the rights offering, or offer these securities to other parties who are not our securityholders. A copy of the form of subscription rights certificate will be filed with the SEC each time we issue subscription rights, and you should read that document for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain a copy of any subscription rights certificate, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights will describe the terms of the offered subscription rights, including, where applicable, the following:
•the exercise price for the subscription rights;
•the number of subscription rights issued to each securityholder;
•the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;
•any other terms of the subscription rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights;
•the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
•the extent to which the subscription rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and
•the material terms of any standby underwriting arrangement entered into by us in connection with the subscription rights offering.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may issue, which may be issued as convertible or exchangeable debt securities. We will set forth the particular terms of the debt securities we offer in a prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which the following general terms and provisions will apply to particular debt securities.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture to be entered into between us and a trustee that we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. The indenture, and any supplemental indentures thereto, will be subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The following description of general terms and provisions relating to the debt securities and the indenture under which the debt securities will be issued is a summary only and therefore is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms and provisions of the indenture. The form of the indenture has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain a copy of the form of the indenture, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Capitalized terms used in this section and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the indenture. When we refer to “we,” “our” and “us” in this section, we mean Better Home & Finance Holding Company excluding, unless the context otherwise requires or as otherwise expressly stated, its subsidiaries.
General
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all of our subordinated indebtedness.
The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued under it and provides that debt securities may be issued under it from time to time in one or more series. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture does not afford the holders of the debt securities the right to require us to repurchase or redeem the debt securities in the event of a highly-leveraged transaction.
We are not obligated to issue all debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may reopen a series, without the consent of the holders of the outstanding debt securities of that series, for the issuance of additional debt securities of that series. Additional debt securities of a particular series will have the same terms and conditions as outstanding debt securities of such series, except for the issue date and, in some cases, the public offering price and the first interest payment date, and will be consolidated with, and form a single series with, such outstanding debt securities; provided, however, that if such additional debt securities are not fungible with the outstanding debt securities of such series for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional debt securities will have a separate CUSIP number.
We will set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities being offered the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, if applicable:
•the title of debt securities;
•the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which the debt securities will be issued;
•any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the series of debt securities;
•whether the debt securities will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, and if they are subordinated debt securities, the terms of the subordination;
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•the date or dates on which the principal on the series of debt securities is payable;
•the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine such rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the series of debt securities will bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, will accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
•the right, if any, to extend the interest periods and the duration of that extension;
•the place or places where the principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on, the debt securities will be payable;
•the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities may be redeemed;
•any obligation we may have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of the debt securities;
•the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase the debt securities at the option of the holders of the debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;
•the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;
•whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities;
•the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;
•the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on, the debt securities will be made if other than U.S. dollars;
•any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities;
•any addition to or change in the events of default described in this prospectus or in the indenture and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;
•any addition to, or change in, the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;
•any other terms of the debt securities (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to such debt securities);
•any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the series of debt securities, if other than those, if any, appointed in the indenture; and
•any provisions relating to conversion of the debt securities.
The foregoing is not intended to be an exclusive list of the terms that may be applicable to any offered debt securities.
In addition, the indenture does not limit our ability to issue convertible, exchangeable or subordinated debt securities. Any conversion, exchange or subordination provisions of debt securities will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, in which case the number of shares of common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the prospectus supplement.
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We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the U.S. federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of, and any premium and interest on, any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Exchange and Transfer
Debt securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the registrar or co-registrar designated by us.
We will not impose a service charge for any transfer or exchange, but we may require holders to pay any tax or other governmental charges associated with any transfer or exchange.
In the event of any redemption of debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
•issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt security of that series during a period beginning at the opening of 15 business days before the day of sending of a notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day such notice is sent; or
•register the transfer of or exchange any debt security of that series selected, called or being called for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any series being redeemed in part.
We may initially appoint the trustee as the registrar. Any transfer agent, in addition to the registrar initially designated by us, will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional transfer agents or change transfer agents or change the office of the transfer agent. However, we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
Global Securities
The debt securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more global securities. Each global security will:
•be registered in the name of a depositary that we will identify in a prospectus supplement;
•be deposited with the trustee as custodian for the depositary or its nominee; and
•bear any required legends.
No global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered in the name of any person other than the depositary or any nominee unless:
•the depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or has ceased to be qualified to act as depositary, and in either case we fail to appoint a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event;
•we execute and deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate to the effect that such global securities shall be so exchangeable; or
•an event of default with respect to the debt securities represented by such global securities shall have occurred and be continuing.
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As long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, the depositary or nominee will be considered the sole owner and holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except in the above limited circumstances, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:
•will not be entitled to have the debt securities registered in their names;
•will not be entitled to physical delivery of certificated debt securities; and
•will not be considered to be holders of those debt securities under the indenture.
Payments on a global security will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global security. Some jurisdictions have laws that require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.
Institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee are referred to as “participants.” Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. The depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of its participants. Each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary (and, if such person is not a participant, on procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest) to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on and effected through records maintained by the depositary, with respect to participants’ interests, or by any participant, with respect to interests of persons held by participants on their behalf. Payments, transfers and exchanges relating to beneficial interests in a global security will be subject to policies and procedures of the depositary. The depositary’s policies and procedures may change from time to time. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the depositary’s acts or omissions or any participant’s records with respect to beneficial interests in a global security.
Payment and Paying Agent
The provisions of this subsection will apply to the debt securities unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement. Payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date. Payment on debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of a paying agent or paying agents designated by us. However, at our option, we may pay interest by mailing a check to the record holder.
We may also name any other paying agents in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional paying agents, change paying agents or change the office of any paying agent. However, we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, all monies paid by us to a paying agent for payment on any debt security that remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such payment was due will be repaid to us. Thereafter, the holder may look only to us for such payment.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may not merge or consolidate with or into any other person, in a transaction in which we are not the surviving corporation, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of us and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, unless:
•the successor or transferee is a U.S. corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other entity;
•the successor or transferee assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the trustee;
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•immediately after giving effect to the transaction and treating our obligations in connection with or as a result of such transaction as having been incurred as of the time of such transaction, no default or event of default under the indenture shall have occurred and be continuing; and
•an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel have been delivered to the trustee in connection with the foregoing.
