Torrid Holdings Inc S-3, filed Feb 16, 2024
Torrid Holdings Inc. (CURV)
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2024
No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Torrid Holdings Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 84-3517567 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
18501 East San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, California 91748
(626) 667-1002
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Lisa Harper
Chief Executive Officer
Torrid Holdings Inc.
18501 East San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, California 91748
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:
Joshua N. Korff, P.C.
Michael Kim, P.C.
Asher A. Qazi
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
United States
(212) 446 4800
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 on 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, 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 comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
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 which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated February 16, 2024.
Prospectus
Torrid Holdings Inc.
$600,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
90,000,000 Shares
Common Stock
Offered by the Selling Securityholders
We may offer and sell up to $600.0 million in the aggregate of the securities identified above, and the selling securityholders may offer and sell up to 90.0 million shares in the aggregate of common stock identified above, in each case from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of our common stock by the selling securityholders.
Each time we or any of the selling securityholders offer and sell securities, we or such selling securityholders will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and, if applicable, the selling securityholders, as well as the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. In addition, the selling securityholders may offer and sell shares of our common stock from time to time, together or separately. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.
INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE THE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 7 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SIMILAR SECTION CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT CONCERNING FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CURV.” On February 15, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $5.00 per share.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2024.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $600.0 million and the selling securityholders to be named in a supplement to this prospectus may, from time to time, sell up to 90.0 million shares of common stock from time to time in one or more offerings as described in this prospectus. Each time that we or the selling securityholders offer and sell securities, we or the selling securityholders will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (and any applicable free writing prospectuses), together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”
Neither we, nor the selling securityholders, have authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and the selling securityholders take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We and the selling securityholders will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed 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. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
When we refer to “Torrid,” “we,” “our,” “us” or the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean Torrid Holdings Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential holders of the applicable series of securities.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Available Information
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
Our web site address is www.torrid.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the indenture and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
Incorporation by Reference
The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
| • | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2023. |
| • | The information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 26, 2023. |
| • | Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended April 29, 2023, July 29, 2023 and October 28, 2023, filed with the SEC on June 7, 2023, September 6, 2023 and December 7, 2023, respectively. |
| • | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023 (Item 5.02 only), April 4, 2023, May 17, 2023 (Item 5.02 only), June 12, 2023 (Item 5.07 only), September 1, 2023 and December 7, 2023 (Item 5.02 only). |
| • | The description of our common stock contained in Form 8-A filed with the SEC on June 30, 2021, as amended by the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2023. |
All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act” in this prospectus, prior
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to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.
You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Torrid Holdings Inc.
18501 East San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, California
(646) 200-8887
Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
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This prospectus, together with any prospectus supplement, includes and incorporates by reference forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and are subject to the “safe harbor” of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical or current fact included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning (including their negative counterparts or other various or comparable terminology). For example, all statements we make relating to our estimated and projected costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates and financial results, our plans and objectives for future operations, growth or initiatives, strategies or the expected outcome or impact of pending or threatened litigation are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside our control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, including:
| • | changes in consumer spending and general economic conditions; |
| • | the negative impact on interest expense as a result of rising interest rates; |
| • | inflationary pressures with respect to labor and raw materials and global supply chain constraints that could increase our expenses; |
| • | our ability to identify and respond to new and changing product trends, customer preferences and other related factors; |
| • | our dependence on a strong brand image; |
| • | increased competition from other brands and retailers; |
| • | our reliance on third parties to drive traffic to our website; |
| • | the success of the shopping centers in which our stores are located; |
| • | our ability to adapt to consumer shopping preferences and develop and maintain a relevant and reliable omni-channel experience for our customers; |
| • | our dependence upon independent third parties for the manufacture of all of our merchandise; |
| • | availability constraints and price volatility in the raw materials used to manufacture our products; |
| • | interruptions of the flow of our merchandise from international manufacturers causing disruptions in our supply chain; |
| • | our sourcing a significant amount of our products from China; |
| • | shortages of inventory, delayed shipments to our e-Commerce customers and harm to our reputation due to difficulties or shut-down of our distribution facility; |
| • | our reliance upon independent third-party transportation providers for substantially all of our product shipments; |
| • | our growth strategy; |
| • | our failure to attract and retain employees that reflect our brand image, embody our culture and possess the appropriate skill set; |
| • | damage to our reputation arising from our use of social media, email and text messages; |
| • | our reliance on third-parties for the provision of certain services, including real estate management; |
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| • | our dependence upon key members of our executive management team; |
| • | our reliance on information systems; |
| • | system security risk issues that could disrupt our internal operations or information technology services; |
| • | unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential information, whether through a breach of our computer system or otherwise; |
| • | our failure to comply with federal and state laws and regulations and industry standards relating to privacy, data protection, advertising and consumer protection; |
| • | payment-related risks that could increase our operating costs or subject us to potential liability; |
| • | claims made against us resulting in litigation; |
| • | changes in laws and regulations applicable to our business; |
| • | regulatory actions or recalls arising from issues with product safety; |
| • | our inability to protect our trademarks or other intellectual property rights; |
| • | our substantial indebtedness and lease obligations; |
| • | restrictions imposed by our indebtedness on our current and future operations; |
| • | changes in tax laws or regulations or in our operations that may impact our effective tax rate; |
| • | the possibility that we may recognize impairments of long-lived assets; |
| • | our failure to maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting; and |
| • | the threat of war, terrorism or other catastrophes that could negatively impact our business. |
The outcome of the events described in any of our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2023 and in our other filings with the SEC and public communications. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus in the context of these risks and uncertainties.
We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not include all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the outcomes or affect us or our operations in the way we expect. The forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except to the extent required by law. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments.
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We are a direct-to-consumer brand of apparel, intimates and accessories in North America, targeting the 25-to 40-year-old woman who wears sizes 10 to 30. We are focused on fit and offer high quality products across a broad assortment that includes tops, bottoms, denim, dresses, intimates, activewear, footwear and accessories. Our proprietary product offering delivers a superior fit for the curvy woman that makes her love the way she looks and feels. Our style is unapologetically youthful and sexy and we are maniacally focused on fit. We believe our customer values the appeal and versatility of our curated product assortment that helps her look her best for any occasion, including weekend, casual, work and dressy, all at accessible price points. Through our product and brand experience we connect with customers in a way that other brands, many of which treat plus-size customers as an after-thought, have not.
We are a Delaware corporation incorporated on October 29, 2019. Our corporate headquarters is located at 18501 East San Jose Avenue, City of Industry, California 91748. Our telephone number is (626) 667-1002. Our website address is www.torrid.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
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Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement involves risks. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also carefully read the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K.
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The following description of our capital stock is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (“certificate of incorporation”), our amended and restated bylaws (“bylaws”) and the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). References in this section to the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Torrid Holdings Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.
Authorized Capital
Our authorized capital stock consists of 1.0 billion shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5.0 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.
Common Stock
Voting Rights
Each share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote with respect to each matter presented to our stockholders on which the holders of common stock are entitled to vote. Subject to any rights that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, our common stock votes as a single class on all matters relating to the election and removal of directors on our board of directors and as provided by law. Holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. Except in respect of matters relating to the election or removal of directors on our board of directors and as otherwise provided in our certificate of incorporation or required by law, all matters to be voted on by our stockholders must be approved by a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter. In the case of election of directors, all matters to be voted on by our stockholders must be approved by a plurality of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of common stock.
Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, the holders of our outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds. Because we are a holding company, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock is limited by restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to us, including restrictions under the terms of the agreements governing our indebtedness.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, holders of our common stock would be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are legally available for distribution to stockholders after payment of our debts and other liabilities. If we have any preferred stock outstanding at such time, holders of the preferred stock may be entitled to distribution and/or liquidation preferences. In either such case, we must pay the applicable distribution to the holders of our preferred stock before we may pay distributions to the holders of our common stock.
Other Rights
Our stockholders have no preemptive, conversion or other rights to subscribe for additional shares. All outstanding shares are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No redemption or sinking fund provisions are applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.
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Preferred Stock
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the powers (including voting powers, if any), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including the dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and liquidation preference and to fix the number of shares to be included in any such series without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Any preferred stock so issued may rank senior to our common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or both. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our Company without further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock, including the loss of voting control to others. At present, we have no plans to issue any of the preferred stock.
Corporate Opportunity
As permitted under the DGCL, in our certificate of incorporation, we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or any offer of an opportunity to participate in, specified business opportunities that are presented to us or one or more of our officers, directors or stockholders. In recognition that (i) directors, principals, members, associated funds, employees, officers and/or other representatives of Sycamore Partners Management, L.P., Sycamore Partners Torrid, L.L.C. and each of their respective affiliates (the “Sycamore Investors”) may serve as directors and/or officers of ours, and the Sycamore Investors, not including us (the “Sycamore Entities”), may engage in similar activities or lines of business that we do, and (ii) members of our board of directors who are not employees of the Company (“Non-Employee Directors” and, collectively with the Sycamore Entities, the “Identified Persons”) and their respective affiliates may engage in similar activities or lines of business that we do, our certificate of incorporation provides for the allocation of certain corporate opportunities between us and the Identified Persons. Specifically, none of the Identified Persons have any duty to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which we or any of our affiliates now engage in or propose to engage in or otherwise competing with us or any of our affiliates. In the event that a Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for such person and us or any of our affiliates, we will not have any expectancy in such corporate opportunity, and the Identified Person will not have any duty to present such corporate opportunity to us or our affiliates and may pursue or acquire such corporate opportunity for itself or direct such opportunity to another person. A corporate opportunity that a Non-Employee Director acquires knowledge of will not belong to us unless the corporate opportunity at issue is expressly offered in writing to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of ours. In addition, the following corporate opportunities will not be deemed to be a potential Corporate Opportunity for the Company: (1) those we are not financially able, contractually permitted or legally able to undertake; (2) those not in our line of business; (3) those of no practical advantage to us; and (4) those in which we have no interest or reasonable expectancy. Except with respect to the Identified Persons, the corporate opportunity doctrine applies as construed pursuant to applicable Delaware laws, without limitation.
Antitakeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain provisions that may delay, defer or discourage another party from acquiring control of us. We expect 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 us to first negotiate with our board of directors, which we believe may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of our stockholders. However, they also give our board of directors the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.
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Action By Written Consent, Special Meeting of Stockholders and Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals
Our certificate of incorporation provides that stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and cannot be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting from and after the date on which the Sycamore Investors cease to beneficially own at least 50% of the total voting power of all then outstanding shares of our common stock (the “Trigger Event”). Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws also provides that, except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, special meetings of the stockholders can be called by or at the direction of our board of directors or the chairman of our board of directors, including at the request of holders of not less than a majority of the combined voting power of our common stock, and, from and after the Trigger Event, only by or at the direction of our board of directors or the chairman of our board of directors. Except as described above, stockholders will not be permitted to call a special meeting or to require our board of directors to call a special meeting.
In addition, our bylaws require advance notice procedures for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders, including the nomination of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider the proposals specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors, or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered a timely written notice in proper form to our secretary, of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting. Prior to the Trigger Event, the Sycamore Investors will not be required to comply with the advance notice procedures applicable to other stockholders.
These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholder meeting any stockholder actions, even if they are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities.
Classified Board of Directors
Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible. As a result, approximately one-third of our board of directors will be elected each year. The classification of directors will have the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors.
Removal of Directors
Under the DGCL, unless otherwise provided in our certificate of incorporation, directors serving on a classified board may be removed by the stockholders only for cause. Our certificate of incorporation provides that directors (other than the directors elected by the holders of any series of preferred stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more other such series, as the case may be) may be removed with or without cause at any time upon the affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the votes to which all the stockholders would be entitled to cast until the Trigger Event. From and after the Trigger Event, directors may only be removed from office for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.
Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote on amendments to a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws is required to approve such amendment, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. Our bylaws may be amended, altered, changed or repealed by a majority vote of our board of directors, provided that, in addition to any other vote otherwise required by law, from and after the Trigger Event, the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the voting power of our outstanding shares of common stock will be required to amend, alter, change or repeal our bylaws. Additionally, from and after the Trigger Event, the
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affirmative vote of at least 75% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote on the adoption, alteration, amendment or repeal of our certificate of incorporation, voting as a single class, will be required to amend or repeal or to adopt any provision inconsistent with the following provisions of our certificate of incorporation.
| • | the provision requiring a 75% supermajority vote for stockholders to amend our Bylaws; |
| • | the provisions providing for a classified board of directors (the election and term of our directors); |
| • | the provisions regarding removal of directors; |
| • | the provisions regarding stockholder action by written consent; |
| • | the provisions regarding calling special meetings of stockholders; |
| • | the provisions regarding filling vacancies on our board of directors and newly created directorships; |
| • | the provisions regarding competition and corporate opportunities; |
| • | the provisions regarding Section 203 of the DGCL; |
| • | the provisions eliminating monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty by a director; and |
| • | the amendment provision requiring that the above provisions be amended only with a 75% supermajority vote. |
This requirement of a supermajority vote to approve amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could enable a minority of our stockholders to exercise veto power over any such amendments.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
Section 203 of the DGCL provides that if a person acquires 15% or more of the voting stock of a Delaware corporation, such person becomes an “interested stockholder” and may not engage in certain “business combinations” with the corporation for a period of three years from the time such person acquired 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock, unless: (1) our board of directors approves the acquisition of stock or the merger transaction before the time that the person becomes an interested stockholder; (2) the interested stockholder owns at least 85% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at the time the merger transaction commences (excluding voting stock owned by directors who are also officers and certain employee stock plans); or (3) the merger transaction is approved by our board of directors and by the affirmative vote at a meeting, not by written consent, of stockholders of 2/3 of the holders of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. A Delaware corporation may elect in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws not to be governed by this particular Delaware law.
We have elected in our certificate of incorporation to opt out of Section 203 of the DGCL.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (formerly American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC). The transfer agent’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CURV.”
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
Any debt securities that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement will be issued under the indenture, dated as of February 16, 2024 (the “indenture”), between us and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “trustee”), which indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We have summarized selected provisions of the indenture and the debt securities below. The following summary of provisions of the indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture, including definitions therein of certain terms and the provisions made part thereof by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).
The following summary may not contain all of the information that you may find useful. In particular, the following summary describes only general terms and specific terms of any offered debt securities, and the extent to which the general terms described below apply to these debt securities, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement at the time of the offering. Any prospectus supplement, which we will file with the SEC, may or may not modify the general terms found in this prospectus. If any particular terms of the debt securities described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, then the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supersede the terms described in this prospectus. For a complete description of any series of debt securities, you should read both this prospectus and the prospectus supplement that applies to that series of debt securities.
The terms and conditions of the debt securities of each series will be set forth in those debt securities and in the indenture, as supplemented for a particular offering of debt securities. A form of each debt security, reflecting the specific terms and provisions of that series of debt securities, will be filed with the SEC in connection with each offering of debt securities and will be incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
For purposes of this summary, the terms “we,” “our,” “ours”, “us” and “Torrid” refer only to Torrid Holdings Inc. and not to any of our subsidiaries.
General
We may issue debt securities at any time and from time to time in one or more series without limitation as to the aggregate principal amount. The indenture gives us the ability to reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of the same series. In addition, a single series may be issued at various times with different maturity dates, different interest rates and different dates from which interest accrues. One or more series of debt securities may be issued with the same or various maturities at par or at a discount. Debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below the market rate (“original issue discount securities”) will be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. This discount may be substantial. We will provide information regarding material federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any original issue discount securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, we will describe in the prospectus supplement any special U.S. federal income tax considerations and any other special considerations for any debt securities we sell that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. currency.
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities will be payable, and the transfer of debt securities will be registrable, at any office or agency maintained by us for that purpose. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, redemption or repayment of the debt securities, but we may require you to pay a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection with the transfer or exchange.
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Terms
We will describe the specific terms of the series of debt securities being offered in a prospectus supplement. These terms will include some or all of the following:
| • | the title of the debt securities; |
| • | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| • | the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities will be payable or the method used to determine those dates; |
| • | any interest rate on the debt securities, any date from which interest will accrue, any interest payment dates and regular record dates for interest payments, or the method used to determine any of the foregoing; |
| • | any foreign currency, currencies or currency units in which payments on the debt securities will be payable and the manner for determining the equivalent amount in U.S. currency; |
| • | any provisions for payments on the debt securities in one or more currencies or currency units other than those in which the debt securities are stated to be payable; |
| • | any provisions that would determine payments on the debt securities by reference to an index, formula or other method; |
| • | the place or places where payments on the debt securities will be payable, the debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, and notices and demands to or upon us relating to the debt securities may be made; |
| • | any provisions for redemption of the debt securities; |
| • | any provisions that would allow or obligate us to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities prior to their maturity pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of the holder; |
| • | the terms of any right to convert or exchange the debt securities, either at our option or at the option of the holder, into or for shares of our common stock or other securities or property; |
| • | if applicable, that any debt securities of the series will be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such global securities and the form of any legend or legends which will be borne by any such global securities, and any circumstances in which any such global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and any transfer of such global security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of persons other than the depositary for such global security or a nominee thereof and any other provisions governing exchanges or transfers of such global security; |
| • | the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities, if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000; the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount; |
| • | if issued as original issue discount securities, the amount of discount; |
| • | the applicability of the provisions described below under “— Satisfaction and Discharge” or such other means of satisfaction or discharge; |
| • | any variation of the defeasance and covenant defeasance sections of the indenture and the manner in which our election to defease the debt securities will be evidenced, if other than by a board resolution; |
| • | the appointment of any paying agents or agents, security registrar or authenticating agent for the debt securities; |
| • | any deletion from or addition to or change in the events of default for the debt securities and any change in the rights of the trustee or the holders of the debt securities arising from an event of default |
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| including, among others, the right to declare the principal amount of the debt securities due and payable; |
| • | any deletion from or modification of or addition to the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued; |
| • | whether the debt securities of the series will be secured by any collateral and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be secured and, if applicable, upon which such liens may be subordinated to other liens securing other indebtedness; |
| • | any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities; |
| • | any subordination provisions and related definitions in the case of debt securities that are subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of any other indebtedness; |
| • | any additions or changes to the indenture necessary to issue the debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; |
| • | the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities, including the material federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to original issue discount securities; and |
| • | any other terms of the debt securities. |
Any limit on the maximum total principal amount for any series of the debt securities may be increased by resolution of our board of directors.
Ranking
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities offered by this prospectus will:
| • | be our general unsecured obligations; |
| • | rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness; and |
| • | with respect to the assets and earnings of our subsidiaries, effectively rank junior to all of the liabilities of our subsidiaries. |
A substantial portion of our assets are owned through our subsidiaries, and we depend on distributions of cash flow and earnings from our subsidiaries in order to meet our payment obligations under the debt securities and our other debt obligations. Many of our subsidiaries have significant debt or other liabilities of their own which will be structurally senior to the debt securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, none of our subsidiaries will guarantee or have any obligations with respect to the debt securities. Therefore, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including holders of debt securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon any such subsidiary’s liquidation may be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s other creditors.
