Ebay Inc S-3ASR, filed Feb 24, 2023
Ebay Inc (EBAY)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
eBay Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 77-0430924 |
| (State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 2025
Hamilton Avenue San Jose, CA 95125 (408) 376-7108 |
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Marie
Oh Huber
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary
eBay
Inc.
2025 Hamilton Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125
(408) 376-7108
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With a copy
to:
Scott Lesmes
John Hensley
Morrison & Foerster LLP
2100 L Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 887-1500
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. o
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. x
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. o
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. o
If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x
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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | x | Accelerated filer | o | ||
| Non-accelerated filer | o | Smaller reporting company | o | ||
| Emerging growth company | o |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
PROSPECTUS
eBay Inc.
Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts and Units of any or all of the following
We may offer and sell our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares or purchase contracts, as well as units that include any of these securities, from time to time in one or more offerings. These securities may, if applicable, be convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, other securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer.
We will provide specific terms of any securities we offer, and the manner in which they are being offered, in supplements to this prospectus, which we refer to as “prospectus supplements.” You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus carefully before you invest.
We may offer and sell any of the securities described in this prospectus to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of these securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, commission or discount arrangement between us and them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. None of these securities may be sold without delivery of a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of those securities.
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “EBAY.” On February 23, 2023, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market was $45.35 per share.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus and under similar headings in the documents that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is February 24, 2023.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell one or more classes or series of the securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of some of the terms of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell any securities, we will provide you with a supplement to this prospectus that describes the terms of that offering and the securities being offered. In addition, each prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and, accordingly, any statement in this prospectus or in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed modified or superseded to the extent that any statement contained in the applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” before deciding whether to invest in any of the securities being offered.
The distribution of this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. No action has been or will be taken by us or by any underwriter, agent or dealer involved in the distribution of any securities that would permit a public offering of the securities or the possession or distribution of this prospectus or any related prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than the United States. Neither this prospectus nor any related prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus constitutes, and none of the foregoing may be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
You should rely only on the information contained and incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. We have not authorized any person to provide you with different or inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and any underwriters, agents or dealers involved in the distribution of any securities will not be, making an offer to sell these securities or soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the respective dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus, the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, any prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus include or may include trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or others. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included in this prospectus, the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, any prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
Unless we otherwise specify or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our” or “eBay” refer to the current Delaware corporation (eBay Inc.) and its California predecessor, as well as all of our consolidated subsidiaries; and references in this prospectus to “eBay Inc.” refer to eBay Inc. excluding its subsidiaries.
| 1 |
The following highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or contained in documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in your evaluation of an investment in our securities. You should read carefully this prospectus, including the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors,” the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the related prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus in their entirety before making an investment decision.
eBay Inc. was formed as a sole proprietorship in September 1995 and was incorporated in California in May 1996. In April 1998, we reincorporated in Delaware, and in September 1998, we completed the initial public offering of our common stock.
eBay is a global commerce leader through our Marketplace platforms which connect millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world. The platforms include our online marketplace located at www.ebay.com and its localized counterparts, including an off-platform business in Japan, as well as eBay’s suite of mobile apps. Our Marketplace platforms are accessible through an online experience (e.g. desktop and laptop computers), iOS and Android mobile devices (e.g. smartphones and tablets) and our application programming interfaces (“APIs,” platform access for third party software developers).
Our principal executive offices are located at 2025 Hamilton Avenue, San Jose, California 95125 and our telephone number is (408) 376-7108. Our internet address is www.ebay.com. Our investor relations website is located at https://investors.ebayinc.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, any of our websites is not part of this prospectus, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, any prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus.