In the event of the above transaction, if there is a successor or transferee, then the successor or transferee will expressly assume all of our obligations under the indenture and automatically be substituted for us in the indenture and as issuer of the debt securities and may exercise every right and power of ours under the indenture with the same effect as if such successor or transferee had been named in our place in the indenture; provided, however, that the predecessor company will not be relieved of the obligation to pay principal and interest on the debt securities except in the case of a sale of all of the assets of us and our subsidiaries.
Events of Default
Event of default means, with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:
•default in the payment of any interest on any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of that default for a period of 30 days;
•default in the payment of principal of, or premium on, any debt security of that series when due and payable;
•failure on our part to comply with the covenant described under “—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;
•default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture or any supplemental indenture with respect to such series (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture or supplemental indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after (1) we receive written notice from the trustee or (2) we and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture;
•certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company or our significant subsidiaries; and
•any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will promptly deliver to the trustee written notice of any event which with the giving of notice and the lapse of time would become a covenant event of default, or any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement, along with a description of the status and what action we are taking or propose to take with respect to such event of default.
No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of an event of default may constitute an event of default under our bank credit agreements in existence from time to time. In addition, the occurrence of certain events of default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain of our other indebtedness outstanding from time to time.
If an event of default (other than an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company) with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of
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the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if the rescission and annulment would not conflict with any judgment or decree already rendered and if all events of default with respect to that series, other than the non-payment of principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series that has become due and payable solely because of the acceleration, have been cured or waived and all sums paid or advanced by the trustee and the reasonable compensation expenses and disbursements of the trustee and its agents and counsel have been paid as provided in the indenture.
The indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any holder of outstanding debt securities, unless the trustee receives security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.
No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:
•that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to debt securities of that series; and
•the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee, to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, and premium and any interest on, that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of such payment.
The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any default or event of default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.
Modification and Waiver
We may amend or modify the indenture without the consent of any holder of debt securities of the series affected by the modifications or amendments in order to:
•cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
•conform the text of the indenture, including any supplemental indenture, or the debt securities to any corresponding provision of this “Description of Debt Securities” or description of the debt securities found in the prospectus supplement as evidenced by an officer’s certificate;
•provide for the issuance of additional debt securities;
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•provide for the assumption of our obligations in the case of a merger or consolidation and our discharge upon such assumption provided that the provision under “Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets” of the indenture is complied with;
•add covenants or make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of the debt securities;
•add guarantees with respect to the debt securities;
•provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;
•secure the debt securities;
•add or appoint a successor or separate trustee;
•make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities in any material respect, as evidenced by an officer’s certificate; or
•obtain or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Other amendments and modifications of the indenture or the debt securities issued may be made with the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series, and our compliance with any provision of the indenture with respect to the debt securities may be waived by written notice to the trustee by the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the affected series:
•reduce the principal amount or any premium or change the stated maturity of any debt security or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the debt securities;
•change the place of payment or currency in which principal, any premium or interest is paid;
•impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the debt securities;
•waive a payment default with respect to the debt securities;
•reduce the interest rate or extend the time for payment of interest on the debt securities;
•make any change to the amendment and modification provisions in the indenture; or
•reduce the percentage in principal amount outstanding of debt securities, the consent of the holders of which is required for any of the foregoing modifications or otherwise necessary to modify, supplement or amend the indenture or to waive any past default.
Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of such series, waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. Prior to the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities of any series pursuant to the terms of the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series may, on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series, waive any past default under the indenture with respect to such debt securities and its consequences, except (i) a default with respect to such series in the payment of the principal of, or premium or any interest on, the debt securities of such series or (ii) a default or event of default in respect of a covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of all of the holders of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series.
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, in certain circumstances, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or
30
exchange of debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, and to maintain paying agencies and certain provisions relating to the treatment of funds held by paying agents). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, a nationally recognized investment bank or a nationally recognized appraisal firm to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the debt securities of that series.
This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the beneficial owners of the debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, upon compliance with certain conditions, we may be released from our obligation to comply with certain covenants set forth in the indenture and any supplemental indenture, and any failure to comply with those covenants will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities of the applicable series, or covenant defeasance. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option with respect to a series of debt securities, payment of such debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default related to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our significant subsidiaries.
The conditions include:
•depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, a nationally recognized investment bank or a nationally recognized appraisal firm to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the debt securities of the applicable series; and
•delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the beneficial owners of the debt securities of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.
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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock or other securities at a future date or dates. The price per security of the securities and the number of securities may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts, or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner and may provide for the prepayment of all or part of the consideration payable by holders in connection with the purchase of the underlying security or other property pursuant to the purchase contracts.
The securities related to the purchase contracts may be pledged to a collateral agent for our benefit pursuant to a pledge agreement to secure the obligations of holders of purchase contracts to purchase the underlying security or property under the related purchase contracts. The rights of holders of purchase contracts to the related pledged securities will be subject to our security interest therein created by the pledge agreement. No holder of purchase contracts will be permitted to withdraw the pledged securities related to such purchase contracts from the pledge arrangement.
The prospectus supplement relating to any particular issuance of purchase contracts will describe the terms of the purchase contracts. The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete, and reference will be made to the purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the purchase contracts, which will be filed with the SEC each time we issue purchase contracts. U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase contracts will also be discussed in the prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may issue units comprising one or more securities described in this prospectus in any combination. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the units that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the units and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the units so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit also is the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. Units will be issued pursuant to the terms of a unit agreement, which may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time or at any time before a specified date. A copy of the forms of the unit agreement and the unit certificate relating to any particular issue of units will be filed with the SEC each time we issue units, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the forms of the unit agreement and the related unit certificate, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
The prospectus supplement relating to any particular issuance of units will describe the terms of those units, including, to the extent applicable, the following:
•the designation and terms of the units and the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
•any provision for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and
•whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the offered securities in and outside the United States:
•through underwriters or dealers;
•directly to purchasers;
•in a rights offering;
•in “at the market” offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;
•through agents; or
•through a combination of any of these methods.