Subject to compliance with the applicable requirements set forth in the indenture, we may discharge our obligations under the indenture with respect to our debt securities as described below under “— Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.”
Events of Default
The indenture defines an “event of default” with respect to any series of debt securities. Unless we state otherwise in the prospectus supplement, each of the following will be an event of default under the indenture for any series of debt securities:
| • | our failure to pay interest on any of the debt securities of that series when due, and continuance of the default for a period of 30 days; |
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| • | our failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any of the debt securities of that series when due, whether at maturity or otherwise; |
| • | our failure to perform, or our breach, of any covenant in the indenture in respect of that series, other than a covenant for which there are other consequences of breach or nonperformance or a covenant included in the indenture solely for the benefit of another series of debt securities, and continuance of that failure or breach, without that failure or breach having been cured or waived, for a period of 90 days after the trustee gives notice to us or, in the case of notice by the holders, the holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series give notice to us and the trustee, specifying the default or breach; |
| • | specified events involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or |
| • | any other event of default we may provide for that series. |
The indenture provides that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary therein, with respect to any default or event of default, the words “exists,” “is continuing” or similar expressions with respect thereto mean that the default or event of default has occurred and has not yet been cured or waived; provided that any court of competent jurisdiction may: (x) extend or stay any grace period prior to when any actual or alleged default becomes an actual or alleged event of default; or (y) stay the exercise of remedies by the trustee upon the occurrence of an actual or alleged event of default, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of applicable law. If any default or event of default occurs due to: (i) our failure to take any action by a specified time, such default or event of default will be deemed to have been cured at the time, if any, that we take such action; or (ii) the taking of any action by us that is not then permitted by the terms of the indenture, such default or event of default will be deemed to be cured on the earlier to occur of: (x) the date on which such action would be permitted at such time to be taken under the indenture, including pursuant to an applicable amendment or waiver permitting such action, or otherwise; and (y) the date on which such action is unwound or otherwise modified to the extent necessary for such revised action to be permitted at such time by the indenture (including after giving effect to any amendments or waivers).
Additional or different events of default applicable to a series of debt securities may be described in a prospectus supplement. An event of default under one series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default under any other series of debt securities. The indenture provides that, within the later of 90 days after the occurrence of any default with respect to a series of debt securities or 30 days after the trustee has actual knowledge of such default, the trustee will send to all holders of debt securities of that series notice of the default, unless the default has been cured or waived. However, the indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice of a default with respect to a series of debt securities, except a default in payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, if the trustee considers it in the best interest of the holders to do so. In the case of a default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty in the indenture or in respect of a series of debt securities, no notice will be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence of the default or breach. As used in this paragraph, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default with respect to a series of debt securities.
The indenture provides that if an event of default, other than an event of default relating to events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, with respect to a series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of no fewer than 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal of, or such lesser amount as may be provided for with respect to debt securities of that series, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to us (or to the trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration, such principal or such lesser amount, as the case may be, and such accrued and unpaid interest will become immediately due and payable. The indenture also provides that if an event of default relating to events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to a series of debt securities occurs then the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, all the debt securities of that series will automatically become and be
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immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of the debt securities. However, upon specified conditions, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may rescind and annul an acceleration of the debt securities of that series and its consequences.
A notice of default may not be given with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to holders, more than two years prior to such notice of default. Any notice of default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the trustee to provide a notice of default, notice of acceleration or to take any other action (a “Holder Direction”) provided by any one or more holders of the applicable debt securities (each a “Directing Holder”) must be accompanied by a written representation from each such holder delivered to us and the trustee that such holder is not (or, in the case such holder is The Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”) or its nominee, that such holder is being instructed solely by beneficial owners that are not) Net Short (a “Position Representation”), which representation, in the case of a Holder Direction relating to the delivery of a notice of default will be deemed a continuing representation until the resulting event of default is cured or otherwise ceases to exist or the applicable debt securities are accelerated. In addition, each Directing Holder is deemed, at the time of providing a Holder Direction, to covenant to provide us with such other information as we may reasonably request from time to time in order to verify the accuracy of such Directing Holder’s Position Representation within five business days of request therefor (a “Verification Covenant”). In any case in which the Directing Holder is DTC or its nominee, any Position Representation or Verification Covenant required hereunder will be provided by the beneficial owner of the applicable debt securities in lieu of DTC or its nominee.
If, following the delivery of a Holder Direction, but prior to acceleration of the applicable debt securities, we determine in good faith that there is a reasonable basis to believe a Directing Holder was, at any relevant time, in breach of its Position Representation and provides to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that we have initiated litigation in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking a determination that such Directing Holder was, at such time, in breach of its Position Representation, and seeking to invalidate any default, event of default or acceleration (or notice thereof) that resulted from the applicable Holder Direction, the cure period with respect to such default shall be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to such default or event of default will be automatically reinstituted and any remedy stayed pending a final and non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction on such matter. If, following the delivery of a Holder Direction, but prior to acceleration of the applicable debt securities, we provide to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that a Directing Holder failed to satisfy its Verification Covenant, the cure period with respect to such default will be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to any default or event of default that resulted from the applicable Holder Direction will be automatically reinstituted and any remedy stayed pending satisfaction of such Verification Covenant. Any breach of the Position Representation will result in such holder’s participation in such Holder Direction being disregarded; and, if, without the participation of such holder, the percentage of applicable debt securities held by the remaining holders that provided such Holder Direction would have been insufficient to validly provide such Holder Direction, such Holder Direction will be void ab initio (except for any indemnity or security offered or provided to the Trustee), with the effect that such default or event of default will be deemed never to have occurred, acceleration will be voided and the trustee will be deemed not to have received such Holder Direction or any notice of such default or event of default.
Notwithstanding anything in the preceding two paragraphs to the contrary, any Holder Direction delivered to the trustee during the pendency of an event of default as the result of bankruptcy or similar proceedings will not require compliance with the foregoing paragraphs.
For the avoidance of doubt, the trustee will be entitled to conclusively rely on any Holder Direction, officer’s certificate or other document delivered to it pursuant to the foregoing paragraphs, will have no duty to inquire as to or investigate the accuracy of any Position Representation, enforce compliance with any Verification Covenant, verify any statements in any officer’s certificate delivered to it, or otherwise make calculations, investigations or determinations with respect to Derivative Instruments, Net Shorts, Long Derivative Instruments, Short Derivative Instruments or otherwise. The trustee will have no liability to us, any
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holder or any other person in acting in good faith on a Holder Direction or to determine whether any holder has delivered a Position Representation or that such Position Representation conforms with the indenture or any other agreement.
If a default for a failure to deliver a required notice or certificate in connection with another default under the indenture (the “Initial Default”) occurs, then at the time such Initial Default is cured, such default for a failure to to deliver a required notice or certificate in connection with another default that resulted solely because of that Initial Default will also be cured without any further action and any default or event of default for the failure to deliver any notice or certificate pursuant to any other provision of the indenture will be deemed to be cured upon the delivery of any such notice or certificate required by such covenant or such notice or certificate, as applicable, even though such delivery is not within the prescribed period specified in the indenture. Any time period in the indenture to cure any actual or alleged default or event of default may be extended or stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act requiring the trustee, during the continuance of an event of default under the indenture, to act with the requisite standard of care, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities unless those holders have offered, and if requested, provided to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by taking such action.
Subject to this requirement, holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series.
The indenture requires the annual delivery to the trustee of a certificate signed by one of our principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer that states whether we are in default under the terms, provisions or conditions of the indenture.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the indenture, the holder of a debt security will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on that debt security on the respective due dates for those payments and to institute suit for the enforcement of those payments, and this right will not be impaired without the consent of the holder.
For purposes of the event of default provisions of the debt securities, the following terms will be applicable:
“Derivative Instrument” means, with respect to a person, any contract, instrument or other right to receive payment or delivery of cash or other assets to which such person or any affiliate of such person that is acting in concert with such person in connection with such person’s investment in the applicable debt securities (other than a Screened Affiliate) is a party (whether or not requiring further performance by such person), the value and/or cash flows of which (or any material portion thereof) are materially affected by the value and/or performance of the applicable debt securities and/or our creditworthiness (the “Performance References”).
“Long Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument: (i) the value of which generally increases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally decrease, with positive changes to the Performance References; and/or (ii) the value of which generally decreases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally increase, with negative changes to the Performance References.
“Net Short” means, with respect to a holder or beneficial owner of debt securities of any series, as of a date of determination, either: (i) the value of its Short Derivative Instruments exceeds the sum of the (x) value of its applicable debt securities plus (y) value of its Long Derivative Instruments as of such date of determination; or (ii) it is reasonably expected that such would have been the case were a Failure to Pay or Bankruptcy Credit Event (each as defined in the 2014 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions) to have occurred with respect to us immediately prior to such date of determination.
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“Screened Affiliate” means any affiliate of a holder: (i) that makes investment decisions independently from such holder and any other affiliate of such holder that is not a Screened Affiliate; (ii) that has in place customary information screens between it and such holder and any other affiliate of such holder that is not a Screened Affiliate and such screens prohibit the sharing of information with respect to us or our subsidiaries; (iii) whose investment policies are not directed by such holder or any other affiliate of such holder that is acting in concert with such holder in connection with its investment in the applicable debt securities; and (iv) whose investment decisions are not influenced by the investment decisions of such holder or any other affiliate of such holder that is acting in concert with such holders in connection with its investment in the applicable debt securities.
“Short Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument: (i) the value of which generally decreases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally increase, with positive changes to the Performance References; and/or (ii) the value of which generally increases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally decrease, with negative changes to the Performance References.
Modification and Waivers
The indenture permits us and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series affected by a modification or amendment, to modify or amend any of the provisions of the indenture or of the debt securities or the rights of the holders of the debt securities under the indenture. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected by the modification or amendment, among other things:
| • | change the stated maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on the debt securities; |
| • | reduce the principal of or premium, if any, on the debt securities or reduce the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest on or the redemption or repurchase price of the debt securities; |
| • | reduce the amount of the principal of any original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity pursuant to the indenture; |
| • | change the currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on, any debt security is payable; |
| • | adversely affect a holder’s right to receive payment of the principal of and interest on any security or impair the right to institute suit to enforce such payment on or after the stated maturity of the debt securities, in each case as such stated maturity may, if applicable, be extended in accordance with the terms of such debt securities; |
| • | reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities whose holders must consent to any modification or amendment or any waiver of compliance with specific provisions of the indenture or specified defaults under the indenture and their consequences; or |
| • | make certain modifications to the provisions for modification of the indenture and for certain waivers, except to increase the principal amount of outstanding debt securities necessary to consent to any such change. |
The indenture also contains provisions permitting us and the trustee, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities, to modify or amend the indenture, among other things:
| • | to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the trustee as security for the debt securities any property or assets that we may desire; |
| • | to evidence succession of another corporation to Torrid, or its successors, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of Torrid; |
| • | to add to or modify our covenants and agreements to those included in the indenture for the protection of holders of debt securities; |
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| • | to add or modify the events of default for the benefit of the holders of debt securities; |
| • | to prohibit the authentication and delivery of additional series of debt securities under the indenture; |
| • | to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency; |
| • | to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture as are not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture or any supplemental indenture; |
| • | to establish the form and terms of debt securities of any series issued under the indenture; |
| • | to evidence and provide for acceptance of appointment under the indenture by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series or to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as will be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than one trustee; |
| • | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
| • | to delete, amend or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture (which deletion, amendment or supplement may apply to one or more series of debt securities or may apply to the indenture generally, including the amendment and restatement the indenture), provided that such amendment or supplement does not (i) apply to any debt security of any series then outstanding created or issued prior to the date of the supplemental indenture pursuant to which such deletion, amendment or supplement, as the case may be, is made and entitled to the benefit of such provision deleted, amended or supplemented by such supplemental indenture or (ii) modify the rights of the holder of any such debt security; |
| • | to add guarantors for the benefit of the debt securities of all or any series; |
| • | to secure the debt securities of all or any series; |
| • | to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary; |
| • | to comply with the Trust Indenture Act or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or |
| • | to conform the provisions of the indenture and the debt securities to the description thereof contained in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. |
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may waive our compliance with some of the restrictive provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities, waive any past default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security.
Satisfaction and Discharge
Upon our direction, the indenture will cease to be of further effect with respect to any debt security specified, subject to the survival of specified provisions of the indenture, when:
| • | either: (i) all debt securities issued under the indenture, subject to exceptions, have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or (ii) all debt securities issued under the indenture have become due and payable, will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year and we have deposited with the trustee, in trust, funds in the currency in which the debt securities are payable, direct or indirect obligations of the U.S. (“government obligations”), or a combination thereof, as applicable, in an amount sufficient to pay the entire |
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| indebtedness on the debt securities including the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, to the date of the deposit, if the debt securities have become due and payable, or to the maturity or redemption date of the debt securities, as the case may be; |
| • | we have paid all other sums payable under the indenture with respect to the outstanding debt securities issued under the indenture; and |
| • | the trustee has received each officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel called for by the indenture. |
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
We may elect with respect to the debt securities issued under the indenture either:
| • | to defease and be discharged from all of our obligations with respect to the outstanding debt securities (“defeasance”), except for, among other things, |
| • | the obligation to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities, |
| • | the obligation to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, |
| • | the obligation to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities, and |
| • | the obligation to hold monies for payment in trust; or |
| • | to be released from our obligations with respect to the debt securities under specified covenants in the indenture, and any omission to comply with those obligations will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities (“covenant defeasance”), |
in either case upon the irrevocable deposit by us with the trustee in trust for that purpose, of an amount in U.S. dollars or in such foreign currency in which the debt securities are specified as payable and/or government obligations which, through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the due dates for those payments.
The defeasance or covenant defeasance described above will only be effective if, among other things:
| • | it will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which we are a party or is bound; |
| • | in the case of defeasance, we will have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, confirming that: |
| • | we have received from or there has been published by the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or |
| • | since the date of the indenture there has been a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based on this ruling or change in law, the opinion of counsel will confirm that the holders of the debt securities then outstanding will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance had not occurred; |
| • | in the case of covenant defeasance, we will have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, to the effect that the holders of the debt securities then outstanding will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the covenant defeasance had not occurred; |
| • | the trustee has received each officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel called for by the indenture; |
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| • | if the cash and/or government obligations deposited are sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to the debt securities provided the debt securities are redeemed on a particular redemption date, we will have given the trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem the debt securities on that date; and |
| • | no event of default or event of default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make the irrevocable deposit described above and the granting of any liens in connection therewith) will have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit into trust, and, solely in the case of defeasance, no event of default or event of default with respect to us will have occurred and be continuing on the date of the irrevocable deposit described above. |
In the event covenant defeasance is effected with respect to the debt securities and those debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default other than an event of default with respect to the covenants as to which covenant defeasance has been effected, which would no longer be applicable to the debt securities after covenant defeasance, the amount of monies and/or government obligations deposited with the trustee to effect covenant defeasance may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of any acceleration resulting from that event of default. However, we would remain liable to make payment of those amounts due at the time of acceleration.
Book-Entry Securities
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global notes that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the DTC and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. Global notes are not exchangeable for definitive note certificates except in the specific circumstances described below. For purposes of this prospectus, “Global Note” refers to the Global Note or Global Notes representing an entire issue of debt securities. So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a Global Note, DTC or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of such debt securities under the indenture.
Except as provided below, you will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in your name, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in definitive form, and will not be considered the owner or holder thereof under the indenture.
Except as set forth below, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole or in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.
DTC has advised us that it is:
| • | a limited-purpose trust company organized under New York Banking Law; |
| • | a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law; |
| • | a member of the Federal Reserve System; |
| • | a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and |
| • | a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. |
DTC holds securities that its participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC and facilitates the post-trade settlement of transactions among Direct Participants in such securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated
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subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear transactions through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com. The information contained on the DTC’s website is not intended to form a part of, or be incorporated by reference into, this prospectus.
Purchases of debt securities under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each debt security will be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. These beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in debt securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the debt securities is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all debt securities deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the debt securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the debt securities of a series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in such series to be redeemed.
In any case where a vote may be required with respect to the debt securities of any series, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to such debt securities unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s MMI Procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to the issuer of securities as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the debt securities of the series are credited on the record date (identified in the listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Principal, interest payments and redemption proceeds, if any, on the debt securities will be made to Cede & Co, as nominee of DTC, or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the trustee, on the applicable payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC, us or the trustee, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, interest and redemption proceeds to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of us or the trustee. Disbursement of payments from
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Cede & Co. to Direct Participants is DTC’s responsibility. Disbursements of payments to beneficial owners are the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
In any case where we have made a tender offer for the purchase of any debt securities, a beneficial owner must give notice through a participant to a tender agent to elect to have its debt securities purchased or tendered. The beneficial owner must deliver debt securities by causing the direct participants to transfer the participant’s interest in the debt securities, on DTC’s records, to a tender agent. The requirement for physical delivery of debt securities in connection with an optional tender or a mandatory purchase is satisfied when the ownership rights in the debt securities are transferred by Direct Participants on DTC’s records and followed by a book-entry credit of tendered debt securities to the tender agent’s DTC account.
We obtained the information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
If at any time DTC or any successor depository for the debt securities of any series notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as the depository for the debt securities of such series, or if at any time DTC or such successor depository will no longer be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation, we will be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to appoint another depository for the debt securities of such series. If another depository is not appointed within 90 days, definitive note certificates will be issued in exchange for the Global Note representing the debt securities of that series.
We may at any time in our sole discretion determine that the debt securities of any series will no longer be represented by the Global Note, in which case definitive note certificates will be issued in exchange for the Global Note representing the debt securities of that series.
We have appointed Wilmington Trust, National Association, to act as the security registrar and paying agent and to act as depositary custodian with respect to the Global Notes. We have authorized our agents and Wilmington Trust, National Association, to act in accordance with a letter of representations entered into with the depositary.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
The Trustee
Wilmington Trust, National Association, or any successor thereto, will serve as trustee under the indenture.
The trustee may engage in transactions, including commercial banking and other transactions, with us and our subsidiaries from time to time. However, if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict upon the occurrence of an event of default, or else resign.
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We may issue warrants for the purchase of shares of our common stock or preferred stock or of debt securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under separate warrant agreements each to be entered into between us and a bank, trust company or other financial institution, as warrant agent, all as described in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issuance of warrants. The particular terms of any warrants and the related warrant agreement as well as the identity of the warrant agent will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The form of warrant agreement, including the form of certificate representing the applicable warrants that will be entered into with respect to a particular offering of warrants will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or a document that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The following summary of material provisions of the warrants and warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the particular warrant agreement and the related warrant certificate applicable to a particular series of warrants. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that will contain the terms of the warrants.
The particular terms of any issue of warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the issue. Those terms may include:
| • | the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase such shares and the price at which such number of shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| • | the designation, stated value and terms (including, without limitation, liquidation, dividend, conversion and voting rights) of the series of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of warrants to purchase preferred stock; |
| • | the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a debt warrant and the exercise price for the warrants, which may be payable in cash, securities or other property; |
| • | the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the related debt securities, preferred stock or common stock will be separately transferable; |
| • | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| • | United States Federal income tax consequences applicable to the warrants; and |
| • | any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange, exercise and settlement of the warrants. |
Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled:
| • | to vote, consent or receive dividends; |
| • | receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of our directors or any other matter; or |
| • | exercise any rights as shareholders of Torrid. |
| • | Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or the number of shares of preferred stock or common stock at the exercise price set forth in, or calculable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus |
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| supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. |
A holder of warrant certificates may exchange them for new warrant certificates of different denominations, present them for registration of transfer and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Until any warrants to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise, including any rights to receive payments of principal, premium or interest on the underlying debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture. Until any warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock are exercised, the holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying common stock or preferred stock, including any rights to receive dividends or payments upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up on the common stock or preferred stock, if any.
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This prospectus also relates to the possible resale by certain of our shareholders, who we refer to in this prospectus as the “selling securityholders,” of up to 90.0 million shares of our common stock that were issued and outstanding, or that are issuable upon exercise of options to acquire common stock that were issued and outstanding, prior to the original date of filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The selling securityholders acquired the shares of our common stock included in this prospectus on July 2, 2021, in connection with our initial public offering, when Torrid Holding LLC made a pro rata distribution for no consideration of our common stock to members of Torrid Holding LLC.
Information about the selling securityholders, where applicable, including their identities, the amount of shares of common stock owned by each selling securityholder prior to the offering, the number of shares of our common stock to be offered by each selling securityholder and the amount of common stock to be owned by each selling securityholder after completion of the offering, will be set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or in a free writing prospectus we file with the SEC. The applicable prospectus supplement will also disclose whether any of the selling securityholders has held any position or office with, has been employed by or otherwise has had a material relationship with us during the three years prior to the date of the prospectus supplement.
The selling securityholders may not sell any shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus until we have identified such selling securityholders and the shares being offered for resale by such selling securityholders in a subsequent prospectus supplement. However, the selling securityholders may sell or transfer all or a portion of their shares of our common stock pursuant to any available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
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We may offer and sell any combination of the securities and/or the selling securityholders may offer and sell shares of our common stock from time to time, in one or more transactions, through one or more of the following methods:
| • | on the New York Stock Exchange or any other national securities exchange or U.S. inter-dealer system of a registered national securities association; |
| • | in one or more underwritten offerings; |
| • | to or through dealers; |
| • | in negotiated transactions; |
| • | in block trades; |
| • | in “at-the-market” offerings; |
| • | directly to one or more purchasers; |
| • | to or through agents; and |
| • | in any combination of such methods of sale. |
A distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may also be effected through the issuance of derivative securities, including, without limitation, warrants, exchangeable securities, forward delivery contracts and the writing of options.
In addition, the manner in which we offer and sell any combination of the securities or the selling securityholders may offer and sell shares of our common stock from time to time includes, without limitation, through:
| • | a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may position or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction; |
| • | an over-the-counter distribution in accordance with the rules of NYSE; |
| • | through trading plans entered into pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of their securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans; |
| • | distribution to employees, members, limited partners or securityholders of a selling securityholder; |
| • | delayed delivery arrangements; |
| • | at prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, including sales made directly on a national securities exchange or sales made through a market maker other than on an exchange or other similar offerings through sales agents; |
| • | one or more underwritten offerings; |
| • | in “at-the-market” offerings; |
| • | purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| • | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; or |
| • | privately negotiated transactions; |
| • | by pledge to secured debt and other obligations; |
| • | through a combination of any of the above methods of sale; or |
| • | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
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We and/or any selling securityholders may also enter into hedging transactions. For example, we and/or any selling securityholders may:
| • | enter into transactions with a broker-dealer or affiliate thereof in connection with which such broker-dealer or affiliate will engage in short sales of securities pursuant to this prospectus, in which case such broker-dealer or affiliate may use our and/or the selling securityholders’ common stock received from us and/or the selling securityholders to close out its short positions; |
| • | sell securities short and redeliver such securities to close out our and/or the selling securityholders’ short positions; |
| • | enter into option or other types of transactions that require us and/or the selling securityholders to deliver our and/or the selling securityholders’ common stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who will then resell or transfer our and/or the selling securityholders’ common stock under this prospectus; or |
| • | loan or pledge our and/or the selling securityholders’ common stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who may sell the loaned shares or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus. |
A prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of any securities may include the following information:
| • | the terms of the offering; |
| • | the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; |
| • | the purchase price of the securities; |
| • | any net proceeds to us and/or the selling securityholders from the sale of the securities; |
| • | any delayed delivery arrangements; |
| • | any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; |
| • | any public offering price; |
| • | any discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers or agents; and |
| • | any option under which underwriters may purchase additional shares of our common stock from us and/or any selling securityholder. |
The distribution of any securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
Each time that we and/or any of the selling securityholders sell securities covered by this prospectus, we and/or the selling securityholders will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements that will describe the method of distribution and set forth the terms and conditions of the offering of such securities, including the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us and/or the selling securityholders, if applicable.
Offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus may be solicited directly. Agents may also be designated to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities will be identified in a prospectus supplement.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, the securities will be sold to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.
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If an underwriter is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter at the time of sale and the name of any underwriter will be provided in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we, and/or the selling securityholders, or the purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agent. Various of the underwriters who participate in the distribution of any securities, and their affiliates, may perform various commercial banking and investment banking services for us from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best-efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.
We and/or the selling securityholders may authorize underwriters or other persons as agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase any securities from us and/or the selling securityholders pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases we must approve these institutions. The obligations of any purchaser under any of these contracts will be subject to the condition that the purchase of any securities will not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.
Any compensation paid to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.
In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we and/or the selling securityholders may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which we receive our and/or the selling securityholders’ outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in these outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from us under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.
Selling securityholders may use this prospectus in connection with resales of our common stock. Such selling securityholders may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act in connection with the shares of our common stock they resell and any profits on the sales may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, until the distribution of any securities is completed, rules of the SEC may limit the ability of any underwriters to bid for and purchase the securities. As an exception to these rules, representatives of any underwriters are permitted to engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. These transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. If the underwriters create a short position in the securities in connection with the offering (that is, if they sell more securities than are set forth on the cover page of the prospectus supplement) the representatives of the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing the securities in the open market.
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We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the securities. In addition, we make no representation that the representatives of any underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Any common stock will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we and/or the selling securityholders may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us and/or the selling securityholders or borrowed from us and/or the selling securityholders or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us and/or the selling securityholders in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we and/or the selling securityholders may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.
The aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), or independent broker-dealer in connection with any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus, as the case may be, will be in compliance with the guidelines of the FINRA.
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The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us, the selling securityholders or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The following is an estimate of the expenses (all of which are to be paid by the registrant) that we may incur in connection with the securities being registered hereby.
| SEC registration fee |
$ | 156,441.24 | ||
| FINRA filing fee |
$ | 159,485.00 | ||
| The New York Stock Exchange supplemental listing fee |
$ | (1) | ||
| Printing expenses |
$ | (1) | ||
| Legal fees and expenses |
$ | (1) | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses |
$ | (1) | ||
| Blue Sky, qualification fees and expenses |
$ | (1) | ||
| Transfer agent fees and expenses |
$ | (1) | ||
| Trustee fees and expenses |
$ | (1) | ||
| Warrant agent fees and expenses |
$ | (1) | ||
|
|
|
|||
| Miscellaneous |
$ | (1) | ||
| Total |
$ | (1) | ||
|
|
|
| (1) | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
| Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
The registrant is a Delaware corporation. Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL allows a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation will not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized a payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporation law or obtained an improper personal benefit. The registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for this limitation of liability.
Section 145 of the DGCL (“Section 145”) provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, were or are a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, provided that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer, director, employee or agent is
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adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred. Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation, would otherwise have the power to indemnify him or her under Section 145.
In addition, the registrant’s amended and restated bylaws provide that the registrant must indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL and must also pay expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon delivery of an undertaking, by or on behalf of an indemnified person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this section or otherwise.
The registrant has also entered into indemnification agreements with each of its current directors and executive officers. These agreements require the registrant to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the registrant’s amended and restated bylaws, any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
The registrant expects to maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to its directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to the registrant with respect to indemnification payments that we may make to such directors and officers.
| Item 16. | Exhibits |
| Incorporated by Reference | Filed/ Furnished Herewith |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit No. |
Exhibit Description |
Form | File No. | Number | Filing Date |
|||||||||||||||||
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Torrid Holdings Inc. | 8-K | 001-40571 | 3.1 | 07/06/21 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Torrid Holdings Inc. | 10-K | 001-40571 | 3.2 | 03/28/23 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4.1* | Form of Specimen Certificate Representing Preferred Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.2 | Indenture dated February 16, 2024, between Torrid Holdings Inc. and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.3* | Form of Note | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.4* | Form of Warrant | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 4.5* | Form of Warrant Agreement | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5.1 | Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| * | To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the securities. |
| 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;
(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 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(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;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 a part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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.
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(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(A) 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
(B) 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 of 1933 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 of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this 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, the 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 the 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 the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communications that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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 of 1933 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 Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
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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.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Industry, State of California, on this 16th day of February, 2024.
| TORRID HOLDINGS INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Lisa Harper | |
| Name: Lisa Harper | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned officers and directors of the registrant hereby severally constitutes and appoints Lisa Harper, Paula Dempsey and Bridgett Zeterberg and each of them singly (with full power to each of them to act alone), as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to file and sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement and any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney shall be governed by and construed with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable federal securities laws.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Lisa Harper Lisa Harper |
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
February 16, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Paula Dempsey Paula Dempsey |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
February 16, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Chinwe Abaelu Chinwe Abaelu |
SVP, Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
February 16, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Stefan L. Kaluzny Stefan L. Kaluzny |
Chairman of the Board and Director | February 16, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Dary Kopelioff Dary Kopelioff |
Director | February 16, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Theophlius Killion Theophlius Killion |
Director | February 16, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Valeria Rico Nikolov Valeria Rico Nikolov |
Director | February 16, 2024 | ||
| /s/ Michael Shaffer Michael Shaffer |
Director | February 16, 2024 | ||
Exhibit 4.2
TORRID HOLDINGS INC.
as Company
and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of February 16, 2024
TRUST INDENTURE ACT CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
| Trust Indenture Act Section |
Indenture Section | |
| 310(a)(1) | 7.09 | |
| (a)(2) |
7.09 | |
| (a)(3) |
N.A. | |
| (a)(4) |
N.A. | |
| (a)(5) |
7.09 | |
| (b) |
7.09, 7.10 | |
| 311 | 7.14 | |
| 312(a) | 8.01 | |
| (b) |
1.06 | |
| (c) |
1.06 | |
| 313(a) | 8.02(a), (b) | |
| (b)(1) |
N.A. | |
| (b)(2) |
8.02(a), (b) | |
| (c) |
8.02(c) | |
| (d) |
8.02(c) | |
| 314(a)(1)-(3) | 8.03 | |
| (a)(4) |
5.07 | |
| (b) |
N.A. | |
| (c)(1) |
1.03 | |
| (c)(2) |
1.03 | |
| (c)(3) |
N.A. | |
| (d) |
N.A. | |
| (e) |
1.03 | |
| (f) |
N.A. | |
| 315(a) | 7.01(a) | |
| (b) |
7.02 | |
| (c) |
7.01(b) | |
| (d) |
7.01(a), (c) | |
| (e) |
6.08 | |
| 316(a) (last sentence) | 1.01 (Definition of “Outstanding”) | |
| (a)(1) |
6.07 | |
| (a)(2) |
N.A. | |
| (b) |
11.02 | |
| (c) |
9.02 | |
| 317(a) | 6.03 | |
| (b) |
5.06 | |
| 318(a) | 1.08 |
N.A. means not applicable.
| * | This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||||
| I. |
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION | 1 | ||||||
| 1.01 | Definitions | 1 | ||||||
| 1.02 | Other Definitions | 5 | ||||||
| 1.03 | Compliance Certificates and Opinions | 5 | ||||||
| 1.04 | Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee | 6 | ||||||
| 1.05 | Notices to the Trustee and the Company | 6 | ||||||
| 1.06 | Notice to Holders | 7 | ||||||
| 1.07 | Incorporation by Reference of the Trust Indenture Act | 7 | ||||||
| 1.08 | Trust Indenture Act Controls | 7 | ||||||
| 1.09 | Successors and Assigns | 8 | ||||||
| 1.10 | Separability Clause | 8 | ||||||
| 1.11 | Benefits of Indenture | 8 | ||||||
| 1.12 | Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver | 8 | ||||||
| 1.13 | Legal Holidays | 8 | ||||||
| 1.14 | Electronic Signatures and Counterparts | 8 | ||||||
| 1.15 | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 8 | ||||||
| 1.16 | Rules of Construction | 9 | ||||||
| 1.17 | U.S.A. PATRIOT Act | 9 | ||||||
| 1.18 | FATCA | 9 | ||||||
| II. |
SECURITY FORMS | 9 | ||||||
| 2.01 | Forms Generally | 9 | ||||||
| 2.02 | Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication | 10 | ||||||
| 2.03 | Forms of Securities | 10 | ||||||
| 2.04 | Book-Entry Provisions for Global Securities | 10 | ||||||
| III. |
THE SECURITIES | 11 | ||||||
| 3.01 | Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series | 11 | ||||||
| 3.02 | Denominations | 13 | ||||||
| 3.03 | Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating | 14 | ||||||
| 3.04 | Temporary Securities | 15 | ||||||
| 3.05 | Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 15 | ||||||
| 3.06 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 16 | ||||||
| 3.07 | Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved | 16 | ||||||
| 3.08 | Persons Deemed Owners | 17 | ||||||
| 3.09 | Cancellation | 17 | ||||||
| 3.10 | Computation of Interest; Calculations | 18 | ||||||
| 3.11 | CUSIP Numbers, ISINs and Common Code Numbers | 18 | ||||||
| IV. |
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES | 18 | ||||||
| 4.01 | Applicability of Right of Redemption | 18 | ||||||
| 4.02 | Election to Redeem; Notice of Redemption; Partial Redemption | 18 | ||||||
| 4.03 | Payment of Securities Called for Redemption | 19 | ||||||
| 4.04 | Deposit of Funds for Redemption of Securities | 20 | ||||||
| 4.05 | Mandatory Redemption | 20 | ||||||
i
| V. |
PARTICULAR COVENANTS | 20 | ||||||
| 5.01 | Payments of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest, if any | 20 | ||||||
| 5.02 | Office or Agency for Certain Purposes | 20 | ||||||
| 5.03 | Maintenance of Existence | 20 | ||||||
| 5.04 | Waiver of Certain Covenants | 20 | ||||||
| 5.05 | Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office | 21 | ||||||
| 5.06 | Provisions as to Paying Agent | 21 | ||||||
| 5.07 | Statement by Officers as to Default | 21 | ||||||
| 5.08 | Further Assurances | 21 | ||||||
| VI. |
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT | 21 | ||||||
| 6.01 | Events of Default | 21 | ||||||
| 6.02 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 23 | ||||||
| 6.03 | Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee; Trustee May Prove Debt | 24 | ||||||
| 6.04 | Application of Proceeds | 25 | ||||||
| 6.05 | Limitations on Suits by Holders | 25 | ||||||
| 6.06 | Powers and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 26 | ||||||
| 6.07 | Control by Holders; Waiver of Default | 26 | ||||||
| 6.08 | Undertaking for Costs | 26 | ||||||
| VII. |
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE | 26 | ||||||
| 7.01 | Certain Duties and Responsibilities | 26 | ||||||
| 7.02 | Notice of Defaults | 27 | ||||||
| 7.03 | Certain Rights of Trustee | 27 | ||||||
| 7.04 | Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals | 29 | ||||||
| 7.05 | Trustee and Others May Hold Securities | 29 | ||||||
| 7.06 | Moneys Held by Trustee or Paying Agent | 29 | ||||||
| 7.07 | Compensation of Trustee and Its Lien | 29 | ||||||
| 7.08 | Right of Trustee to Rely on Certificate of Certain Officers | 30 | ||||||
| 7.09 | Persons Eligible for Appointment As Trustee | 30 | ||||||
| 7.10 | Resignation and Removal of Trustee; Appointment of Successor | 30 | ||||||
| 7.11 | Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee | 31 | ||||||
| 7.12 | Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Trustee | 32 | ||||||
| 7.13 | Authenticating Agents | 32 | ||||||
| 7.14 | Preferential Collection of Claims | 33 | ||||||
| VIII. |
HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY | 33 | ||||||
| 8.01 | Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders | 33 | ||||||
| 8.02 | Reports by Trustee | 33 | ||||||
| 8.03 | Reports by the Company | 34 | ||||||
| IX. |
CONCERNING THE HOLDERS | 34 | ||||||
| 9.01 | Evidence of Action Taken by Holders | 34 | ||||||
| 9.02 | Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Securities | 34 | ||||||
| 9.03 | Right of Revocation of Action Taken | 35 | ||||||
| X. |
HOLDERS’ MEETINGS | 35 | ||||||
| 10.01 | Rules for Meetings | 35 | ||||||
| XI. |
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 35 | ||||||
| 11.01 | Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders | 35 | ||||||
| 11.02 | Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders | 36 | ||||||
| 11.03 | Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 37 | ||||||
| 11.04 | Notation on Securities in Respect of Supplemental Indentures | 37 | ||||||
| 11.05 | Opinion of Counsel and Officer’s Certificate to Be Given to Trustee | 38 | ||||||
| XII. |
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE | 38 | ||||||
| 12.01 | Company May Consolidate or Merge, Etc. | 38 | ||||||
| 12.02 | Conditions to Consolidation or Merger, Etc. | 38 | ||||||
| 12.03 | Documents and Opinion to Be Furnished to the Trustee | 38 | ||||||
| XIII. |
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS | 38 | ||||||
| 13.01 | Satisfaction and Discharge | 38 | ||||||
| 13.02 | Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance | 40 | ||||||
| 13.03 | Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities | 42 | ||||||
| 13.04 | Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent | 42 | ||||||
| 13.05 | Return of Unclaimed Moneys | 43 | ||||||
| 13.06 | Reinstatement | 43 | ||||||
| XIV. |
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 43 | ||||||
| 14.01 | Personal Immunity from Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Etc. | 43 | ||||||
INDENTURE, dated as of February 16, 2024, between Torrid Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debt securities to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture (hereinafter called the “Securities”); and
WHEREAS, the Trustee has the power to enter into this Indenture and to accept and perform its duties as herein created.
NOW THEREFORE, each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities:
I. DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
| 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 the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any payment, tender, redemption, transfer, exchange or conversion of or for beneficial interests in any Global Security, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such payment, tender, redemption, transfer, exchange or conversion.