The prospectus supplement will include the following information:
•the terms of the offering;
•the names of any underwriters or agents;
•the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;
•the purchase price or initial public offering price of the securities;
•the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;
•any delayed delivery arrangements;
•any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
•any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
•any commissions paid to agents.
Sale through Underwriters or Dealers
If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial offering price to the public and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
If we offer securities in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with dealers, acting as standby underwriters. We may pay the standby underwriters a commitment fee for the securities they commit to purchase on a standby basis. If we do not enter into a standby underwriting agreement, we may retain a dealer-manager to manage a subscription rights offering for us.
During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, which means that selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in
34
stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue these activities at any time.
Some or all of the securities that we offer though this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell our securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.
If dealers are used in the sale of securities, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. We will include in the prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
Direct Sales and Sales through Agents
We may sell the securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may also sell the securities through agents designated from time to time at fixed prices or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. In the prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.
We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any sales of these securities in the prospectus supplement.
Remarketing Arrangements
Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
General Information
We may have agreements with the agents, dealers, underwriters and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that the agents, dealers, underwriters or remarketing firms may be required to make. Agents, dealers, underwriters and remarketing firms may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Jones Day will pass upon certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities offered hereby on behalf of Better Home & Finance Holding Company. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Better Home & Finance Company incorporated by reference in this Prospectus by reference to the Better Home & Finance Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm, given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
Set forth below is a table of the registration fee for the SEC and estimates of all other expenses to be paid by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities described in the registration statement:
| SEC registration fee | $ | 30,620 | |||
| Stock exchange listing fee | * | ||||
| Financial Industry Regulatory Authority filing fee | * | ||||
| Printing expenses | * | ||||
Legal fees and expenses(1) | * | ||||
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | ||||
| Miscellaneous | * | ||||
Total | $ | 30,620 | |||
__________________
*These fees and expenses depend on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of these expenses for each offering will be reflected in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Amended and Restated Charger”) and Bylaws provide indemnification and advancement of expenses for the Company’s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), subject to certain limited exceptions. Pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, a corporation may eliminate the personal liability of a director or officer to the corporation or its securityholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liabilities arising (i) from any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its securityholders, (ii) from acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) from any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
The Company’s Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person who is made or threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (as a witness or otherwise) in any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or executive officer of the Company or, while serving as a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, fund, or other enterprise. The Bylaws also provide for mandatory indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines (including any excise taxes or penalties), and amounts paid in settlements.
The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and officers to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in its Amended and Restated Charter and Bylaws. The Company also maintains liability insurance for the benefit of its directors and officers.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted for directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
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Item 16. Exhibits
| Incorporation by Reference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit Number | Exhibit Description | Form | Exhibit | Filing Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.1 | 10-K | 3.1 | April 8, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.2 | 8-K | 3.1 | August 19, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.3 | 8-K | 3.2 | August 25, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.6* | Form of Debt Securities. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.7* | Preferred Stock Certificate of Amendment. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.8* | Form of Warrant Agreement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.9* | Form of Warrant Certificate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.10* | Form of Depositary Agreement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.11* | Form of Depositary Receipt. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.12* | Form of Subscription Rights Certificate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.13* | Form of Purchase Contract. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.14* | Form of Unit Agreement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.15* | Form of Unit Certificate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
5.1** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23.1** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24.1** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
107** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
__________________
*To be filed either by amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Exchange Act, and incorporated herein by reference.
** Previously filed
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”);
(ii)To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
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(iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (1)(ii), and (1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S–3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or, is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2)that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i)each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii)each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5)that, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of such undersigned Registrant pursuant to the registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, such undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of such undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by such undersigned Registrant;
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(iii)the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about such undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of such undersigned Registrant; and
(iv)any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by such undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(b)The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1)For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2)For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(e)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York, on June 3, 2025.
| Better Home & Finance Holding Company | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Kevin Ryan | |||||||
Kevin Ryan | ||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
/s/ Vishal Garg | Chief Executive Officer and Director | June 3, 2025 | ||||||||||||
Vishal Garg | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||||||||
/s/ Kevin Ryan | Chief Financial Officer, (Principal | June 3, 2025 | ||||||||||||
Kevin Ryan | Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||||||||||||
* | Director and Chairman | June 3, 2025 | ||||||||||||
Harit Talwar | of the Board of Directors | |||||||||||||
* | Director | June 3, 2025 | ||||||||||||
Michael Farello | ||||||||||||||
* | Director | June 3, 2025 | ||||||||||||