“Authenticating Agent” means any agent of the Trustee that at any time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.13.
“Authorized Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Legal Officer, and any other person designated by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any duly authorized committee of such Board of Directors or any officers of the Company duly authorized so to act by such Board of Directors.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution or resolutions certified by the Corporate Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or by another appropriate officer of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and to be in force and effect on the date of such certification.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal 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 277 Park Avenue, 25th Floor, New York, New York 10172, Attention: Torrid Holdings Inc. Administrator 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).
1
“corporation” includes corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, associations, companies and business trusts.
“debt securities” means notes, bonds, debentures or other similar evidences of indebtedness for borrowed money.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary pursuant to Section 3.01 until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.
“Depositary Custodian” means the Trustee as custodian with respect to the Global Securities or any successor entity thereto.
“Derivative Instrument” means, with respect to a Person and the Securities of any series, any contract, instrument or other right to receive payment or delivery of cash or other assets to which such Person or any Affiliate of such Person that is acting in concert with such Person in connection with such Person’s investment in Securities of such series (other than a Screened Affiliate) is a party (whether or not requiring further performance by such Person), the value and/or cash flows of which (or any material portion thereof) are materially affected by the value and/or performance of such Securities and/or the creditworthiness of the Company (the “Performance References”).
“Dollar” and “$” mean the coin or currency of the United States that, at the time of payment, is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Foreign Currency” means a currency issued by the government of any country other than the United States of America.
“GAAP” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States as of the date or time of any computation required hereunder.
“Global Security” means a Security evidencing all or part of a series of Securities issued to the Depositary for such series in accordance with Sections 2.04 and 3.03.
“Government Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States or the other government or governments in the confederation that issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of, or any premium or interest on, the relevant Security shall be payable, in each case where the payment or payments thereunder are supported by the full faith and credit of such government or governments or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States or such other government or governments, in each case where the timely payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States or such other government or governments, and which, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on, principal of or other amount with respect to any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
“Holder” means a Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register.
2
“Indenture” means this indenture as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more supplemental indentures entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the form and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.
“interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after maturity, means interest payable after maturity.
“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.
“Long Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument (i) the value of which generally increases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally decrease, with positive changes to the Performance References and/or (ii) the value of which generally decreases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally increase, with negative changes to the Performance References.
“maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal (or a portion thereof) of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption or otherwise.
“Net Short” means, with respect to a Holder or beneficial owner of Securities of any series, as of a date of determination, either (i) the value of its Short Derivative Instruments exceeds the sum of the (x) value of its Securities of such series plus (y) value of its Long Derivative Instruments as of such date of determination or (ii) it is reasonably expected that such would have been the case were a Failure to Pay or Bankruptcy Credit Event (each as defined in the 2014 ISDA Credit Derivatives Definitions) to have occurred with respect to the Company immediately prior to such date of determination.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for or an employee of the Company, and who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.
“Outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities, means, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities, or portions thereof, theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys or, as provided in Section 13.01 or 13.02 hereof, Government Obligations, as the case may be, in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) (in each case, except as provided in Section 13.01 or 13.02, as the case may be); provided that if such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article IV or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice;
(iii) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been duly authenticated and delivered pursuant to Section 3.06;
(iv) Securities paid pursuant to the third paragraph of Section 3.06; and
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(v) Securities exchanged for or converted into common stock pursuant to or in accordance with this Indenture if the terms of such Securities provide for exchangeability or convertibility pursuant to Section 3.01;
provided, however, that, in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have taken any action, given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02; (B) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.01, of the principal amount of such Security, and (C) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee, taken upon the advice of counsel, shall be entitled to protection pursuant to Section 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on any Securities on behalf of the Company.
“Person” or “person” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, a trust, a joint venture, an association, a joint stock company, an unincorporated organization or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture or the terms of such Security, as applicable.
“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the day specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01, whether or not such day shall be a Business Day.
“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, assistant vice president, senior associate, banking officer associate or trust officer 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 relating to this Indenture, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Screened Affiliate” means any Affiliate of a Holder (i) that makes investment decisions independently from such Holder and any other Affiliate of such Holder that is not a Screened Affiliate, (ii) that has in place customary information screens between it and such Holder and any other Affiliate of such Holder that is not a Screened Affiliate and such screens prohibit the sharing of information with respect to the Company or its subsidiaries, (iii) whose investment policies are not directed by such Holder or any other Affiliate of such Holder that is acting in concert with such Holder in connection with its investment in the Securities of any series and (iv) whose investment decisions are not influenced by the investment decisions of such Holder or any other Affiliate of such Holder that is acting in concert with such Holder in connection with its investment in the Securities of any series.
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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“Security” or “Securities” means one or more, as the case may be, of the Company’s debt securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Short Derivative Instrument” means a Derivative Instrument (i) the value of which generally decreases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally increase, with positive changes to the Performance References and/or (ii) the value of which generally increases, and/or the payment or delivery obligations under which generally decrease, with negative changes to the Performance References.
“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series means a date fixed by the Company pursuant to Section 3.07.
“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest, as the case may be, is due and payable.
“stock” includes any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
“U.S.A. PATRIOT Act” means Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.
| 1.02 | Other Definitions. |
| Term |
Defined in Section | |
| “Applicable Law” |
1.18 | |
| “Company Designation” |
4.02 | |
| “covenant defeasance” |
13.02(c) | |
| “Defaulted Interest” |
3.07 | |
| “defeasance” |
13.02(b) | |
| “Directing Holder” |
6.02 | |
| “Event of Default” |
6.01 | |
| “Holder Direction” |
6.02 | |
| “Initial Default” |
6.02 | |
| “Performance References” |
Definition of “Derivative Instrument” | |
| “Position Representation” |
6.02 | |
| “Security Register” |
3.05 | |
| “Security Registrar” |
3.05 | |
| “Trustee Selection” |
4.02 | |
| “Verification Covenant” |
6.02 |
| 1.03 | Compliance Certificates and Opinions. |
(a) Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with.
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(b) Such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the statement required by Section 5.07) shall also include:
| (i) | a statement that such Authorized Officer or counsel has read such covenant or condition; |
| (ii) | a brief statement as to the nature and scope of such examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel are based; |
| (iii) | a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, such Person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed opinion as to whether such covenant or condition has been complied with; and |
| (iv) | a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with. |
| 1.04 | Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. |
| (a) | In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents. |
| (b) | Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Authorized Officer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by counsel, unless such Authorized Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representation with respect to the matters upon which the certificate, statement or opinion is based is erroneous. Any certificate, statement or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate, statement or opinion of or representations by an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, as the case may be, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate, statement or opinion or representation with respect to such matters is erroneous. |
| (c) | Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument. |
| 1.05 | Notices to the Trustee and the Company. |
Any notice, request, direction, consent or communication made pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture or the Securities is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or by email, first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested) or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, addressed as follows:
If to the Company:
Torrid Holdings Inc.
18501 East San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, California 91748
Attention: Paula Dempsey, Chief Financial Officer; Bridgett C. Zeterberg, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
Email: pdempsey@torrid.com; bzeterberg@torrid.com
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attention: Joshua N. Korff, P.C.; Michael Kim, P.C.; Asher A. Qazi
Email: joshua.korff@kirkland.com; michael.kim@kirkland.com; asher.qazi@kirkland.com
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If to the Trustee:
Wilmington Trust, National Association
277 Park Avenue, 25th Floor
New York, New York 10172
Attention: Torrid Holdings Inc. Administrator
The Company or the Trustee by notice to each other 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 so delivered, if personally delivered or if emailed; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; 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 emailed or 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 Security Registrar. Any notice or communication will also be so emailed or mailed to any Person described in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act. Failure to email or mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is emailed or mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
| 1.06 | Notice to Holders; Waiver. |
| (a) | Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee and the Security Registrar shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. |
| (b) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Global Security, where this Indenture or any Global Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by email, mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to Applicable Procedures. |
| (c) | Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver. |
| 1.07 | Incorporation by Reference of the Trust Indenture Act. |
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following Trust Indenture Act term used in this Indenture has the following meaning:
“obligor” on the Securities of any series means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by reference in the Trust Indenture Act to another statute or defined by a Commission rule under the Trust Indenture Act and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
| 1.08 | Trust Indenture Act Controls. |
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
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| 1.09 | Successors and Assigns. |
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
| 1.10 | Separability Clause. |
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
| 1.11 | Benefits of Indenture. |
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
| 1.12 | Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Jury Trial Waiver. |
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, as applied to contracts made and performed within the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in any state or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto and the Holders, by acceptance of the Securities, hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding.
EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
| 1.13 | Legal Holidays. |
Unless otherwise provided by, or pursuant to, Section 3.01, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, redemption date or Stated Maturity of any Security is a Legal Holiday, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Security need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or redemption date, or at the Stated Maturity; provided that no additional interest shall accrue with respect to the payment due on such date for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, to the next succeeding Business Day.
| 1.14 | Electronic Signatures and Counterparts. |
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which taken together constitute one instrument. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by electronic PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. This Indenture may be executed by way of electronic signatures, and any such electronic signature shall have the same binding effect as a physical signature. For the avoidance of doubt, the words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Trustee, pursuant to reasonable procedures approved by the Trustee.
| 1.15 | 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 of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
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1.16 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 words in the plural include the singular; |
| (5) | “will” shall be interpreted to express a command; |
| (6) | provisions apply to successive events and transactions; |
| (7) | “including” means “including without limitation”; |
| (8) | references to sections of, or rules under, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time; and |
| (9) | “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular article, section or other subdivision of this Indenture. |
The article and section headings and the table of contents are for convenience only, and shall not affect the construction hereof.
| 1.17 | U.S.A. PATRIOT Act. |
The Company acknowledges that, in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
| 1.18 | 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”) that a foreign financial institution, or issuer, trustee, paying agent, holder or other institution is or has agreed to be subject to 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) that is reasonably requested by the Trustee so the Trustee can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law, (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 and (iii) to hold harmless the Trustee for any losses it may suffer due to the actions it takes to comply with such Applicable Law, in case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), other than any liability or losses as may be attributable to the Trustee’s willful misconduct or gross negligence. The terms of this paragraph shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
II. SECURITY FORMS
| 2.01 | Forms Generally. |
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more supplemental indentures, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Authorized Officers executing such Securities as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolution(s), a copy of an appropriate record of any such action taken shall be certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or another appropriate Authorized Officer, of the Company, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the written order(s) contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of the initial Securities of each series. Any such Board Resolution or record of such action shall have attached thereto a true and correct copy of the form of Security approved by or pursuant to such Board Resolution(s). The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article II.
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The definitive Securities of each series shall be typewritten, printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods or may be produced in any other manner, including any manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of such series may be listed or traded, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
| 2.02 | Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. |
The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein issued under the within-mentioned Indenture.
| Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
| Dated: | ||
| 2.03 | Forms of Securities. |
Each Security shall be in one of the forms approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or one or more supplemental indentures that shall set forth the information required by Section 3.01. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons.
| 2.04 | Book-Entry Provisions for Global Securities. |
If the Company shall establish, pursuant to or as contemplated by Section 3.01, that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 3.03, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities in temporary or permanent form that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by one or more Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered, if in registered form, in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend to substantially the following effect:
“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND, UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR TO A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”
Each Depositary designated pursuant to, or as contemplated by Section 3.01, for a Global Security to be delivered in the United States must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.
If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series, or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of such series shall no longer be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 3.01(13) shall no longer be effective with respect to the Securities of such series and the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver as specified in such written order(s), Securities of such series in definitive form and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
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The Company may, at any time and in its sole discretion determine, that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event, the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver as specified in such written order(s), Securities of such series in definitive form and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.
If specified pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Global Security for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of such series in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge:
| (1) | to each Person specified by such Depositary, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person, in aggregate principal amount equal to, and in exchange for, such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and |
| (2) | to such Depositary, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities so delivered to Holders thereof. |
In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Securities in definitive registered form in authorized denominations.
Upon the exchange of a Global Security for Securities in definitive form, such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to Section 3.05 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Security Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Depositary Custodian with respect to the Global Securities. 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 of the Company or the Trustee are hereby authorized to act in accordance with such letter and Applicable Procedures.
III. THE SECURITIES
| 3.01 | Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. |
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series, and each such series shall, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by this Section 3.01, rank equally and pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. There shall be established, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more supplemental indentures, prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series:
| (1) | the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities, except to the extent that additional Securities of an existing series are being, or will be, issued); |
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| (2) | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 4.03 or 11.04); provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may from time to time be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution or as provided in the supplemental indenture establishing the Securities of such series; |
| (3) | the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, on the Securities of the series are payable or the method used to determine such date or dates; |
| (4) | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method of determination thereof, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method of determination thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date; |
| (5) | if other than the currency of the United States, the currency or currencies or currency unit or units, including composite currencies, in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01; |
| (6) | if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company, or a Holder, in a currency or currencies or currency unit or units other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made or the other circumstances under which any of such Securities are to be so payable, and any provision requiring the Holder to bear currency exchange costs by deduction from such payments; |
| (7) | if the amount of payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, any of the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined; |
| (8) | the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, the Securities of the series shall be payable, the place or places where the Securities of such series may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made; |
| (9) | if applicable, the period or periods within or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company; |
| (10) | if applicable, the period or periods within or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Holders; |
| (11) | the obligation or right, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities 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, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which and the other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
| (12) | the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of the series, either at the option of the Holder thereof or the Company, into or for shares of common stock of the Company or other securities or property (whether of the Company, or any other Person), including the period or periods within which and the price or prices (including adjustments thereto) at which any Securities of the series shall be converted or exchanged, in whole or in part; |
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| (13) | whether the Securities shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities and the form of any legend or legends which will be borne by any such global securities, and any circumstances in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and any other provisions governing exchanges or transfers of such Global Security; |
| (14) | the denominations in which Securities of the series, if any, shall be issuable, if other than the denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| (15) | if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any of the Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02; |
| (16) | the application, if any, of Section 13.01, or such other means of satisfaction and discharge as may be specified for the Securities of the series; |
| (17) | whether the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 13.02 and, if so, the provisions relating thereto and the manner in which any election by the Company to provide for defeasance or covenant defeasance of such Securities shall be evidenced if different from the provisions herein relating thereto; |
| (18) | the appointment of any Paying Agent or Agents, Security Registrar or authenticating agent for the Securities of such series, if other than the Trustee; |
| (19) | any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 6.01 that apply to the Securities of the series, any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02 or any other modifications to Article VI; |
| (20) | any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the covenants set forth in Article V that apply to the Securities of the series; |
| (21) | whether any payment or other obligations on Securities of such series are to be secured by any property and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be secured and, if applicable, upon which such liens may be subordinated to other liens securing other indebtedness; |
| (22) | whether payment of amounts due with respect to Securities of such series is subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment of any other indebtedness, and, if so, the extent and the manner of such subordinations and any other provisions relating thereto; |
| (23) | any additions or changes to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of the Securities of such series in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; |
| (24) | the form of the Securities of the series; and |
| (25) | any other terms of the Securities of such series and any other deletions from or modification of or additions to this Indenture in respect of such Securities. |
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the initial issuance of Securities of such series. No Officer’s Certificate may affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise with respect to any series of Securities except as the Trustee may agree in writing.
| 3.02 | Denominations. |
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, and except as provided in Section 3.03, the Securities of each series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. Securities of each series shall be numbered, lettered or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plan as the Authorized Officers executing the same may determine with the reasonable approval of the Trustee.
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| 3.03 | Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. |
The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by an Authorized Officer. Such signatures may be manual, facsimile or other electronic signatures, or electronic copies thereof, of any present or future Authorized Officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.
Only such Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.02, manually executed by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee upon any Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Securities bearing the manual, facsimile or other or electronic signatures, or electronic copies thereof, of an individual who was at any time an Authorized Officer shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individual has ceased to hold such office prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such office at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication. The Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by an Authorized Officer, or pursuant to such procedures reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and such recipients, without any further action by the Company. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon:
| (1) | the instrument or instruments establishing the form or forms and terms of the Securities of such series, as provided in Sections 2.01 and 3.01; |
| (2) | an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 1.03, to the following effect, which Opinion of Counsel may contain such assumptions, qualifications and limitations as such counsel shall deem appropriate: |
| (i) | the forms and terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with Section 2.01 and Section 3.01 of this Indenture; |
| (ii) | all conditions precedent set forth in Sections 2.01, 3.01 and 3.03 of this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been complied with; and |
| (iii) | such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by this Indenture, and enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (c) other commonly recognized statutory and judicial constraints as to enforceability, including statutes of limitations, and (d) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies. |
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series if the Trustee on the advice of counsel reasonably determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or would expose the Trustee to personal liability.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of this Section 3.03, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate(s) otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the written order of the Company and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 3.03 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.
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| 3.04 | Temporary Securities. |
Pending the preparation of a permanent Global Security or definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon compliance with Section 3.03, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, engraved or produced by any combination of these methods, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the Authorized Officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary securities may be in global form, representing all or a portion of the Outstanding Securities of such series.
If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor, a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor.
Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to the payment of interest on Securities in temporary form. Such exchanges shall be made by the Company at its expense and without any charge therefor.
| 3.05 | Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange. |
The Company shall cause to be kept for each series of Securities a register or registers herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register” in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of such Securities and of transfers of such Securities. Such register shall be kept at the office or agency of the “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering such Securities and transfers of such Securities as herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity. In no case shall there be more than one Security Register for a series of Securities.
At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (except a Global Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.05, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to the nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities.
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The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any particular series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of selection of Securities of such series to be redeemed under Section 4.02 and ending at the close of business on the day of the sending of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
Each Holder agrees to indemnify the Company and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holder’s Security in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable U.S. federal or state securities laws.
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 Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
None of the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar, nor the Company, shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
| 3.06 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. |
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be requested by them to hold each of them and any agent of any of them harmless, then the Company shall execute and, upon written request, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.06, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 3.06 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 3.06 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
| 3.07 | Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. |
Interest on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.
Any interest on any Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date, and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in either clause (1) or (2) below:
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| (1) | The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which Special Record Date shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee, in writing, as to the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon, the Company shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and, unless otherwise agreed to by the Trustee, not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee, in writing, of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be emailed or mailed (first-class postage prepaid) to each Holder of Securities of such series at such Holder’s e-mail or address as it appears in the Security Register or sent pursuant to Applicable Procedures, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date. |
| (2) | The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be reasonably deemed practicable by the Trustee. |
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.07, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
| 3.08 | Persons Deemed Owners. |
The Company and the Trustee, and their respective agents, shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.07) interest, if any, on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security shall be overdue, and neither the Company nor the Trustee, nor their respective agents, shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
| 3.09 | Cancellation. |
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any payment in respect of a sinking fund or analogous obligation shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section 3.09, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee pursuant to its standing procedures, and the Trustee shall, upon written request therefor, deliver to the Company a certificate of cancellation in respect thereof.