Steven Sarracino | ||||||||||||||
*By: | /s/ Kevin Ryan | ||||
Kevin Ryan | |||||
Attorney-in-Fact | |||||
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Exhibit 4.5
BETTER HOME & FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY
INDENTURE
Dated as of [•]
[•],
Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||||
| ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |||||||
Section 1.01 | 1 | |||||||
Section 1.02 | 6 | |||||||
Section 1.03 | 6 | |||||||
Section 1.04 | 7 | |||||||
| 7 | ||||||||
Section 2.01 | Issuable in Series. | 7 | ||||||
Section 2.02 | Establishment of Terms of Series of Notes. | 8 | ||||||
Section 2.03 | Execution and Authentication. | 10 | ||||||
Section 2.04 | Registrar and Paying Agent. | 10 | ||||||
Section 2.05 | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. | 11 | ||||||
Section 2.06 | Holder Lists. | 11 | ||||||
Section 2.07 | Transfer and Exchange. | 12 | ||||||
Section 2.08 | Replacement Notes. | 12 | ||||||
Section 2.09 | Outstanding Notes. | 13 | ||||||
Section 2.10 | Treasury Notes. | 13 | ||||||
Section 2.11 | Temporary Notes. | 13 | ||||||
Section 2.12 | Cancellation. | 13 | ||||||
Section 2.13 | Defaulted Interest. | 14 | ||||||
Section 2.14 | Global Notes. | 14 | ||||||
Section 2.15 | CUSIP Number. | 16 | ||||||
| ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT | 16 | |||||||
Section 3.01 | Notice to Trustee. | 16 | ||||||
Section 3.02 | Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed. | 16 | ||||||
Section 3.03 | Notice of Redemption. | 17 | ||||||
Section 3.04 | Effect of Notice of Redemption. | 18 | ||||||
Section 3.05 | Deposit of Redemption Price. | 18 | ||||||
Section 3.06 | Notes Redeemed in Part. | 18 | ||||||
ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS | 18 | |||||||
Section 4.01 | Payment of Principal and Interest. | 18 | ||||||
Section 4.02 | Maintenance of Office or Agency. | 19 | ||||||
Section 4.03 | Reports. | 19 | ||||||
Section 4.04 | Compliance Certificate and Notice of Default. | 20 | ||||||
Section 4.05 | Taxes. | 20 | ||||||
Section 4.06 | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. | 20 | ||||||
Section 4.07 | Corporate Existence. | 21 | ||||||
| ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS | 21 | |||||||
Section 5.01 | Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets. | 21 | ||||||
Section 5.02 | Successor Corporation Substituted. | 22 | ||||||
ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 22 | |||||||
Section 6.01 | Events of Default. | 22 | ||||||
Section 6.02 | Acceleration. | 23 | ||||||
Section 6.03 | Other Remedies. | 24 | ||||||
Section 6.04 | Waiver of Past Defaults. | 24 | ||||||
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||||||||
Section 6.05 | Control by Majority. | 24 | ||||||
Section 6.06 | Limitation on Suits. | 25 | ||||||
Section 6.07 | Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment. | 25 | ||||||
Section 6.08 | Collection Suit by Trustee. | 25 | ||||||
Section 6.09 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. | 26 | ||||||
Section 6.10 | Priorities. | 26 | ||||||
Section 6.11 | Undertaking for Costs. | 27 | ||||||
Section 6.12 | Restoration of Rights and Remedies. | 27 | ||||||
| 27 | ||||||||
Section 7.01 | Duties of Trustee. | 27 | ||||||
Section 7.02 | Rights of Trustee. | 28 | ||||||
Section 7.03 | Individual Rights of Trustee. | 29 | ||||||
Section 7.04 | Trustee’s Disclaimer. | 30 | ||||||
Section 7.05 | Notice of Defaults. | 30 | ||||||
Section 7.06 | Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes. | 30 | ||||||
Section 7.07 | Compensation and Indemnity. | 30 | ||||||
Section 7.08 | Replacement of Trustee. | 31 | ||||||
Section 7.09 | Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. | 32 | ||||||
Section 7.10 | Eligibility; Disqualification. | 33 | ||||||
Section 7.11 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. | 33 | ||||||
| ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE | 33 | |||||||
Section 8.01 | Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. | 33 | ||||||
Section 8.02 | Legal Defeasance and Discharge. | 33 | ||||||
Section 8.03 | Covenant Defeasance. | 34 | ||||||
Section 8.04 | Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. | 35 | ||||||
Section 8.05 | Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. | 36 | ||||||
Section 8.06 | Repayment to Company. | 36 | ||||||
Section 8.07 | Reinstatement. | 37 | ||||||
| ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER | 37 | |||||||
Section 9.01 | Without Consent of Holders of Notes. | 37 | ||||||
Section 9.02 | With Consent of Holders of Notes. | 38 | ||||||
Section 9.03 | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. | 39 | ||||||
Section 9.04 | Revocation and Effect of Consents. | 40 | ||||||
Section 9.05 | Notation on or Exchange of Notes. | 40 | ||||||
Section 9.06 | Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. | 40 | ||||||
| ARTICLE 10 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 40 | |||||||
Section 10.01 | Satisfaction and Discharge. | 40 | ||||||
Section 10.02 | Application of Trust Money. | 41 | ||||||
| ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS | 42 | |||||||
Section 11.01 | 42 | |||||||
Section 11.02 | Notices. | 42 | ||||||
Section 11.03 | Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes. | 44 | ||||||
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||||||||
Section 11.04 | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. | 44 | ||||||
Section 11.05 | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. | 44 | ||||||
Section 11.06 | Rules. | 44 | ||||||
Section 11.07 | Calculation of Foreign Currency Amounts. | 45 | ||||||
Section 11.08 | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Shareholders. | 45 | ||||||
Section 11.09 | Governing Law. | 45 | ||||||
Section 11.10 | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. | 45 | ||||||
Section 11.11 | Successors. | 45 | ||||||
Section 11.12 | Severability. | 45 | ||||||
Section 11.13 | Counterpart Originals. | 45 | ||||||
Section 11.14 | Table of Contents, Headings, etc. | 46 | ||||||
Section 11.15 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 46 | ||||||
Section 11.16 | Patriot Act Compliance | 46 | ||||||
Section 11.17 | Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) | 46 | ||||||
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INDENTURE, dated as of [•], by and between Better Home & Finance Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [•], as trustee (the “Trustee”).
The Company and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01 Definitions.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.
“Agent” means any Registrar, co-registrar, Custodian, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any payment, tender, redemption, transfer, exchange, or conversion of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such payment, tender, redemption, transfer, exchange, or conversion.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;
(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;
(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the manager, managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and
(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to
authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday. If a payment date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the related payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date the payment is due, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.
“Capital Stock” means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, regardless of whether such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.
“Company” means Better Home & Finance Holding Company, and, subject to Article 5, any and all successors thereto.
“Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.
“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business in respect of this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at [•], Attention: [•], 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 office 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).
“Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary with respect to any Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.
“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes, the person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Notes of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Notes of such Series.
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“Discount Note” means any Note that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.
“Dollars” and “$” means the currency of The United States of America.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time.
“Global Note” or “Global Notes” means a Note or Notes, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.02 evidencing all or part of a Series of Notes, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, The United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.
“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under:
(1) interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements;
(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk; and
(3) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity prices.