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| 3.10 | Computation of Interest; Calculations. |
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, any interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The Company shall be responsible for making calculations called for under the Securities and this Indenture, including determination of interest, additional amounts, redemption price, premium, if any, and any other amounts payable on the Securities. Absent manifest error, the Company’s calculations will be final and binding on the Holders. The Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification.
| 3.11 | CUSIP Numbers, ISINs and Common Code Numbers. |
The Company in issuing any Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers, “ISINs” and/or “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall as a convenience use “CUSIP” numbers, “ISINs” and/or “Common Code” numbers in notices to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers, “ISINs” and/or “Common Code” numbers of any Securities.
IV. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
| 4.01 | Applicability of Right of Redemption. |
Redemption of Securities (other than pursuant to a sinking fund or analogous provision, if applicable) permitted by the terms of any series of Securities shall be made in accordance with such terms and Sections 4.02, 4.03 and 4.04; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article IV, if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provisions of this Article IV, the terms of such series shall govern.
| 4.02 | Election to Redeem; Notice of Redemption; Partial Redemption. |
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities of any series shall be evidenced by, or pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate at the time notice of redemption is sent to the Holders of the Securities. In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Securities of any series, it shall give notice of such redemption to Holders of the Securities to be redeemed as hereinafter provided in this Section 4.02.
Any notice of redemption to be given to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed as a whole or in part shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.06 not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Any such notice of redemption may, in the Company’s discretion, be given subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent. In that case, such notice of redemption shall describe each such condition and, if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the (i) redemption date may be delayed until such time (including by more than 60 days after the date the notice of redemption was mailed or delivered, including by electronic transmission) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied, or (ii) such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the Company by the relevant redemption date, or by the redemption date as so delayed. In addition, the Company may provide in such notice that payment of the redemption price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by another Person.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price (or manner of calculation if not then known) at which Securities are to be redeemed, shall state the section of this Indenture and the Securities authorizing redemption and shall state that payment of the redemption price of the Securities to be redeemed, together with interest accrued thereon to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption (except that if such redemption date is an Interest Payment Date such interest due on such date with respect to a particular Security shall instead be payable on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of record at the close of business on the Regular
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Record Date for such Interest Payment Date), will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Securities and that, from and after said date fixed for redemption, any interest thereon will cease to accrue, such Securities subject to such redemption shall cease to be outstanding and the Holder(s) thereof shall have no rights with respect thereto other than the right to receive the redemption price upon such presentation and surrender. The notice shall state the “CUSIP” number, “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” number and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the “CUSIP” number, “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.
In case any Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only (which part shall be an authorized denomination of the Securities of such series as set forth pursuant to Section 3.01), the notice that relates to such Securities shall state the portion of the principal amount to be redeemed, and that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of the same series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued (or transferred by book entry). No Security whose denomination is the minimum denomination, as set forth pursuant to Section 3.01, of principal amount may be redeemed in part.
To the extent that the Securities of any series have different terms, the Company shall designate the Securities to be redeemed if fewer than all of a series are to be redeemed (“Company Designation”). If fewer than all the Securities of a series having the same terms are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee, not less than five Business Days (or such lesser number of days as the Trustee shall approve) prior to the date such notice of redemption is to be sent to the Holders of the Securities, written notice of the aggregate amount of the Securities to be redeemed.
If fewer than all of the Securities of a series are to be redeemed at any time, and the Securities of such series are Global Securities, they will be selected for redemption in accordance with Applicable Procedures. If the Securities of such series are not Global Securities, the Trustee shall select (“Trustee Selection”) the Securities to be redeemed among the Holders (1) in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed or (2) if the Securities are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance with any other method the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate or in accordance with applicable Depositary procedures, and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company and any Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
Any notice of redemption may be given by the Company pursuant to this Section 4.02. At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall provide the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided that the Company has delivered a written request to the Trustee at least three Business Days (or such lesser number of days as the Trustee shall approve) prior to the date such notice is to be given, which request shall set forth the information to be stated in such notice.
| 4.03 | Payment of Securities Called for Redemption. |
If notice of redemption shall have been given in the manner provided in Section 4.02, the Securities or portions of Securities specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption, and on and after such date of redemption (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities or portions thereof at the redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption) any interest on the Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue and such Securities and portions of Securities shall be deemed not to be outstanding hereunder and shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture except for the right of the Holder(s) thereof to receive, in accordance with the next sentence, payment of the redemption price, together, if applicable, with accrued interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption. On presentation and surrender of such Securities, on or after the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption, such Securities or specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon, if any, to, but, excluding, the date fixed for redemption; provided, however, that unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest that mature on Securities on or prior to the redemption date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.
Upon presentation and surrender of any Security that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder or transfer by book entry, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so surrendered.
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| 4.04 | Deposit of Funds for Redemption of Securities. |
On or prior to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the date fixed for redemption of any Securities as hereinbefore provided in this Article IV, the Company shall deposit in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (or if and to the extent that the Company shall be acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company shall set aside, segregate and hold in trust) funds sufficient to redeem the Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such redemption date, at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent, as applicable, will promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as applicable, by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.
| 4.05 | Mandatory Redemption. |
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular series of Securities by an Officer’s Certificate, supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, the Company shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment with respect to any series of Securities.
V. PARTICULAR COVENANTS
| 5.01 | Payments of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest, if any. |
The Company covenants and agrees, for the benefit of each series of Securities, that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series at the times and places and in the manner provided herein and in the Securities of that series.
| 5.02 | Office or Agency for Certain Purposes. |
The Company will maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of any such office or agency.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies (in or outside the City of New York) where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes, and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in accordance with the requirements set forth above. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
| 5.03 | Maintenance of Existence. |
The Company will preserve its existence, but this covenant shall not require the Company to continue its existence in the event of a consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person in accordance with the provision of Article XII hereof as a result of which the Company shall lose its identity, or in the event of a sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the property of the Company in accordance with the provisions of said Article XII.
| 5.04 | Waiver of Certain Covenants. |
The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 5.03 with respect to the Securities of any series and, if expressly provided pursuant to Section 3.01, any additional covenants applicable to the Securities of such series if, before the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by act of such Holders, either shall waive such compliance in such instance or generally shall have waived compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
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| 5.05 | Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office. |
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of the Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
| 5.06 | Provisions as to Paying Agent. |
(a) If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee subject to this Section 5.06, that it will, in addition to fulfilling the duties provided in Section 317 of the Trust Indenture Act, at any time during the continuance any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will comply with Section 317 of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Trustee of the Company’s action or failure so to act.
(d) Anything in this Section 5.06 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at its option, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to one or more or all series of Securities hereunder, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee (or Paying Agent) all sums held in trust for any such series by it, or by any Paying Agent hereunder, as required by this Section 5.06, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.
(e) Anything in this Section 5.06 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 5.06 is subject to Sections 13.04 and 13.05.
| 5.07 | Statement by Officers as to Default. |
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of its fiscal year, a written statement (which need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate) signed by one of its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, stating whether or not, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to notice requirements or periods of grace) and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which he or she may have knowledge.
| 5.08 | Further Assurances. |
From time to time whenever reasonably requested by the Trustee, the Company will make, execute and deliver or cause to be made, executed and delivered any and all such further and other instruments and assurances as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out the intention or facilitate the performance of the terms of this Indenture.
VI. REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
| 6.01 | Events of Default. |
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.01 of this Indenture:
| (1) | default in the payment of any interest on any of the Securities of such series when such interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; |
| (2) | default in the payment of any principal of or premium, if any, on, any of the Securities of such series when due, and continuance of such default for a period of five days; |
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| (3) | default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant of the Company in this Indenture or any Security of such series (other than a covenant for which the consequences of breach or nonperformance are addressed elsewhere in this Section 6.01 or a covenant that has expressly been included in this Indenture, whether or not by means of a supplemental indenture, solely for the benefit of Securities of a series other than such series), and continuance of such default or breach (without such default or breach having been cured or waived in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture) for a period of 90 days after the Company has received written notice, by registered or certified mail or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, delivered by the Trustee or after the Company and the Trustee have received written notice, by registered or certified mail or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, delivered by the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “notice of default” hereunder; |
| (4) | the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudicating the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or appointing a custodian, receiver, conservator, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or for substantially all of the property of the Company, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; |
| (5) | the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against the Company, , or the consent by the Company to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, conservator, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or for substantially all of the property of the Company, or the making by the Company of an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or |
| (6) | any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of such series that is specified in an Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto pursuant to Section 3.01. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, with respect to any default or Event of Default, the words “exists,” “is continuing” or similar expressions with respect thereto shall mean that the default or Event of Default has occurred and has not yet been cured or waived; provided that it is understood and agreed that any court of competent jurisdiction may (x) extend or stay any grace period prior to when any actual or alleged default becomes an actual or alleged Event of Default or (y) stay the exercise of remedies by the Trustee upon the occurrence of an actual or alleged Event of Default, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of applicable law. If any default or Event of Default occurs due to (i) the failure by the Company to take any action by a specified time, such default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have been cured at the time, if any, that the Company takes such action or (ii) the taking of any action by the Company that is not then permitted by the terms of this Indenture, such default or Event of Default shall be deemed to be cured on the earlier to occur of (x) the date on which such action would be permitted at such time to be taken under this Indenture, including pursuant to an applicable amendment or waiver permitting such action, or otherwise and (y) the date on which such action is unwound or otherwise modified to the extent necessary for such revised action to be permitted at such time by this Indenture (including after giving effect to any amendments or waivers).
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| 6.02 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. |
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or (5) of Section 6.01) with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, then either the Trustee or the Holders of not fewer than 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series may declare the principal of all the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount, as the case may be, and such accrued and unpaid interest shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or (5) of Section 6.01 with respect to the Securities of any series occurs, then the principal of all of the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon 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 of the Securities of such series.
At any time after Securities of any series have been accelerated (whether by declaration of the Trustee or the Holders or automatically) and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article VI provided, the Holders of not fewer than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such acceleration and its consequences if all existing Events of Default with respect to that series have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.07, except nonpayment of principal (or such lesser amount) or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration, and amounts owing to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.07 have been paid. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default.
A notice of default may not be given with respect to any action taken, and reported publicly or to Holders, more than two years prior to such notice of default. Any notice of default, notice of acceleration or instruction to the Trustee to provide a notice of default, notice of acceleration or to take any other action (a “Holder Direction”) provided by any one or more Holders of the Securities of any series (each a “Directing Holder”) must be accompanied by a written representation from each such Holder, delivered to the Company and the Trustee, that such Holder is not (or, in the case such Holder is the Depositary or its nominee, that such Holder is being instructed solely by beneficial owners that are not) Net Short (a “Position Representation”), which representation, in the case of a Holder Direction relating to the delivery of a notice of default shall be deemed a continuing representation until the resulting Event of Default is cured or otherwise ceases to exist or the Securities of the applicable series are accelerated. In addition, each Directing Holder is deemed, at the time of providing a Holder Direction, to covenant to provide the Company with such other information as the Company may reasonably request from time to time in order to verify the accuracy of such Directing Holder’s Position Representation within five Business Days of request therefor (a “Verification Covenant”). In any case in which the Directing Holder is the Depositary or its nominee, any Position Representation or Verification Covenant required hereunder shall be provided by the beneficial owner of the Securities of the applicable series in lieu of the Depositary or its nominee.
If, following the delivery of a Holder Direction with respect to the Securities of any series, but prior to acceleration of the Securities of such series, the Company determines in good faith that there is a reasonable basis to believe a Directing Holder was, at any relevant time, in breach of its Position Representation and provides to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company has initiated litigation in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking a determination that such Directing Holder was, at such time, in breach of its Position Representation, and seeking to invalidate any default, Event of Default or acceleration (or notice thereof) that resulted from the applicable Holder Direction, the cure period with respect to such default shall be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to such default or Event of Default shall be automatically reinstituted and any remedy stayed pending a final and non-appealable determination of a court of competent jurisdiction on such matter. If, following the delivery of a Holder Direction with respect to the Securities of any series, but prior to acceleration of the Securities of such series, the Company provides to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that a Directing Holder failed to satisfy its Verification Covenant, the cure period with respect to such default shall be automatically stayed and the cure period with respect to any default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series that resulted from the applicable Holder Direction shall be automatically reinstituted and any remedy stayed pending satisfaction of such Verification Covenant. Any breach of the Position Representation shall result in such Holder’s participation in such Holder Direction being disregarded, and, if, without the participation of such Holder, the percentage of Securities of the applicable series held by the remaining Holders of the Securities of such series that provided such Holder Direction would have been insufficient to validly provide such Holder Direction, such Holder Direction shall be void ab initio (except for any indemnity or security offered or provided to the Trustee), with the effect that such default or Event of Default shall be deemed never to have occurred, acceleration shall be voided and the Trustee shall be deemed not to have received such Holder Direction or any notice of such default or Event of Default.
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Notwithstanding anything in the preceding two paragraphs to the contrary, any Holder Direction delivered to the Trustee during the pendency of an Event of Default as the result of a bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall not require compliance with the foregoing paragraphs.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any Holder Direction, Officer’s Certificate or other document delivered to it in accordance with this Indenture, shall have no duty to inquire as to or investigate the accuracy of any Position Representation, enforce compliance with any Verification Covenant, verify any statements in any Officer’s Certificate delivered to it, or otherwise make calculations, investigations or determinations with respect to Derivative Instruments, Net Shorts, Long Derivative Instruments, Short Derivative Instruments or otherwise. The Trustee shall have no liability to the Company, any Holder or any other Person in acting in good faith on a Holder Direction or to determine whether any Holder has delivered a Position Representation or that such Position Representation conforms with this Indenture or any other agreement.
If a default for a failure to deliver a required notice or certificate in connection with another default (the “Initial Default”) occurs, then at the time such Initial Default is cured, such default for a failure to to deliver a required notice or certificate in connection with another default that resulted solely because of that Initial Default will also be cured without any further action and any default or Event of Default for the failure to deliver any notice or certificate pursuant to any other provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to be cured upon the delivery of any such notice or certificate required by such covenant or such notice or certificate, as applicable, even though such delivery is not within the prescribed period specified in this Indenture. Any time period in this Indenture to cure any actual or alleged default or Event of Default may be extended or stayed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Company and the Trustee may, to the extent provided in Section 11.01, enter into one or more supplemental indentures with respect to any series of the Securities that may provide for additional, different or fewer Events of Default with respect to such series of Securities. Additional, different or fewer Events of Default with respect to such series of Securities may also be set forth pursuant to Section 3.01.
| 6.03 | Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee; Trustee May Prove Debt. |
The Company covenants that (i) in case a default shall be made in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period in excess of 30 days, or (ii) in case a default shall be made in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any of the Securities when and as the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, interest, if any, with interest upon the overdue principal and premium, if any, of each such Security and (to the extent legally enforceable under applicable law) upon any installments of interest, at the rate borne by such Security, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any expenses or liabilities incurred by the Trustee hereunder other than through its gross negligence or willful misconduct.
All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities of such series, or the production thereof on any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series. In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Securities of a series, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of the Securities of such series parties to any such proceedings.
In case of an Event of Default hereunder with respect to Securities of a particular series, the Trustee may, but shall not be under any obligation to, proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceedings in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law. The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in
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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 Securities allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its creditors or their 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 to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due 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. 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 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be unpaid 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 may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. The Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ committee or other similar committee. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of the Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of any series or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
| 6.04 | Application of Proceeds. |
Any money or property collected by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to Section 6.03, and after an Event of Default any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or property:
FIRST: To the payment of all costs and expenses in connection with the collection of such moneys, and all amounts payable to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys under Section 7.07; and
SECOND: To the payment of the entire amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such moneys shall have been collected, without any preference or priority, ratably according to the amounts due and payable upon such Securities upon presentation of the several Securities and notation of such payment thereon, if partly paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid.
Any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Company.
| 6.05 | Limitations on Suits by Holders. |
Except as set forth in Section 316(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, no Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (1) such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of the series, (2) the Holders of no fewer than 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such security or indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, (3) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of security or indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (4) no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.07; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Security of such series with every other Holder of Securities of such series and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the Holders of any other of Securities or to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Securities of such series.
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| 6.06 | Powers and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver. |
All powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities of any series shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to Section 6.05, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other such powers and remedies or of any other powers or remedies available to the Trustee or such Holders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of the Securities of any series to exercise any right or power accruing upon any default occurring and continuing as aforesaid, shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein, and, subject to Section 6.05, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to such Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by such Holders.
| 6.07 | Control by Holders; Waiver of Default. |
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to Securities of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture, involve the Trustee in personal liability or have been determined by the Trustee to be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders); provided, further, that nothing in this Indenture shall impair the right of the Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and that is not inconsistent with such direction by such Holders. The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to the securities of such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the Securities of such series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). In the case of any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, and the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default.
| 6.08 | 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; provided, however, that this Section 6.08 shall not apply to a suit by the Trustee or the Company, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities of any series.
VII. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
| 7.01 | Certain Duties and Responsibilities. |
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee,
(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith, willful misconduct or negligence on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
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(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this Section 7.01(c) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Section 7.01(a);
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.07; and
(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.01.
(e) 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.
| 7.02 | Notice of Defaults. |
Within the later of 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series or 30 days after the Trustee has actual knowledge of such default, the Trustee shall transmit to all Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 6.01(3) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section 7.02, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.
| 7.03 | Certain Rights of Trustee. |
| (1) | The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting, or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document (whether in its original or electronic form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; |
| (2) | Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an instrument signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer thereof (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or another appropriate officer, of the Company; |
| (3) | The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice of counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon; |
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| (4) | The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered, and if requested, provided to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby; |
| (5) | The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; |
| (6) | The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, appraisal, bond, debenture or other paper or document with respect to such series of Securities, 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 shall be entitled, during normal business hours of the Company and upon reasonable prior notice to the Company, to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney, the reasonable costs thereof to be reimbursed to the Trustee by the Company; |
| (7) | The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; |
| (8) | In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable to any Holder for special, punitive, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action; |
| (9) | The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any default or Event of Default (except with respect to an Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.01(1) or Section 6.01(2), but then only if the Trustee is also the Paying Agent) with respect to the Securities of any series unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default or Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities of such series and this Indenture; |
| (10) | The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be compensated, reimbursed, indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder; |
| (11) | 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; and |
| (12) | In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, but not limited to, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, epidemics, recognized public emergencies, quarantine restrictions, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, and hacking, cyber-attacks, or other use or infiltration of the Trustee’s technological infrastructure exceeding authorized access (provided that the Trustee did not exercise gross negligence or willful misconduct in permitting any such hacking, cyber-attack or other use or infiltration of the Trustee’s technological infrastructure), or other unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or electronic or other wire or communication facility; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances. |
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| 7.04 | Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals. |
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and the representation as to the power of the Trustee to enter into this Indenture and perform its duties, shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture. The Trustee shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be bound to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any covenants, conditions, or agreements on the part of the Company but the Trustee may require full information and advice as to the performance of the aforementioned covenants. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any statement in any document in connection with the sale of the Securities other than information about the Trustee provided by the Trustee to the Company for incorporation or use in any such documents.
| 7.05 | Trustee and Others May Hold Securities. |
The Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, any such Paying Agent, the Security Registrar or any such other agent.
| 7.06 | Moneys Held by Trustee or Paying Agent. |
Subject to Sections 13.04 and 13.05, all moneys received by the Trustee or any Paying Agent, need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be under any liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree in writing with the Company. The provisions of this Section 7.06 shall not apply to the Company acting as its own Paying Agent pursuant to Section 5.06(b).
| 7.07 | Compensation of Trustee and Its Lien. |
The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, compensation (which shall be agreed to in writing from time to time by the Company and the Trustee and which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final order of a court of competent jurisdiction. If any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to the lien of this Indenture, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such lien, shall be entitled (but shall not be required) to make advances from funds collected or held in trust by the Trustee as such for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax liens or other prior liens or encumbrances thereon. The Company also covenants and agrees to indemnify the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee and their agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability claim, damage or expense incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on their part, as determined by a final order of a court of competent jurisdiction, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Trustee’s powers or duties hereunder, or in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this Section 7.07, except to the extent that such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense is due to their own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a final order of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnification. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(4) or Section 6.01(5), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law.