“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent (without duplication):
(1) in respect of borrowed money;
(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;
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(3) in respect of banker’s acceptances and all outstanding letters of credit issued for the account of such Person or other similar instruments or credit transactions (including reimbursement obligations with respect thereto), other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in clauses (1) – (2), (4) or (5) hereof) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit;
(4) representing capital lease or finance lease obligations;
(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense, trade payable or other account payable incurred in the ordinary course of business, or purchase price adjustment or similar obligation (until such obligation appears in the liabilities section of the balance sheet of such Person); or
(6) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent any of the preceding items, other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations, would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the term “Indebtedness” excludes (x) any indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or another Subsidiary of the Company and (y) any guarantee by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be:
(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness that does not require the current payment of interest; and
(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.
“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended, supplemented, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Notes established as contemplated hereunder.
“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or the city where the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located at such time are required or authorized by law, regulation or executive order to close or be closed.
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement,
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any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.
“Notes” means notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series issued under this Indenture.
“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, General Counsel, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, any Senior Vice President, any Executive Vice President, any Vice-President of such Person or any other similar officer of such Person.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an Officer of the Company that meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof.
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, or other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.
“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any director, vice president, assistant vice president or associate within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers who at the time shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Series” or “Series of Notes” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 hereof.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on April 28, 2025.
“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent
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obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:
(1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and
(2) any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company (a) the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, or (b) if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (x) the only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (y) such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner interests, member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company, respectively.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).
“Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean 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 Notes of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Notes of that Series.
“Voting Stock” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.
Section 1.02 Other Definitions.
| Term | Defined in Section | |||||||
| “Authentication Order” | 2.03 | |||||||
| “Covenant Defeasance” | 8.03 | |||||||
| “Event of Default” | 6.01 | |||||||
| “Legal Defeasance” | 8.02 | |||||||
| “Paying Agent” | 2.04 | |||||||
| “Registrar” | 2.04 | |||||||
Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
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The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“indenture securities” means the Notes;
“indenture security Holder” means a Holder of a Note;
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, and any other obligor upon the Notes.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) “or” is not exclusive;
(4) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(5) “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;
(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(7) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES
Section 2.01 Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Notes may be issued in one or more Series. All Notes of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Notes of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from
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which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Notes may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Notes shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 2.02 Establishment of Terms of Series of Notes.
At or prior to the issuance of any Notes within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.02(a) and either as to such Notes within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.02(b) through 2.02(r)) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:
(a) the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Notes of that particular Series from the Notes of any other Series);
(b) the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Notes of the Series will be issued;
(c) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes of the Series pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.11, 3.06 or 9.05);
(d) the date or dates on which the principal of the Notes of the Series is payable;
(e) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Notes of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date (and, solely if applicable, rights, if any, to extend the interest periods and the duration of that extension);
(f) the place or places where the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on the Notes of the Series shall be payable, where the Notes 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 Notes of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
(g) if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Notes of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
(h) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Notes of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon
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which Notes of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(i) the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Notes of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;
(j) the denominations in which the Notes of the Series shall be issuable, if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;
(k) the forms of the Notes of the Series in bearer or fully registered form (and, if in fully registered form, whether the Notes will be issuable as Global Notes);
(l) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Notes of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02;
(m) the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on the Notes of the Series will be made if other than Dollars;
(n) whether the Notes of the Series may be exchangeable for and/or convertible into common shares of the Company or any other security;
(o) the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Notes of the Series, and any subordination in right of payment, if any, of the Notes of the Series;
(p) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Notes of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Notes to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02;
(q) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Articles 4 or 5 that applies to Notes of the Series;
(r) any other terms of the Notes of the Series (which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series); and
(s) any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Notes of such Series if other than those appointed herein.
All Notes of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate referred to above, and, unless otherwise provided, a Series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Notes of such Series; provided, however, that if such additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes of such Series for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number. No Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate may affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise with respect to any series of Notes except as it may agree in writing.
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Section 2.03 Execution and Authentication.
One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual, facsimile or electronic signature. If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time such Note is authenticated, such Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual, facsimile or electronic signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note, as applicable, has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate Notes for original issue in accordance with this Indenture. The Notes shall be dated their date of authentication.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes of any Series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order will authenticate and deliver such Notes. In authenticating such Notes, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Notes, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) will be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:
(a) that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and
(c) that this Indenture and such Notes, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and, with respect to the Notes, when issued by the Company, in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and by general principles of equity.
Section 2.04 Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more
10
co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents or change the office of such Registrar or Paying Agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder; however, the Company shall maintain a Paying Agent in each place of payment for the Notes of each Series. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes. The Company shall be responsible for making calculations called for under the Notes and this Indenture, including, but not limited to, determination of interest, additional amounts, redemption price, premium, if any, and any other amounts payable on the Notes. 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 its calculations to the Trustee when requested by the Trustee in writing, and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee shall forward the Company’s calculations to any Holder of the Notes upon the written request of such Holder.
Section 2.05 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Notes, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal or interest on the Series of Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. All payments to a Paying Agent on any Notes which remain unclaimed for a period of two years after such payment was due shall be repaid to the Company. Thereafter, the Holder may look only to the Company for repayment. Upon payment over to the Trustee, or to the Company, as the case may be, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Notes all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
Section 2.06 Holder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders of each Series of Notes and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as
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the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders of each Series of Notes and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).
Section 2.07 Transfer and Exchange.
Notes may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the Registrar or co-registrar designated by the Company. Where Notes of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.06 or 9.05).
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Notes of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen Business Days immediately preceding the mailing or sending of a notice of redemption of Notes of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or sending, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Notes of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or a portion thereof, except the unredeemed portion of Notes being redeemed in part.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Section 2.08 Replacement Notes.
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or if the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order together with such indemnity or security sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced, shall authenticate a replacement Note of the same Series if the Trustee’s requirements are met. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note of any Series is an additional obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes of that Series duly issued hereunder.
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Section 2.09 Outstanding Notes.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.10 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.
Section 2.10 Treasury Notes.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes of a Series have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11 Temporary Notes.
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 2.12 Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation. The Company may
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not issue new Notes to replace Notes that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. Cancelled Notes shall be disposed of by the Trustee pursuant to its standard procedures and, upon request by the Company, the Trustee shall deliver a certificate or other evidence of such disposition.
Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders of the Series on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or send or cause to be mailed or sent (or, in the case of the Depositary with respect to any Global Note, sent electronically) to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.
Section 2.14 Global Notes.
(a) Terms of Notes. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto, or an Officer’s Certificate shall establish whether the Notes of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and shall name the Depositary for such Global Note or Notes. Except as provided herein, each Global Note shall be (i) registered in the name of the Depositary, (ii) deposited with the Depositary or its nominee, and (iii) bear the legend indicated in Section 2.14(c).
(b) Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.07 and in addition thereto, any Global Note shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.07 for Notes registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Note or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such Global Note shall be so exchangeable or (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Notes represented by such Global Note shall have occurred and be continuing. Any Global Note that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Notes registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Note with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14(b), a Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Note to a nominee of such Depositary, by a
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nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary, or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.
(c) Legend. Any Global Note issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“This Note is a Global Note within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. This Note is exchangeable for Notes registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary, or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.”
(d) Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under this Indenture. The record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted under this Indenture may be determined as provided for in Section 316(c) of the TIA.
(e) Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Note shall be made to the Holder thereof. Prior to due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Note is registered as the owner of such Note at the close of business on the regular record date for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 2.13) any interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note shall be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee will be affected by notice to the contrary.
(f) Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14(e), the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Notes of such Series represented by a Global Note as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Note, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
(g) Responsibility of Trustee or Agents. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary. The Company has entered into a letter of representations with the Depositary in the form provided by the Depositary and the Trustee and each Agent is hereby authorized to act in accordance with such letter and the Applicable Procedures.
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(h) Miscellaneous. Subject to the other terms of this Section 2.14 and this Indenture, as long as one or more Global Notes is registered in the name of the Depositary (or its agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.14(d)), the Depositary or its agent will be considered the sole owner and Holder of such Global Notes for all purposes under this Indenture, and except as expressly set forth in this Indenture, owners of beneficial interest in such Global Notes (i) will not be entitled to have the Global Notes registered in their names, (ii) will not be entitled to physical delivery of certified Global Notes and (iii) will not be considered the Holder of such Global Notes under this Indenture.
Section 2.15 CUSIP Number.
The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such notice shall not be affected by any defect in or the omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
Section 3.01 Notice to Trustee.
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Notes, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Notes or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Notes or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Notes. If a Series of Notes is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Notes pursuant to the terms of such Notes, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Notes to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 15 days prior to the mailing or sending of notice of redemption to the Holders of the Notes to be redeemed (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).
Section 3.02 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.
If less than all of the Notes of a Series are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee (subject to the applicable procedures of the Depositary) shall select the Notes of a Series to be redeemed or purchased among the Holders of the Notes (a) in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, (b) if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance with any other method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes of a Series and portions of them selected shall be in minimum
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denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, or with respect to Notes of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.02(j), the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes of a Series called for redemption or repurchase also apply to portions of Notes of a Series called for redemption or repurchase.
Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, or, in the case of the Depositary with respect to any Global Note, sent electronically, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
(1) the redemption date;
(2) the redemption price (or manner of calculation if not then known);
(3) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(4) that Notes of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(5) that interest on Notes of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(6) the CUSIP number, if any, provided that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes;
(7) the conditions precedent, if any, to the redemption; and
(8) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series of the Notes or the Notes of a Series being redeemed.
At the Company’s request, and upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate complying with Section 11.04 hereof at least 15 days prior to the date notice is to be given (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), together with the notice to be given setting forth the information to be stated therein as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense.
Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price.
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Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, a notice of redemption may not be conditional.
Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.
At least one Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption. If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.
Section 3.06 Notes Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and, upon the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder, or transfer by book-entry, at the expense of the Company, a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
No Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part (or with respect to Notes of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.02(j), the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof).
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
Section 4.01 Payment of Principal and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Notes that it will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Series of Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in such Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest on any Series of Notes will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.
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Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Notes that it will maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee for such Notes or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar for such Notes or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of such Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee for such Notes of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails 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.
With respect to each Series of Notes, the Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.04.
Section 4.03 Reports.
The Company will, if and to the extent required under the TIA, make available to the Trustee and the Holders copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports which the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provided that for this purpose the filing with the SEC of such reports, information and documents shall be sufficient. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the SEC will not accept such filings for any reason, the Company shall provide the reports specified in the preceding sentence to the Trustee and the Holders in a manner determined by the Company (which may be by posting such reports on the Company’s website) within the time periods that would apply if the Company were required to file those reports with the SEC. To the extent any such report or information is not so filed or provided, as applicable, within the time periods specified and such information is subsequently filed or provided, as applicable, the Company will be deemed to have satisfied its obligations with respect thereto at such time and any Default or Event of Default with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been cured.
If the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will make available to the Trustee and the Holders (including by means of a public or private website), substantially similar periodic information (excluding exhibits) which would be required to be included in periodic reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or any successor form or forms) under the Exchange Act within the time periods set forth in the applicable SEC rules and regulations as if the Company were a non-accelerated filer as defined in such applicable SEC rules and regulations, provided that in each case such information may be subject to exclusions if the Company in good faith determines that such excluded information would not to be material to the interests of the Holders of any Series of Notes.
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 constructive notice of any
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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).
Section 4.04 Compliance Certificate and Notice of Default.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee with respect to each Series of Notes, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officer’s Certificate, stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to the Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).
Within thirty (30) days of the Company becoming aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, the Company will notify the Trustee of such Default or Event of Default, and describe what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.05 Taxes.
The Company will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate actions or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
Section 4.06 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not, and each guarantor of such Notes, if any, will not, at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of such guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so), as applicable, hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee for such Notes, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
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Section 4.07 Corporate Existence.
Subject to Articles 5 hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:
(a) the existence of itself and each guarantor of the Notes, in accordance with the respective organizational documents (as the same may be amended from time to time) of the Company or any such guarantor; and
(b) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and each guarantor of the Notes; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise if an Officer shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.01 Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.
The Company shall not, directly or indirectly:
(a) merge or consolidate with or into another Person or Persons; or
(b) sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person or Persons, unless:
(1) either:
(A) the transaction is a merger or consolidation and the Company is the surviving corporation; or
(B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating the Company’s obligations in connection with or as a result of such transaction as having been incurred as of the time of such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(3) the Company or the surviving entity shall have delivered to the Trustee (a) an Officer’s Certificate stating that the conditions in (1) and (2) above have been satisfied and any other conditions precedent in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been
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satisfied and (b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that the conditions in (1) above have been satisfied and any other conditions precedent to this Indenture relating to such transaction have been satisfied.
Section 5.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any merger or consolidation, or any sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the successor Person into which the Company is merged or formed by such consolidation or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such merger, consolidation, sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor Person and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on any Series of Notes except in the case of a sale of all the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01 Events of Default.
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Notes of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Note of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or
(b) default in payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any Note of that Series; or
(c) failure on the part of the Company to comply with Article 5;
(d) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture or in any Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate with respect to such Series (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture or a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate solely for the benefit of Series of Notes other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after (i) the Company receives written notice from the Trustee for such Notes or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive written notice from Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of Notes of that Series outstanding; or
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(e) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries:
(1) commences a voluntary case in bankruptcy,
(2) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary bankruptcy case,
(3) applies for or consents to the appointment of any custodian, receiver, trustee, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer of it or a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of its property,
(4) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(5) generally is unable to pay its debts as they become due;
(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(1) is for relief against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries;
(2) appoints a custodian of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; or
(3) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or
(g) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Notes of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.02.
Section 6.02 Acceleration.
If an Event of Default with respect to Notes of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.01(e) or (f)) (in either case with respect to the Company) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Notes of that Series are Discount Notes, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Notes) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Notes of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) (in either case with respect to the Company) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
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At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the rescission and annulment would not conflict with any judgment or decree already rendered and if all existing Events of Default with respect to that Series (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived and all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation expenses and disbursements of the Trustee and its agents and counsel have been paid.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.03 Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default with respect to Notes of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of such Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults.
Prior to the acceleration of the maturity of the Notes of any Series as provided in Section 6.02, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any Series then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes of such Series waive any existing Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series and its consequences under this Indenture except (i) a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of premium or interest on, or the principal of, the Notes of such Series (including in connection with an offer to purchase) or (ii) a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected thereby. Upon any such waiver, such Default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.05 Control by Majority.
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of any Series may in writing direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it,
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subject to Section 7.02(f). However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes of such Series (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether any such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders) or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction.
Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.
A Holder of any Series of Notes may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:
(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;
(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of security or indemnity; and
(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such Series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
A Holder of any Series of Notes may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of Notes or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of Notes.
Section 6.07 Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on, the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
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Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee for each Series of Notes is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes of such Series allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes of such Series), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of such Series to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of such Series, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders of such Series may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.10 Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money or property with respect to a Series of Notes pursuant to this Article 6, or, after an Event of Default, any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof applicable to the Notes of such Series, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of Notes of such Series for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10.
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Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders or group of Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of any Series.
Section 6.12 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee, and the Holders will be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders will continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and 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.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default the duties of the Trustee will be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
(c) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions 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 stated thereon).
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(d) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;
(2) the Trustee will not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3) the Trustee will not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof; and
(4) no provision of this Indenture will require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 7.01.
(f) The Trustee will not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers or duties hereunder. The permissive rights or powers of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee.
Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting or as specifically called for in this Indenture, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and will not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any attorney or agent appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
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(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company will be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company. Any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution.
(f) The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the losses, liabilities and expenses that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be compensated, reimbursed, and indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(i) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of a Default or Event of Default from the Company or by the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such Series is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.
(j) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.
(k) The Trustee will 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, or inquire as to the performance by the Company or any guarantor of any of their covenants in this Indenture, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it will be entitled to examine the books, records, and premises of the Company or any such guarantor, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest as defined in the TIA it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA)
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or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.
Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer.
The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication. Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by any Notes.
Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail or send to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice from Holders of the Notes if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.
(a) Within 60 days after each December 15 beginning with the December 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee will mail or send to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also transmit by mail (or other permitted method of sending) all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).
(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing or sending to the Holders of Notes will be mailed or sent by the Trustee to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.
Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.
(a) The Company will pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the Trustee and the Company may agree from time to time in writing. The Trustee’s compensation will not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company will reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in
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addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses will include the reasonable and documented compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
(b) The Company will indemnify the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents from and against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company will have the right to assume defense of the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. If the Company defends such claim and the Trustee is advised by counsel that it may have defenses available to it that are in conflict with the defenses available to the Company, or that there is an actual or potential conflict of interest, the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.
(c) The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 will survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
(d) To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee will have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee. Such Lien will survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) or (f) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
(f) The Trustee will comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.
(g) “Trustee” for the purposes of this Section 7.07 shall include any predecessor Trustee and the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder; provided, however, that the negligence or willful misconduct of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.
Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.
(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee will become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.
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(b) The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created with respect to one or more Series of Notes by so notifying the Company with 30 days prior notice. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such Series may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company with 30 days prior notice in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to one or more Series of Notes with 30 days prior written notice if:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(3) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such Series may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction, at the expense of the Company, for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(e) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(f) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will mail or send a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof will continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.
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Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.
There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(l), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b). There shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) any series of Notes under this Indenture if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met.
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE 8
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may at any time, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
Section 8.02 Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and each of the guarantors, if any, of the Notes of such Series will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes of such Series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and each guarantor, if any, of the Notes of such Series will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes of such Series, which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on written demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
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(a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;
(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.02 hereof;
(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and
(d) this Article 8.
Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.
Section 8.03 Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and each of the guarantors, if any, will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Section 4.03 and any other covenants specified in the applicable Board Resolutions, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate as being subject to covenant defeasance pursuant to this Section 8.03, in each case, with respect to the outstanding Notes of the applicable Series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes of such Series, the Company and each guarantor, if any, 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 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, (i) the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute an Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(d) and (ii) Section 6.01(f) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only) and (g) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only) shall not constitute an Event of Default.