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The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the discharge or other termination of this Indenture.
| 7.08 | Right of Trustee to Rely on Certificate of Certain Officers. |
Whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect hereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
| 7.09 | Persons Eligible for Appointment As Trustee. |
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is an entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by U.S. federal or state authority. If such entity publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of a supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 7.09, the combined capital and surplus of such entity shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with this Section 7.09 or the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10. Neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company shall serve as Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series or any other indenture of the Company.
| 7.10 | Resignation and Removal of Trustee; Appointment of Successor. |
(a) The Trustee, or any Trustee or Trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to any one or more or all series of Securities by giving 30 days prior written notice to the Company and by giving notice of such resignation to the Holders of Securities in the manner provided in Section 1.06. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the applicable series by written instrument executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed with respect to a particular series and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the sending of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of the applicable series for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:
(1) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or
(2) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, the Company upon 30 days prior written notice may remove the Trustee with respect to the applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of any such series for at least 6 months may, an behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition, any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to such series.
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(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may at any time upon 30 days prior written notice remove the Trustee with respect to that series and appoint with respect to such series a successor Trustee by delivering to the Trustee so removed, to the successor Trustee so appointed and to the Company, the evidence provided for in Section 9.01 of the action taken by the Holders, unless within 10 days after notice to the Company of such nomination, the Company objects thereto, in which case, the Trustee so removed or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of the applicable series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, and at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and any appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.10 shall become effective only upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 7.11.
| 7.11 | Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee. |
Any successor Trustee appointed under Section 7.10 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the predecessor Trustee with respect to any and all applicable series an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed, or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations with respect of such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any such amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.07, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts with respect to such series of the Trustee so ceasing to act. Upon the reasonable request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to Section 7.07.
In the case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the predecessor Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an supplemental indenture which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such co-Trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.
No successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall with respect to such series be eligible under Section 7.09.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, the Company shall give notice of the succession of such Trustee hereunder to the Holders of Securities in the manner provided in Section 1.06. If the Company fails to give such notice within 10 days after acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be given at the expense of the Company.
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| 7.12 | Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of Trustee. |
Any entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such successor Trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09 hereof and Sections 310(a)(1), (2) and (5) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee is subject to Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
| 7.13 | Authenticating Agents. |
The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities, and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent. Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.
Each Authenticating Agent shall at all times be an entity organized and doing business under the U.S. federal or state laws, with a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and authorized under such laws to act as an authenticating agent, duly registered to act as such, if and to the extent required by applicable law and subject to supervision or examination by U.S. federal or state authority. If such entity publishes reports of its condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 7.13 the combined capital and surplus of such entity shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible to act as such in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.13, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section 7.13.
Any entity into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate agency business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of the Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor entity is otherwise eligible to act as such in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.13, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or such successor entity.
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice or resignation or upon a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible to act as such in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.13, the Trustee may appoint a successor authenticating agent. Upon the appointment, at any time after the original issuance of any of the Securities, of any successor, additional or new authenticating agent, the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall at the expense of the Company give notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve in the manner provided in Section 1.06. Any successor authenticating agent upon acceptance of its appointment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.13 shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if initially appointed as an Authenticating Agent. No successor authenticating agent shall be appointed unless eligible to act as such in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.13.
Any Authenticating Agent, by the acceptance of its appointment, shall be deemed to have agreed with the Trustee to indemnify the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee and to defend any claim asserted against the Trustee by reason of any acts or failures to act of such Authenticating Agent, but such Authenticating Agent shall have no liability for any action taken by it in accordance with the specific written direction of the Trustee.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation and expenses for its services.
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The provisions of Sections 7.04, 7.05 and 7.08 shall inure to the benefit of each Authenticating Agent to the same extent that they inure to the benefit of the Trustee.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 7.13, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein issued under the within-mentioned Indenture.
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: [FULL LEGAL NAME OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT], as Authenticating Agent | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
| Dated: | ||
| 7.14 | Preferential Collection of Claims. |
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b).
VIII. HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
| 8.01 | Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. |
In accordance with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) semi-annually with respect to Securities of each series not later than June 15 and December 15 of each year or upon such other dates as are set forth in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture authorizing such series, a list, in each case in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders as of the applicable date; and
(b) within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any written request from the Trustee, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar no such list shall be required to be furnished.
| 8.02 | Reports by Trustee. |
(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each March 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, transmit, pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such March 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said Sections 313(a) and 313(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding March 15 and the date of this Indenture.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.
(c) Reports pursuant to this Section 8.02 shall be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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| 8.03 | Reports by the Company. |
(a) The Company, pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act shall, so long as the Securities of any series of Securities are outstanding, file with the Trustee such information, documents and other reports as may be required to comply with the provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act; provided that (i) any failure of the Company to comply with this provision shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default and (ii) only the Trustee may institute a legal proceeding against the Company to enforce such delivery obligation.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent the Company files the information and reports referred to in the preceding paragraph with the Commission and such information is publicly available, the Company shall be deemed to be in compliance with its obligations to furnish such information to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 8.03.
(c) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 8.03 are for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed under any filing system or posted to any website.
IX. CONCERNING THE HOLDERS
| 9.01 | Evidence of Action Taken by Holders. |
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage or a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities or of any series of Securities may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage or majority have joined therein may be evidenced (i) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, (ii) by the record of the Holders of Securities voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the rules and procedures established pursuant to Article X or (iii) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders.
Members of, or participants in, a Depositary shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Depositary Custodian or under such Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its agent members, the operation of customary practices of the Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Security.
| 9.02 | Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Securities. |
Subject to the provisions of Sections 7.03 and Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or its agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds to be recorded in any state within the United States, that the Person executing such instrument acknowledged to such notary or other officer the execution thereof, or by an affidavit of a witness to such execution sworn to before any such notary or other such officer. Where such execution is by an officer of a corporation or association or a member of a partnership on behalf of such corporation, association or partnership, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such officer’s or member’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee may deem sufficient.
The ownership of Securities may be proved by the Security Register or by a certificate of the Security Registrar.
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If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Securities of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, the Company may, at its option, by Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Securities entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the discretion of the Company. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be the Holders of Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Securities of such series outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, and for that purpose the Securities of such series outstanding shall be computed as of such record date.
The Trustee may require such additional proof, if any, of any matter referred to in this Section 9.02 as it shall deem necessary.
| 9.03 | Right of Revocation of Action Taken. |
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 9.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities or of any series of Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Security the serial number of which is shown, by evidence, to be included in the Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its principal office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 9.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security or any Security issued in exchange therefor or in place thereof. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Securities.
X. HOLDERS’ MEETINGS
| 10.01 | Rules for Meetings.10.02 |
The Trustee may make reasonable rules and procedures for meetings of Holders.
XI. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
| 11.01 | Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. |
The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or supplemental indentures (which shall, but only to the extent applicable, conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as it shall be in force at the date of execution of such supplemental indenture or indentures) for one or more of the following purposes:
| (1) | to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the Trustee as security for the Securities any property or assets that the Company may desire; |
| (2) | to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company, pursuant to Article XII; |
| (3) | to add to or modify the covenants and agreements of the Company such further covenants, agreements, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the Holders of the Securities of all or any series; |
| (4) | to add or modify any Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of all or any series; |
| (5) | to prohibit the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities; |
| (6) | to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency; |
| (7) | to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture; |
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| (8) | to establish the form and terms of the Securities of any series as permitted in Sections 2.01, 3.01 and 3.03, or to authorize the issuance of additional Securities of a series previously authorized or to add to the conditions, limitations or restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication or delivery of the Securities of any series, as herein set forth, or other conditions, limitations or restrictions thereafter to be observed; |
| (9) | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series or to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 7.11; |
| (10) | to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; |
| (11) | to delete, amend or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture (which deletion, amendment or supplement may apply to one or more series of Securities or may apply to this Indenture generally, including the amendment and restatement this Indenture), provided that such amendment or supplement does not (i) apply to any Security of any series then Outstanding created or issued prior to the date of the supplemental indenture pursuant to which such deletion, amendment or supplement, as the case may be, is made and entitled to the benefit of such provision deleted, amended or supplemented by such supplemental indenture or (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security; |
| (12) | to add guarantors for the benefit of the Securities of all or any series; |
| (13) | to secure the Securities of all or any series; |
| (14) | to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable Depositary; |
| (15) | to comply with the Trust Indenture Act or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; and |
| (16) | to conform the provisions of this Indenture and the Securities to the description thereof contained in the applicable prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. |
Upon request of the Company, accompanied by a Board Resolution, the Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture if the Trustee reasonably concludes that such supplemental indenture adversely affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 11.01 shall be executed by the Company and the Trustee and shall not require the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time outstanding, notwithstanding Section 11.02.
| 11.02 | Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders. |
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 9.01) of the Holders of not fewer than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series affected by such supplemental indenture, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or supplemental indentures (which shall, but only to the extent applicable, conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as shall be in force at the date of execution of such supplemental indenture or indentures) for the purpose, with respect to Securities of such series, of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture with respect to Securities of such series or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Security so affected:
(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the premium, if any, thereon or the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest thereon, or reduce the amount payable upon redemption thereof at the option of the Company or repayment thereof at the option of the Holder, or reduce the amount of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02;
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(b) adversely affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of the principal of and interest on any Security or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof, in each case as such Stated Maturity may, if applicable, be extended in accordance with the terms of such Security;
(c) change the currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on, any Security is payable;
(d) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in Section 5.04 or Section 6.07 of this Indenture; or
(e) modify any of the provisions of this Section 11.02 or Section 6.07, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby.
Upon the written request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of the Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless the Trustee reasonably concludes that such supplemental indenture adversely affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any provision of this Indenture or of any series of Securities that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that modifies the rights of Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such provisions, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 11.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture under this Section 11.02, the Company shall give notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Holders of Securities in the manner provided in Section 1.06. Any failure of the Company to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
| 11.03 | Effect of Supplemental Indentures. |
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article XI, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of Securities shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
| 11.04 | Notation on Securities in Respect of Supplemental Indentures. |
Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article XI or after any action taken at a Holders meeting pursuant to the provisions of Article X may, and if required by the Trustee shall, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture or as to any such action. If the Company and the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Company and the Trustee, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of such series then outstanding.
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| 11.05 | Opinion of Counsel and Officer’s Certificate to Be Given to Trustee. |
The Trustee, subject to Section 7.03 and, to the extent applicable, Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act, shall receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate stating that (i) any such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and (ii) solely with respect to the Opinion of Counsel, any such supplemental indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (c) other commonly recognized statutory and judicial constraints as to enforceability, including statutes of limitations, and (d) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies.
XII. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE
| 12.01 | Company May Consolidate or Merge, Etc. |
Subject to the provisions of Section 12.02, nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation of the Company with or the merger of the Company into any other Person, or any merger of any other Person into the Company or successive consolidations or mergers to which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any other Person lawfully entitled to acquire the same.
| 12.02 | Conditions to Consolidation or Merger, Etc. |
(a) The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to another Person unless (i) in the case of a merger, the Company shall be the continuing Person or (ii) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person (and the Company shall not be the continuing Person), or sell or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to another Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires by sale or transfer all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company shall assume, by an supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities, and the Company’s other obligations under this Indenture.
(b) Every such successor Person, upon executing such supplemental indenture, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, shall succeed to the Company, as the case may be, with the same effect as if it had been an original party hereto (which succession shall relieve the Company of all liabilities and discharge the Company from all obligations and covenants, in each case under this Indenture and the Securities), and such successor Person shall possess and from time to time may exercise each and every power hereunder of the Company and may execute and deliver Securities hereunder in the name of such successor Person, and any act or proceeding required by this Indenture to be done or performed by any board or officer of the Company may be done or performed with like force and effect by the like board or officer of such successor Person. In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
| 12.03 | Documents and Opinion to Be Furnished to the Trustee. |
The Company covenants and agrees that if it shall consolidate with or merge into any other Person, or if it shall sell or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets, it will promptly furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that its covenants contained in Section 12.02 have been complied with.
XIII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE;
DEFEASANCE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
| 13.01 | Satisfaction and Discharge. |
Unless pursuant to Section 3.01, this Section 13.01 is declared not applicable with respect to the Securities of any series, upon the direction of the Company by a written order, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such written order, and the Trustee, on receipt of such written order, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when
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(a) either:
(i) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (1) Securities of such series that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (2) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 13.05) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
| (1) | have become due and payable, |
| (2) | will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or |
| (3) | if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, |
and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose, money in the currency in which such Securities are payable or Government Obligations (determined on the basis of the currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity), or a combination thereof, as applicable, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including the principal of, any premium and interest on such Securities, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity thereof, as the case may be;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied with.
In the event there are Securities of two or more series Outstanding hereunder, the Trustee of each such series shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only with respect to Securities of such series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions specified in this Section 13.01 are met.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.07 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (ii) of clause (a) of this Section 13.01, the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 3.05, 3.06, 5.02, 5.06, 13.03 and 13.06, any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series) to require the Company to repurchase or repay, and the obligations of the Company to repurchase or repay, such Securities at the option of the Holders pursuant to Section 3.01, and any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series) to convert or exchange, and the obligation of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into common stock or other securities, shall survive; provided, however, that following the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities whose Holders have the right to require the Company to repurchase or repay such Securities or to convert or exchange such Securities into common stock or other securities, the right of the Holder to require repurchase, repayment, conversion or exchange, as the case may be, of any such Security and the Company’s obligation to repurchase, repay, convert or exchange, as the case may be, any such Security shall (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series) terminate immediately following the close of business on the final Stated Maturity of such Security or immediately following the close of business on any earlier redemption date of such Security (so long as the Company does not default in the payment of the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, due on such redemption date), as the case may be.
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| 13.02 | Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. |
(a) Unless pursuant to Section 3.01, either or both of (i) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (b) of this Section 13.02 or (ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (c) of this Section 13.02 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series, then such provisions, together with the other provisions of this Section 13.02 (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Securities of or within such series, elect to have Section 13.02(b) or Section 13.02(c) be applied to such Outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Section 13.02. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of any series, defeasance under clause (b) of this Section 13.02 and covenant defeasance under clause (c) of this Section 13.02 may be effected only with respect to all, and not fewer than all, of the Outstanding Securities of any series. To the extent that the terms of any Security established in or pursuant to this Indenture permit the Company or any Holder thereof to extend the date on which any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on with respect to such Security is due and payable, then unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01, the right to extend such date shall terminate upon defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be.
(b) Upon the Company’s exercise of the option applicable to this Section 13.02(b) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities, on the date the conditions set forth in clause (d) of this Section 13.02 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of clause (e) of this Section 13.02 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of this paragraph, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely (except as provided in clause (ii) below) from the trust fund described in clause (d)(1) of this Section 13.02 and as more fully set forth in this Section 13.02 and Section 13.03, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (ii) the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.05, 3.06, 5.02 and 5.06, with respect to any rights of Holders of such Securities (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series) to require the Company to repurchase or repay, and the obligations of the Company to repurchase or repay, such Securities at the option of the Holders pursuant to Section 3.01, and with respect to any rights of Holders of such Securities (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series) to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into common stock or other securities, (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (iv) this Section 13.02 and Sections 13.03 and 13.06; provided, however, that following defeasance with respect to any series of Securities whose Holders have the right to require the Company to repurchase or repay such Securities or to convert or exchange such Securities into common stock or other securities, the right of the Holder to require repurchase, repayment, conversion or exchange, as the case may be, of any such Security and the Company’s obligation to repurchase, repay, convert or exchange, as the case may be, any such Security shall (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series) terminate immediately following the close of business on the final Stated Maturity of such Security or immediately following the close of business on any earlier redemption date of such Security (so long as the Company does not default in the payment of the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, due on such redemption date), as the case may be.
(c) Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 13.02(c) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 5.03 and, to the extent specified pursuant to Section 3.01, any other covenant applicable to such Securities with respect to such Securities shall cease to be applicable to such Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in clause (c) of this Section 13.02 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed to be 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 any such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or any such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other 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 Sections 6.01(3) or 6.01(6), as the case may be.
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(d) The following shall be the conditions to application of clause (b) or (c) of this Section 13.02 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:
(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another entity satisfying the requirements of Section 7.09 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 13.02 applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (i) an amount in Dollars or in such Foreign Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity or, if such defeasance or covenant defeasance is to be effected in compliance with clause (6) below, on the relevant redemption date, as the case may be, (ii) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity or, if such defeasance or covenant defeasance is to be effected in compliance with clause (6) below, on the relevant redemption date, as the case may be) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination thereof, in any case, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (y) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest or the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and (z) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable, if any, to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities.
(2) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
(3) No Event of Default or default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make the deposit under clause (1) above and the granting of any liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit, and, solely in the case of defeasance under Section 13.02(b), no Event of Default with respect to such Securities under clause (4) or (5) of Section 6.01 or default under clause (4) or (5) of Section 6.01 shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit.
(4) In the case of defeasance pursuant to Section 13.02(b), the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred; or, in the case of covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 13.02(c), the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. 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.
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(5) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, under this Indenture have been complied with.
(6) If the monies or Government Obligations or combination thereof, as the case may be, deposited under clause (1) above are sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and, to the extent provided in such clause (1) with respect to a particular redemption date, the Company shall have given the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem such Securities on such date and to provide notice of such redemption to Holders as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture.
(7) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 13.02(d), such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.01.
(e) Subject to Section 13.05, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 13.02(e) and Section 13.03, the “Trustee”) pursuant to clause (d)(1) of Section 13.02 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (other than the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and the Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge, imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 13.02 or the principal or 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 such Outstanding Securities.
Anything in this Section 13.02 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon written order any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in clause (d)(1) of this Section 13.02 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 13.02.
| 13.03 | Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities. |
All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 13.01 and 13.02, or received by the Trustee in respect of obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 13.01, or 13.02, shall be held in trust until such time as such money is to be applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to the Holders of the particular Securities, for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for the principal thereof, premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon. Moneys held under this Section 13.03 need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law, and the Trustee shall be under no liability with respect to interest on any such moneys.
| 13.04 | Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent. |
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all moneys then held by any Paying Agent, other than the Trustee, under this Indenture shall, upon and in accordance with demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
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| 13.05 | Return of Unclaimed Moneys. |
Subject to applicable abandoned property law, any moneys deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent not applied but remaining unclaimed by the Holders of Securities for two years after the date upon which the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Securities shall have become due and payable shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such agent on written demand. Thereafter, the Holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall look only to the Company for the payment thereof unless applicable abandoned property designates another person, and the Trustee shall have no further liability with respect to such money.
| 13.06 | Reinstatement. |
If the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee appointed pursuant to Section 13.02(d)(1)) or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any moneys or Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.01 or Section 13.02(d)(1) to pay any principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, with respect to the Securities of any series by reason of any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no such deposit had occurred, until such time as the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such moneys and Government Obligations to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities of such series as contemplated by Section 13.01 or Section 13.02 as the case may be, and Section 13.03; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, in respect of the Securities of such series following the reinstatement of its obligations as aforesaid, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such payment from the funds held by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) or Paying Agent.
XIV. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
| 14.01 | Personal Immunity from Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Etc. |
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator or against any past, present or future stockholder, subsidiary, employee, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability and any and all such claims being hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and issue of the Securities.
[The Remainder of this Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
| TORRID HOLDINGS INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Paula Dempsey | |
| Name: | Paula Dempsey | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: | /s/ Iris Munoz | |
| Name: | Iris Munoz | |
| Title: | Assistant Vice President | |
[Signature Page to Indenture]
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Exhibit 5.1
| 601 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 United States
+1 212 446 4800
www.kirkland.com |
Facsimile: +1 212 446 4900 |
February 16, 2024
Torrid Holdings Inc.
18501 East San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, CA 91748
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are issuing this opinion letter in our capacity as counsel for Torrid Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration of: (a) up to $600,000,000 aggregate offering amount of (i) shares of the Company’s common stock par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), (ii) shares of one or more series of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Preferred Stock”), (iii) debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated (the “Debt Securities”), and (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (the “Warrants” and, together with the Common Stock, Preferred Stock and the Debt Securities, the “Securities”); and (b) the resale of up to 90,000,000 shares of Common Stock by certain securityholders of the Company (the “Selling Securityholder Shares”).
In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion, including: (i) the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) minutes and records of the corporate proceedings of the Company with respect to the registration of the Securities and (iii) the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto.
You have also advised us that (i) the Debt Securities will be issued under that certain Indenture, dated February 16, 2024 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (“Trustee”) and (ii) the Warrants will be issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (including a form of certificate evidencing the Warrants) (each, a “Warrant Agreement”), by and between the Company and a bank or trust company named therein as the warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), in a form that will be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference therein. Each of the Indenture and the Warrant Agreement shall be referred to herein as a “Governing Document.” The Trustee and each Warrant Agent and any other counterparty to a Governing Document shall be referred to herein as a “Governing Document Counterparty.”
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Torrid Holdings Inc.
February 16, 2024
Page 2
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which this opinion is rendered, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the parties thereto, other than the Company, and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto, other than the Company. We have not independently established or verified any facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein, but have relied upon statements and representations of the officers and other representatives of the Company and others.
We have also assumed that:
| (i) | the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective under the Securities Act and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement; |
| (ii) | a prospectus supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and will comply with all applicable laws; |
| (iii) | the Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner and for the consideration stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement; |
| (iv) | the Securities will be issued and sold in the form and containing the terms set forth in the Registration Statement, the applicable Prospectus Supplement and the applicable Governing Document, as applicable; |
| (v) | the Securities offered, as well as the terms of the applicable Governing Document, do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in default under, or breach of any, agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; |
Torrid Holdings Inc.
February 16, 2024
Page 3
| (vi) | the Company will have obtained any legally required consents, approvals, authorization and other orders of the Commission and any other regulatory authorities necessary to issue and sell the Securities being offered; |
| (vii) | the Securities offered, as well as the terms of the Indenture, comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company; |
| (viii) | a definitive purchase, underwriting, sales agency or similar agreement (each, a “Purchase Agreement”) with respect to any Securities offered or issued will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; |
| (ix) | any Security issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of the Securities, as applicable, will be duly authorized and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise; and |
| (x) | the Company will receive at least par value for the Securities issued, as applicable. |
Based upon and subject to the foregoing qualifications, assumptions and limitations and the further limitations set forth below, and having regard for such legal considerations as we have deemed relevant, we advise you that:
| 1. | When the shares of Common Stock to be offered and sold by the Company have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate action of the Company and issued, sold and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such authorization, the applicable Purchase Agreement and applicable law, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
| 2. | When, as and if (a) any particular series of Preferred Stock has been authorized and duly established in accordance with applicable law, (b) the appropriate corporate action has been taken by the Company to authorize the form, terms, issuance and delivery of shares of such Preferred Stock (and the filing of any required certificate of designation, amendment or supplement to the organizational documents of the Company), and (c) the shares of such Preferred Stock have been issued, sold and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such authorization, the applicable Purchase Agreement and applicable law and in the manner and for the consideration stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
Torrid Holdings Inc.
February 16, 2024
Page 4
| 3. | When, as and if (a) any Debt Securities have been duly authorized and duly established in accordance with the Indenture and applicable law, (b) the appropriate corporate or organizational action has been taken by the Company to authorize the form, terms, execution and delivery of such Debt Securities (and any required amendment or supplement to the Indenture), (c) the applicable Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by duly authorized officers, and (d) such Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| 4. | When, as and if (a) any Warrants have been duly authorized and duly established in accordance with applicable law, (b) appropriate corporate action has been taken by the Company to authorize the form, terms, execution and delivery of the Warrant Agreement and the Warrants, (c) the Warrant Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Warrant Agent and the Company in accordance with such Company authorization, (d) Warrants with such terms have been duly executed, attested, issued and delivered by the Warrant Agent and/or duly authorized officers of the Company against payment in accordance with such Company authorization, the applicable Purchase Agreement, applicable Warrant Agreement and applicable law, and (e) the Debt Securities, Common Stock and Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of such Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate or organizational action and, in the case of Warrants to purchase Debt Securities, when the terms of such Debt Securities have been duly authorized and duly established in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, applicable law and the appropriate corporate or organizational action, such Warrants will constitute binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
| 5. | The Selling Securityholder Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
Our opinions expressed above are subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of (i) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar law affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies, and (iv) any laws except the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. In addition, we do not express any opinion as to the enforceability of any rights to contribution or indemnification which may be violative of public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including federal or state securities law, rule or regulation) or the enforceability of any so-called fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer “savings clause” (and any similar provision in any other document or agreement) to the extent such provisions purport to limit the amount of the obligations of any party or the right to contribution of any other party with respect to such obligations.
Torrid Holdings Inc.
February 16, 2024
Page 5
We express no opinion with respect to the enforceability of (i) consents to, or restrictions upon, judicial relief or jurisdiction or venue; (ii) waivers of rights or defenses with respect to stay, extension or usury laws; (iii) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights; (iv) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights; (v) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies; (vi) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations; (vii) grants of setoff rights; (viii) provisions for the payment of attorneys’ fees where such payment is contrary to law or public policy; (ix) proxies, powers and trusts; (x) restrictions upon non-written modifications and waivers; (xi) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property; (xii) any provision to the extent it requires any party to indemnify any other person against loss in obtaining the currency due following a court judgment in another currency; (xiii) provisions for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty; and (xiv) any rights to contribution or indemnification which may be violative of public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including federal or state securities law, rule or regulation) or the enforceability of any so called fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer “savings clause” (and any similar provision in any other document or agreement) to the extent such provisions purport to limit the amount of the obligations of any party or the right to contribution of any other party with respect to such obligations. In addition, we express no opinion with respect to (i) whether acceleration of the Debt Securities may affect the collectability of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof that might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (ii) compliance with laws relating to permissible rates of interest or (iii) the creation, validity, perfection or priority of any security interest or lien.
To the extent that the obligations of the Company under any Governing Document may be dependent on such matters, we assume for purposes of this opinion that the applicable Governing Document Counterparty is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; that the applicable Governing Document Counterparty is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by applicable Governing Document; that the applicable Governing Document has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the applicable Governing Document Counterparty and constitutes the legally valid and binding obligations of such Governing Document Counterparty, enforceable against such Governing Document Counterparty in accordance with its terms; that the applicable Governing Document Counterparty is in compliance, generally and with respect to acting as Trustee, Warrant Agent or other counterparty, as the case may be, under the applicable Governing Document, with all applicable laws and regulations; and that the applicable Governing Document Counterparty will have at all times the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the applicable Governing Document.
Torrid Holdings Inc.
February 16, 2024
Page 6
Our advice on every legal issue addressed in this opinion letter is based exclusively on the internal law of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in each case as currently in effect, and represents our opinion as to how that issue would be resolved were it to be considered by the highest court in the jurisdiction which enacted such law. The manner in which any particular issue relating to the opinions would be treated in any actual court case would depend in part on facts and circumstances particular to the case and would also depend on how the court involved chose to exercise the wide discretionary authority generally available to it. This letter is not intended to guarantee the outcome of any legal dispute which may arise in the future.
We did not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the various states to the sale of the Securities.
This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. The Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect. This opinion speaks only as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion after the date hereof.
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon or otherwise referred to by any other person for any other purpose.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein.
Torrid Holdings Inc.
February 16, 2024
Page 7
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.
| Sincerely, |
| /s/ Kirkland & Ellis LLP |
| KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP |
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Torrid Holdings Inc. of our report dated March 28, 2023 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Torrid Holdings Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2023. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
| /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
| Los Angeles, California |
| February 16, 2024 |
Exhibit 25.1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
| ☐ | Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) |
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
16-1486454
(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890-0001
(Address of principal executive offices)
Kyle Barry
Senior Vice President
Wilmington Trust Company
285 Delaware Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 839-6909
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Torrid Holdings Inc.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 84-3517567 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
18501 East San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, California 91748
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
Furnish the following information as to the trustee:
| (a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.
| (b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee and information available to the trustee, the obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3 – 15. Not applicable.
ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
Listed below are all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of Eligibility and Qualification.
| 1. | A copy of the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association. |
| 2. | The authority of Wilmington Trust, National Association to commence business was granted under the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 above. |
| 3. | The authorization to exercise corporate trust powers was granted under the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 above. |
| 4. | A copy of the existing By-Laws of Trustee, as now in effect, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 of this Form T-1. |
| 5. | Not applicable. |
| 6. | The consent of Wilmington Trust, National Association as required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached hereto as Exhibit 6 of this Form T-1. |
| 7. | Current Report of the Condition of Wilmington Trust, National Association, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached hereto as Exhibit 7 of this Form T-1. |
| 8. | Not applicable. |
| 9. | Not applicable. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York on the 16th day of February, 2024.
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
| By: | /s/ Iris Munoz | |
| Name: Iris Munoz | ||
| Title: Assistant Vice President | ||
EXHIBIT 1
CHARTER OF WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned do enter into the following articles of association:
FIRST. The title of this association shall be Wilmington Trust, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the association shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. The general business of the association shall be conducted at its main office and its branches.
THIRD. The board of directors of this association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, unless the OCC has exempted the bank from the 25-member limit. The exact number is to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the association or of a holding company owning the association, with an aggregate par, fair market or equity value $1,000. Determination of these values may be based as of either (i) the date of purchase or (ii) the date the person became a director, whichever value is greater. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the association or holding company may be used.
Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may not increase the number of directors between meetings of shareholders to a number which:
| 1) | exceeds by more than two the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 15 or less; or |
| 2) | exceeds by more than four the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 16 or more, but in no event shall the number of directors exceed 25, unless the OCC has exempted the bank from the 25-member limit. |
Directors shall be elected for terms of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.
Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determine the number of directors of the association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.
FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the bylaws, or, if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed, or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be
designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases at least 10 days advance notice of the time, place and purpose of a shareholders’ meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first class mail, unless the OCC determines that an emergency circumstance exists. The sole shareholder of the bank is permitted to waive notice of the shareholders’ meeting.
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares such shareholder owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. If, after the first ballot, subsequent ballots are necessary to elect directors, a shareholder may not vote shares that he or she has already fully cumulated and voted in favor of a successful candidate. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
Nominations for election to the board of directors may be made by the board of directors or by any stockholder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the association entitled to vote for election of directors. Nominations other than those made by or on behalf of the existing management shall be made in writing and be delivered or mailed to the president of the association not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such nominations shall be mailed or delivered to the president of the association not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder:
| 1) | The name and address of each proposed nominee. |
| 2) | The principal occupation of each proposed nominee. |
| 3) | The total number of shares of capital stock of the association that will be voted for each proposed nominee. |
| 4) | The name and residence address of the notifying shareholder. |
| 5) | The number of shares of capital stock of the association owned by the notifying shareholder. |
Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in his/her discretion, be disregarded by the chairperson of the meeting, and the vote tellers may disregard all votes cast for each such nominee. No bylaw may unreasonably restrict the nomination of directors by shareholders.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by shareholders at a meeting called to remove the director, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove the director is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect the director under cumulative voting is voted against the director’s removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of this association shall be ten thousand shares of common stock of the par value of one hundred dollars ($100) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix. Preemptive rights also must be approved by a vote of holders of two-thirds of the bank’s outstanding voting shares. Unless otherwise specified in these articles of association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the articles of association, must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
Unless otherwise specified in these articles of association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval. If a proposed amendment would affect two or more classes or series in the same or a substantially similar way, all the classes or series so affected must vote together as a single voting group on the proposed amendment.
Shares of one class or series may be issued as a dividend for shares of the same class or series on a pro rata basis and without consideration. Shares of one class or series may be issued as share dividends for a different class or series of stock if approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the class or series to be issued, unless there are no outstanding shares of the class or series to be issued. Unless otherwise provided by the board of directors, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to a share dividend shall be the date authorized by the board of directors for the share dividend.
Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
If a shareholder is entitled to fractional shares pursuant to a stock dividend, consolidation or merger, reverse stock split or otherwise, the association may: (a) issue fractional shares; (b) in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, issue script or warrants entitling the holder to receive a full share upon surrendering enough script or warrants to equal a full share; (c) if there is an established and active market in the association’s stock, make reasonable arrangements to provide the shareholder with an opportunity to realize a fair price through sale of the fraction, or purchase of the additional fraction required for a full share; (d) remit the cash equivalent of the fraction to the shareholder; or (e) sell full shares representing all the fractions at public auction or to the highest bidder after having solicited and received sealed bids from at least three licensed stock brokers; and distribute the proceeds pro rata to shareholders who otherwise would be entitled to the fractional shares. The holder of a fractional share is entitled to exercise the rights for shareholder, including the right to vote, to receive dividends, and to participate in the assets of the association upon liquidation, in proportion to the fractional interest. The holder of script or warrants is not entitled to any of these rights unless the script or warrants explicitly provide for such rights. The script or warrants may be subject to such additional conditions as: (1) that the script or warrants will become void if not exchanged for full shares before a specified date; and (2) that the shares for which the script or warrants are exchangeable may be sold at the option of the association and the proceeds paid to scriptholders.
The association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether or not subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether or not subordinated, which may be issued by the association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this association, and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors’ and shareholders’ meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this association.
A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| 1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the association. |
| 2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the association. |
| 3) | Fix the compensation and enter into employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| 4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| 5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| 6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the association’s management or committees of the board. |
| 7) | Regulate the manner in which any increase or decrease of the capital of the association shall be made, provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
| 8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the association. |
| 9) | Adopt initial bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the articles of association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the association. |
| 10) | Amend or repeal bylaws, except to the extent that the articles of association reserve this power in whole or in part to shareholders. |
| 11) | Make contracts. |
| 12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any other place within the limits of Wilmington, Delaware, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of such association for a relocation outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of Wilmington Delaware, but not more than 30 miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any branch or branches of the association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of this association, or any one or more shareholders owning, in the aggregate, not less than 50 percent of the stock of this association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the bylaws or the laws of the United States, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given at least 10 days prior to the meeting by first-class mail, unless the OCC determines that an emergency circumstance exists. If the association is a wholly-owned subsidiary, the sole shareholder may waive notice of the shareholders’ meeting. Unless otherwise provided by the bylaws or these articles, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. For purposes of this Article Tenth, the term “institution-affiliated party” shall mean any institution-affiliated party of the association as such term is defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(u).
Any institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may be indemnified or reimbursed by the association for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions or proceedings and appeals therein, whether civil, criminal, governmental, administrative or investigative, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such law now or hereafter exists; provided, however, that when an administrative proceeding or action instituted by a federal banking agency results in a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association, then the association shall require the repayment of all legal fees and expenses advanced pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph and may not indemnify such institution-affiliated parties (or their heirs, executors or administrators) for expenses, including expenses for legal fees, penalties or other payments incurred. The association shall provide indemnification in connection with an action or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) only if such action or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors.
Expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding under 12 U.S.C. 164 or 1818 may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) a determination by the board of directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding that the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) has a reasonable basis for prevailing on the merits, (b) a determination that the indemnified individual (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) will have the financial capacity to reimburse the bank in the event he or she does not prevail, (c) a determination that the payment of expenses and fees by the association will not adversely affect the safety and soundness of the association, and (d) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event of a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association. In all other instances, expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding as to which indemnification may be given under these articles of association may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by or on behalf of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event that such institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification as authorized by these articles of association and (b) approval by the board of directors acting by a quorum
consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding or, if such a quorum is not obtainable, then approval by stockholders. To the extent permitted by law, the board of directors or, if applicable, the stockholders, shall not be required to find that the institution-affiliated party has met the applicable standard of conduct provided by law for indemnification in connection with such action or proceeding.
In the event that a majority of the members of the board of directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the remaining members of the board may authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the remaining members of the board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Article Tenth have been met. If independent legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the remaining members of the board of directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
In the event that all of the members of the board of directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the board shall authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Article Tenth have been met. If legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the board of directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
To the extent permitted under applicable law, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association (a) shall be available with respect to events occurring prior to the adoption of these articles of association, (b) shall continue to exist after any restrictive amendment of these articles of association with respect to events occurring prior to such amendment, (c) may be interpreted on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, or on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time such rights are claimed, and (d) are in the nature of contract rights which may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction as if the association and the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) for whom such rights are sought were parties to a separate written agreement.