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Section 8.04 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:
(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in Dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the outstanding Notes on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Notes are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;
(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that:
(1) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
(2) 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 Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the beneficial owners of the outstanding Notes 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;
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the beneficial owners of the outstanding Notes 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;
(d) no Default or Event of Default shall 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 or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound (other than a breach, violation or default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith);
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(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(f) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others; and
(g) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
Section 8.05 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes of any Series will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes of the applicable Series.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 8.06 Repayment to Company.
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, or interest on, any Series of Notes and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become
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due and payable shall, subject to applicable abandoned property law, be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will 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 The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.07 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any Dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and any applicable guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the applicable Notes and the guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders of Notes.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes of one or more Series without the consent of any Holder of Note:
(a) to (i) cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or (ii) conform the provisions of this Indenture to the description of the Notes contained in the prospectus or other offering document pursuant to which the Notes of one or more Series were sold, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate stating that such text constitutes an unintended conflict with the description of the corresponding provision in the offering document;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to the Holders of the Notes by a successor to the Company pursuant to Article 5 hereof;
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(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of all or any Series of Notes or that does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder in any material respect, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate;
(e) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(f) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Notes of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;
(g) to add guarantees with respect to the Notes of any Series or to provide security for the Notes of any Series; or
(h) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that directly affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders of Notes.
The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Notes of each such Series. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes of each Series, by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes with respect to such Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the
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Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.
After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail or send to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not, with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:
(a) reduce the principal amount, any premium or change the Stated Maturity of any Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the Notes;
(b) reduce the rate (or alter the method of computation) of or extend the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest, on any Note;
(c) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such Series with respect to a nonpayment default and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration;
(d) make the principal of or premium, if any or interest on any Note payable in currency other than that stated in the Notes;
(e) change any place of payment where the Notes of any series or interest thereon is payable;
(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of the Notes to receive payments of principal of or premium, interest, if any, on the Notes and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payments;
(g) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions; or
(h) reduce the percentage in principal amount of any Notes, the consent of the Holders of which is required for any of the foregoing modifications or otherwise necessary to modify or amend this Indenture or to waive any past Defaults.
Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Notes of one or more Series will be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
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Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. An amendment or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Notes.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Note of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Notes of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Notes of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment or waiver.
Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.
ARTICLE 10
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 10.01 Satisfaction and Discharge.
This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to a Series of Notes issued hereunder, when:
(a) either:
(1) all such Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(2) all such Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the sending of a notice of redemption or
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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 Notes, cash in Dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;
(b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is 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 or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material instrument to which the Company or any guarantor, as applicable, is a party or by which the Company, or any guarantor, as applicable, is bound (other than a breach, violation or default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith);
(c) the Company or any guarantor of such Notes has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and
(d) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.
In addition, the Company must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (2) of clause (a) of this Section 10.01, the provisions of Sections 10.02 and 8.06 hereof will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 10.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. After the conditions to discharge contained in this Article Ten have been satisfied, and the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, and delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied, the Trustee upon Company request shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of the obligations of the Company (except for those surviving obligations specified in this Section 10.01 and the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith).
Section 10.02 Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes with respect to which such deposit was made and this Indenture, to the
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payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 10.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and any applicable guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the applicable Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 10.01 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA § 318(c), the imposed duties will control.
Section 11.02 Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:
| If to the Company: | Better Home & Finance Holding Company | ||||
| 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, 57th Floor | |||||
| New York, NY 10007 | |||||
| Attention: Paula Tuffin | |||||
| e-mail: ptuffin@better.com | |||||
| If to the Trustee: | [•] | ||||
| [•] | |||||
| [•] | |||||
| e-mail: | |||||
| Telephone No.: | |||||
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The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted electronically or by facsimile; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail or send a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Global Note, where this Indenture or any Global Note provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a Holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the Applicable Procedures, including by electronic mail in accordance with the standing instructions from the Depositary.
If a notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
If the Company mails or sends a notice or communication to Holders, it will mail or sends a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
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 (a) the party providing such written instructions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee in a timely manner, and (b) such originally executed instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such instructions or directions. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, 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 party providing electronic instructions 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.
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Section 11.03 Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee (except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished):
(1) an Officer’s Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers (who may rely upon an Opinion of Counsel as to matters of law), all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(2) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel (who may rely upon an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact), all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
Section 11.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and must include:
(1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Section 11.06 Rules.
Holders may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
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Section 11.07 Calculation of Foreign Currency Amounts.
The calculation of the Dollar equivalent amount for any amount denominated in a foreign currency shall be the noon buying rate in the City of New York as certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date on which such determination is required to be made or, if such day is not a day on which such rate is published, the rate most recently published prior to such day.
Section 11.08 No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Shareholders.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or shareholder of the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Section 11.09 Governing Law.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES, AND THE GUARANTEES, IF ANY, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
Section 11.10 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.
Section 11.11 Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes will bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors.
Section 11.12 Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 11.13 Counterpart Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective
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execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 11.14 Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial
EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 11.16 Patriot Act Compliance
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account, which information includes the name, address, tax identification number and formation documents and other information that will allow Trustee to identify the person or legal entity in accordance with the USA Patriot Act. The parties to this Agreement agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.
Section 11.17 Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)
In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”) to which a foreign financial institution, issuer, trustee, paying agent, holder or other institution is or has agreed to be subject related to this Indenture, the Company agrees (i) to provide to the Trustee sufficient information about Holders or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so as to enable the Trustee to determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law for which the Trustee shall not have any liability. The terms of this section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.
[Signatures on following page]
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SIGNATURES
Dated as of [•]
| BETTER HOME FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY | ||||||||||||||
By: | ||||||||||||||
Name: | ||||||||||||||
Title: | ||||||||||||||
[•], as Trustee | ||||||||||||||
By: | ||||||||||||||
Name: | ||||||||||||||
Title: | ||||||||||||||
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement (No. 333-287335) on Form S-3 of our report dated March 19, 2025 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Better Home & Finance Holding Company (the “Company”), appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
June 3, 2025