The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association shall not, to the extent permitted under applicable law, be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any such institution affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may now or hereafter be otherwise entitled whether contained in these articles of association, the bylaws, a resolution of stockholders, a resolution of the board of directors, or an agreement providing such indemnification, the creation of such other rights being hereby expressly authorized. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights, pursuant to statute or otherwise, of any such institution-affiliated party (or of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in any such action or proceeding to have assessed or allowed in his or her favor, against the association or otherwise, his or her costs and expenses incurred therein or in connection therewith or any part thereof.
If this Article Tenth or any part hereof shall be held unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remainder of this Article Tenth shall remain fully enforceable.
The association may, upon affirmative vote of a majority of its board of directors, purchase insurance to indemnify its institution-affiliated parties to the extent that such indemnification is allowed in these articles of association; provided, however, that no such insurance shall include coverage to pay or reimburse any institution-affiliated party for the cost of any judgment or civil money penalty assessed against such person in an administrative proceeding or civil action commenced by any federal banking agency. Such insurance may, but need not, be for the benefit of all institution-affiliated parties.
ELEVENTH. These articles of association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of this association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount. The association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the articles of association for submission to the shareholders.
EXHIBIT 4
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
(Effective as of September 12, 2023)
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated by the chair of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief operating officer, the secretary, or the Board of Directors for the purpose of the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, except such date shall not be a legal holiday in Delaware. Notice of the meeting shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 10 days and no more than 60 days prior to the date thereof, addressed to each shareholder at his or her address appearing on the books of the association. If, for any cause, an election of directors is not made on that date, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the date fixed, to be designated by the Board of Directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the date, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares. In these circumstances, at least 10 days’ notice must be given by first class mail to shareholders.
Section 2. Special Meetings. The chair of the Board of Directors, the president, the chief executive officer, the secretary, or the Board of Directors may call a special meeting of the shareholders. A special meeting shall be called to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of shareholders upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at the meeting. Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called by mailing, postage prepaid, not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting, to each shareholder at the address appearing on the books of the association a notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting, in reasonable proximity to the date of giving notice to the shareholders of such meeting. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to demand a special meeting is the date the first shareholder signs a demand for the meeting describing the purpose or purposes for which it is to be held.
Section 3. Adjournment. If an annual or special shareholders’ meeting is adjourned to a different date, time, or place, notice need not be given of the new date, time or place, if the new date, time or place is announced at the meeting before adjournment, unless any additional items of business are to be considered, or the association becomes aware of an intervening event materially affecting any matter to be voted on more than 10 days prior to the date to which the meeting is adjourned. If a new record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed, however, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to persons who are shareholders as of the new record date. If, however, the meeting to elect the directors is adjourned before the election takes place, at least ten days’ notice of the new election must be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
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Section 4. Nominations of Directors. Nominations for election to the Board of Directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any shareholder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the association entitled to vote for the election of directors. Nominations, other than those made by or on behalf of the existing management of the association, shall be made in writing and shall be delivered or mailed to the president of the association, not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days’ notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such nomination shall be mailed or delivered to the president of the association not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder:
| (1) | The name and address of each proposed nominee; |
| (2) | The principal occupation of each proposed nominee; |
| (3) | The total number of shares of capital stock of the association that will be voted for each proposed nominee; |
| (4) | The name and residence of the notifying shareholder; and |
| (5) | The number of shares of capital stock of the association owned by the notifying shareholder |
Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in his/her discretion, be disregarded by the chair of the meeting, and upon his/her instructions, all votes cast for each such nominee may be disregarded.
Section 5. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing, but no officer or employee of this association shall act as proxy. A director or an attorney of the association may act as proxy for shareholders voting if they are not also employed as an officer of the association. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting, to be specified therein, and any adjournments of such meeting. Proxies shall be dated and filed with the records of the meeting. Proxies with facsimile signatures may be used and unexecuted proxies may be counted upon receipt of a written confirmation from the shareholder. Proxies meeting the above requirements submitted at any time during a meeting shall be accepted.
Section 6. Quorum. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held, as adjourned, without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the articles of association. If a meeting for the election of directors is not held on the fixed date, at least 10 days’ notice must be given by first-class mail to the shareholders.
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ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 1. Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Number. The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the association from the 25-member limit. The exact number within such minimum and maximum limits is to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full Board of Directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any meeting thereof. The Board of Directors may not increase the number of directors between meetings of shareholders to a number which: (a) exceeds by more than 2 the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 15 or less; or (b) exceeds by more than 4 the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 16 or more, but in no event shall the number of directors exceed 25, unless the OCC has exempted the association from the 25-member limit.
Section 3. Qualifications. Each director must be a citizen of the United States and must own in his or her own right either shares of the capital stock of the association or a company that controls the association that has not less than an aggregate par value of $1,000, an aggregate shareholders’ equity of $1,000, or an aggregate fair market value of $1,000. The value of the common or preferred stock held by a director is valued as of the date purchased or the date on which the individual became a director, whichever is greater.
Section 4. Organization Meeting. After each annual meeting of shareholders at which directors shall have been elected, the Board of Directors shall meet as soon as practicable for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business. Such first regular meeting shall be held at any place as may be designated by the chair, the president or the Board of Directors for such first regular meeting or, in default of such designation, where the immediately preceding meeting of shareholders was held.
Section 5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on such dates and at such places as may be designated from time to time by the chair. No notice of regular meetings shall be necessary.
Section 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the chair, the chief executive officer, the president or by a majority of the then- acting directors by vote at a meeting or in writing, or by a majority of the members of the executive committee, if one is constituted, by vote at a meeting or in writing. A special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held on such date and at any place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. In the absence of such designation, such meeting shall be held at such place as may be designated in the call. Each member of the Board of Directors shall be given notice stating the date, time and place, by letter, electronic delivery or in person, of each special meeting not less than one day before the meeting. Such notice need not specify the purpose for which the meeting is called, unless required by the Articles of Association or the bylaws.
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Section 7. Quorum. A majority of the entire Board then in office shall constitute a quorum at any meeting, except when otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, but a lesser number may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held, as adjourned, without further notice. If the number of directors present at the meeting is reduced below the number that would constitute a quorum, no business may be transacted, except selecting directors to fill vacancies in conformance with Article II, Section 11. If a quorum is present, the board of directors may take action through the vote of a majority of the directors who are in attendance. No director may vote by proxy.
Section 8. Attendance by Electronic, Telephonic or Similar Means. Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a regular or special meeting of such board or committee by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, conference telephone or other communications equipment by which all directors or committee members participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.
Section 9. Procedures. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at every meeting of the Board of Directors may be determined by the person presiding at the meeting.
Section 10. Removal of Directors. Any director may be removed for cause at any meeting of shareholders, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by vote of the shareholders. Any director may be removed without cause at any meeting of shareholders, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the association entitled to vote. Any director may be removed for cause at any meeting of the directors, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors.
Section 11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors may appoint a director to fill such vacancy until the next election at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or at a special meeting called for that purpose at which a quorum is present, or if the directors remaining in office constitute fewer than a quorum of the Board of Directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the directors remaining in office, or by shareholders at a special meeting called for that purpose in conformance with Section 2 of Article I. A vacancy that will occur at a specific later date (by reason of a resignation effective at a later date) may be filled before the vacancy occurs but the new director may not take office until the vacancy occurs.
Section 12. Consent of Directors without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board. The action may be evidenced by one or more written consents signed by each director before or after such action, describing the action taken, and included in the minutes or filed with the corporate records. A director’s consent to action taken without a meeting may be in electronic form and delivered by electronic means.
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Section 13. Ratification. The board of directors may ratify and make binding on the association any action or inaction by the association or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the shareholders could have originally authorized the matter and as permitted by law. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any shareholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or shareholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the shareholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the shareholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee, which shall have and may exercise, during the intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, all the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business, properties and affairs of the association except as prohibited by law, the Articles of Association or these Bylaws. All acts done and powers conferred by the Executive Committee shall be deemed to be and may be certified as being, done or conferred under authority of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Trust Audit Committee. Unless delegated pursuant to Section 5 of this Article III, there shall be a Trust Audit Committee composed of not less than 2 directors, appointed by the Board of Directors, which shall, at least once during each calendar year make suitable audits of the association’s fiduciary activities or cause suitable audits to be made by auditors responsible only to the Board, and at such time shall ascertain whether fiduciary powers have been administered according to law, Part 9 of the Regulations of the Comptroller of the Currency, and sound fiduciary principles. Such committee: (1) must not include any officers of the association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the association’s fiduciary activities; and (2) must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board of Directors has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the bank.
Section 3. Examining Committee. Unless delegated pursuant to Section 5 of this Article III, there shall be an examining committee composed of not less than 2 directors, exclusive of any active officers, appointed by the board of directors annually or more often. The duty of that committee shall be to examine at least once during each calendar year and within 15 months of the last examination the affairs of the association or cause suitable examinations to be made by auditors responsible only to the board of directors and to report the result of such examination in writing to the board of directors at the next regular meeting thereafter. Such report shall state whether the association is in a sound condition, and whether adequate internal controls and procedures are being maintained and shall recommend to the board of directors such changes in the manner of conducting the affairs of the association as shall be deemed advisable.
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Section 4. Other Committees. The Board of Directors may from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, appoint other committees of the Board of Directors which shall have such powers and duties as the Board of Directors may properly determine. No such other committee of the Board of Directors shall be composed of fewer than three (3) directors. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more directors as alternative members of a committee. All acts done and powers conferred by the Board of Directors on committees of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to be and may be certified as being, done or conferred under that authority of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Delegation of Responsibility and Authority. The responsibility, authority and constitution of any committee under this Article III may, if authorized by law, be given over to a duly constituted committee of the association’s parent corporation by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
Officers and Employees
Section 1 Officers. The Board of Directors shall annually, at the Annual Reorganization Meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of shareholders, appoint or elect a chair of the Board, a chief executive officer, a president, one or more vice presidents however denominated, a corporate secretary, a treasurer, a chief auditor, and such other officers as it may determine. At the Annual Reorganization Meeting, the Board of Directors shall also elect or reelect all of the officers of the association to hold office until the next Annual Reorganization Meeting. In the interim between Annual Reorganization Meetings, the officers of the association may be elected as follows and shall hold office until the next Annual Reorganization Meeting unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors or such authorized officer(s): The head of the Human Resources Department of M&T Bank or his or her designee or designees, may appoint officers up to and including the rank of senior executive vice president, including (without limitation as to title or number) one or more executive vice presidents, senior vice presidents, vice presidents, assistant vice presidents, assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers and assistant auditors, and any other officer positions as they deem necessary and appropriate, except the chair of the board, chief executive officer, president, any “Executive Officer” of the association for the purposes of Regulation O (codified at 12 C.F.R. §215.2(e)(1)), and any “Senior Executive Officer” within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. §5.51(c)(4) may only be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Chair of the Board. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its members to be the chair of the Board to serve at its pleasure. Such person shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The chair of the Board shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board of Directors; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board of Directors.
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Section 3. President. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its members to be the president of the association. The president shall be a member of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the chair, the president shall preside at any meeting of the Board of Directors. The president shall have general executive powers and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation, or practice to the office of president, or imposed by these Bylaws. The president shall also have and may exercise such further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Vice President. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more vice presidents. Each vice president shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors. One vice president shall be designated by the Board of Directors, in the absence of the president, to perform all the duties of the president.
Section 5. Secretary. The Board of Directors shall appoint a secretary or other designated officer who shall be secretary of the Board of Directors and of the association and who shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, or imposed by these bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time, by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Other Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more assistant vice presidents, one or more trust officers, one or more officers, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers, one or more managers and assistant managers of branches and such other officers and attorneys in fact as from time to time may appear to the Board of Directors to be required or desirable to transact the business of the association. Such officers shall respectively exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the chair of the Board, or the president. The Board of Directors may authorize an officer to appoint one or more officers or assistant officers.
Section 7. Resignation. An officer may resign at any time by delivering notice to the association. A resignation is effective when the notice is given unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
ARTICLE V
Stock and Stock Certificates
Section 1. Transfers. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall in proportion to such shareholder’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. The Board of Directors may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the association with respect to stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings and related matters and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
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Section 2. Stock Certificates. Certificates of stock shall bear the signature of the president (which may be engraved, printed or impressed) and shall be signed manually, by facsimile process, or electronic means by the secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or any other officer appointed by the Board of Directors for that purpose, to be known as an authorized officer, and the seal of the association shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the association properly endorsed and otherwise comply with the requirements of 12
U.S.C. 52 and 12 C.F.R. §7.2016(b).
Section 3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In case any certificate representing shares shall be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, or any officer or officers thereunder duly authorized by the Board of Directors, may authorize the issue of a substitute certificate or substitute shares in uncertificated form in the place of the certificate so lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 4. Fixing of Record Date. The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall be the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 10 days before the meeting.
ARTICLE VII
Corporate Seal
Section 1. Seal. The seal of the association shall be in such form as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The president, the treasurer, the secretary or any assistant treasurer or assistant secretary, or other officer thereunto designated by the Board of Directors shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any document requiring such seal and to attest the same. The seal on any corporate obligation for the payment of money may be facsimile.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the association shall be the calendar year.
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Section 2. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, indentures, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, executed, acknowledged, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the association by any officer elected or appointed pursuant to Article IV of these Bylaws. Any such instruments may also be executed, acknowledged, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the association in such other manner and by such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time direct. The provisions of this Section 2 are supplementary to any other provision of these Bylaws.
Section 3. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board of Directors, and standing committees of the Board of Directors shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for that purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the secretary, treasurer or other officer appointed to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 4. Corporate Governance Procedures. To the extent not inconsistent with federal banking statutes and regulations, or safe and sound banking practices, the association may follow the Delaware General Corporation Law, Del. Code Ann. tit. 8 (1991, as amended 1994, and as amended thereafter) with respect to matters of corporate governance procedures.
Section 5. Indemnification. For purposes of this Section 5 of Article VIII, the term “institution-affiliated party” shall mean any institution-affiliated party of the association as such term is defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(u).
Any institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may be indemnified or reimbursed by the association for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions or proceedings and appeals therein, whether civil, criminal, governmental, administrative or investigative, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such law now or hereafter exists; provided, however, that when an administrative proceeding or action instituted by a federal banking agency results in a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association, then the association shall require the repayment of all legal fees and expenses advanced pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph and may not indemnify such institution-affiliated parties (or their heirs, executors or administrators) for expenses, including expenses for legal fees, penalties or other payments incurred. The association shall provide indemnification in connection with an action or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) only if such action or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.
Expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding under 12 U.S.C. 164 or 1818 may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) a determination by the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding that the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) has a reasonable basis for prevailing on the merits, (b) a determination that the indemnified individual (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators)
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will have the financial capacity to reimburse the association in the event he or she does not prevail, (c) a determination that the payment of expenses and fees by the association will not adversely affect the safety and soundness of the association, and (d) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event of a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association. In all other instances, expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding as to which indemnification may be given under the Articles of Association may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by or on behalf of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event that such institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification as authorized by these Bylaws and (b) approval by the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding or, if such a quorum is not obtainable, then approval by shareholders. To the extent permitted by law, the Board of Directors or, if applicable, the shareholders, shall not be required to find that the institution-affiliated party has met the applicable standard of conduct provided by law for indemnification in connection with such action or proceeding.
In the event that a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the remaining members of the Board may authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the remaining members of the Board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Section 5 of Article VIII have been met. If independent legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the remaining members of the Board of Directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
In the event that all of the members of the Board of Directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the Board shall authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the Board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Section 5 of Article VIII have been met. If legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the Board of Directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
To the extent permitted under applicable law, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in the Articles of Association (a) shall be available with respect to events occurring prior to the adoption of these Bylaws, (b) shall continue to exist after any restrictive amendment of these Bylaws with respect to events occurring prior to such amendment, (c) may be interpreted on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, or on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time such rights are claimed, and (d) are in the nature of contract rights which may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction as if the association and the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) for whom such rights are sought were parties to a separate written agreement.
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The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not, to the extent permitted under applicable law, be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any such institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may now or hereafter be otherwise entitled whether contained in the association’s Articles of Association, these Bylaws, a resolution of shareholders, a resolution of the Board of Directors, or an agreement providing such indemnification, the creation of such other rights being hereby expressly authorized. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights, pursuant to statute or otherwise, of any such institution-affiliated party (or of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in any such action or proceeding to have assessed or allowed in his or her favor, against the association or otherwise, his or her costs and expenses incurred therein or in connection therewith or any part thereof.
If this Section 5 of Article VIII or any part hereof shall be held unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remainder of this Section 5 of Article VIII shall remain fully enforceable.
The association may, upon affirmative vote of a majority of its Board of Directors, purchase insurance to indemnify its institution-affiliated parties to the extent that such indemnification is allowed in these Bylaws; provided, however, that no such insurance shall include coverage for a final order assessing civil money penalties against such persons by a bank regulatory agency. Such insurance may, but need not, be for the benefit of all institution- affiliated parties.
ARTICLE IX
Inspection and Amendments
Section 1. Inspection. A copy of the bylaws of the association, with all amendments, shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the main office of the association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during banking hours.
Section 2. Amendments. The Board of Directors shall have the power, at any regular or special meeting thereof, to amend, alter or repeal the bylaws of the association, or to make and adopt new bylaws. These Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by the shareholders of the association to the extent and as permitted in the Articles of Association or applicable law.
EXHIBIT 6
Section 321(b) Consent
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, Wilmington Trust, National Association hereby consents that reports of examinations by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||||||
| Dated: February 16, 2024 | By: | /s/ Iris Munoz | ||||
| Name: Iris Munoz | ||||||
| Title: Assistant Vice President | ||||||
EXHIBIT 7
REPORT OF CONDITION
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
As of the close of business on December 31, 2023
| ASSETS | Thousands of Dollars | |||
| Cash and balances due from depository institutions: |
537,816 | |||
| Securities: |
5,633 | |||
| Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreement to resell: |
0 | |||
| Loans and leases held for sale: |
0 | |||
| Loans and leases net of unearned income, allowance: |
44,955 | |||
| Premises and fixed asset |
31,969 | |||
| Other real estate owned: |
210 | |||
| Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies: |
0 | |||
| Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures: |
0 | |||
| Intangible assets: |
0 | |||
| Other assets: |
62,185 | |||
| Total Assets: |
682,768 | |||
| LIABILITIES | Thousands of Dollars | |||
| Deposits |
6,021 | |||
| Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase |
0 | |||
| Other borrowed money: |
0 | |||
| Other Liabilities: |
94,313 | |||
| Total Liabilities |
100,334 | |||
| EQUITY CAPITAL | Thousands of Dollars | |||
| Common Stock |
1,000 | |||
| Surplus |
345,403 | |||
| Retained Earnings |
236,374 | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income |
(343 | ) | ||
| Total Equity Capital |
582,434 | |||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital |
682,768 | |||