| 2 |
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before you decide to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, if any, which are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and may be obtained as described under “Where You Can Find More Information,” and any risk factors that may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any other documents that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, as well as the other information contained in this prospectus, the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. Each of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our securities. In addition, the information contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. We refer you to the “Forward-Looking Statements” section of this prospectus, as well as the “Forward-Looking Statements” or other comparable sections in the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, for information regarding some of the risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including the risks described under the caption “Risk Factors” in the documents referred to above and the risks described elsewhere in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated and deemed to incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
This prospectus and the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein contain, and any prospectus supplement and related free writing prospectus may contain, 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including statements that involve expectations, plans or intentions (such as those relating to future business, future results of operations or financial condition, including with respect to the effects of COVID-19, impacts from the ongoing war in Ukraine, new or planned features or services, or management strategies, including our portfolio review). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or related free writing prospectus, including statements that involve expectations, plans or intentions, are forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the future performance of eBay Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including future results of operations, financial condition, efficiencies, margins, reinvestments, dividends, share repurchases and timing of announcements regarding our strategic portfolio review. We have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations, forecasts and assumptions about future conditions, events and results at the respective dates of the documents in which they appear. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed, predicted or implied in these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, those discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and may be obtained as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information,” and, if applicable, in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the risks and uncertainties discussed in our consolidated financial statements, related notes and the other information included in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein. Reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance.
| 3 |
Other factors that could cause or contribute to our actual results differing materially from those expressed, predicted or implied in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: changes in political, business and economic conditions, any regional or general economic downturn or crisis and any conditions that affect ecommerce growth or cross-border trade; our need to realize growth opportunities in payments intermediation and advertising; the outcome of the strategic portfolio reviews; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our need to successfully react to the increasing importance of mobile commerce and the increasing social aspect of commerce; an increasingly competitive environment for our business; changes to our capital allocation, including the timing, declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends or levels of our share repurchases, or management of operating cash; our ability to increase operating efficiency to drive margin improvements and enable reinvestments; our need to manage our indebtedness, including managing exposure to interest rates and maintaining our credit ratings; our need to manage an increasingly large enterprise with a broad range of businesses of varying degrees of maturity and in many different geographies; the ability to successfully intermediate payments on our Marketplace platforms; our need and ability to manage regulatory, tax, data security and litigation risks; the ultimate resolution of ongoing investigations and other legal matters involving us; our ability to timely upgrade and develop our technology systems, infrastructure and customer service capabilities at reasonable cost while maintaining site stability and performance and adding new products and features; and our ability to integrate, manage and grow businesses that have been acquired or may be acquired in the future.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the respective dates of the documents in which they appear. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or future results or circumstances. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, any documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus.
Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus, we anticipate using the net proceeds we receive from the sale of our securities described in this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures, repayment of indebtedness and repurchases of our common stock.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of our debt securities and the related indenture (as such terms are defined below). When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a supplement to this prospectus and, if applicable, one or more free writing prospectuses relating to such series and such description will supplement and, to the extent inconsistent with any portion of the description of our debt securities and the indenture contained in this prospectus, supersede the applicable portion of the description contained in this prospectus.
The debt securities (the “debt securities”) will be issued under the form of the indenture filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part (the “indenture”), between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the “trustee”). We have described some of the provisions of the indenture and the debt securities below. This description is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the indenture, which has been filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and the respective forms of the debt securities of each series, which will be filed as exhibits to such registration statement or to documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, all of which may be obtained as described under “Where You Can Find More Information.” You should read the indenture and the applicable form of debt security for a complete statement of the provisions described in this prospectus and for other provisions that may be important to you. The indenture is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. In the following description, we have included references to some of the section numbers of the base indenture and the supplemental indenture so that you can easily locate those provisions.
References in this section to “eBay,” “eBay Inc.,” “we,” “our” and “us” and similar references mean eBay Inc. excluding, unless the context otherwise requires or otherwise expressly stated, its subsidiaries.
| 4 |
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors or a committee thereof, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors or a committee thereof, an officers’ certificate or a supplemental indenture. (Section 2.2 of the base indenture)
An unlimited aggregate principal amount of debt securities may be issued under the indenture. We may issue debt securities under the indenture from time to time in one or more series with the same or various maturities, interest rates, public offering prices and other terms and provisions. We need not issue all debt securities of one series at the same time. In addition, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may, without the consent of the holders or beneficial owners of the debt securities of any series, reopen a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series from time to time. Any such additional debt securities of any series, together with the debt securities of that series previously issued, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the indenture. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement and, if applicable, one or more free writing prospectuses relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and other terms of the debt securities of that series, which may include the following, if applicable:
| · | the title of the debt securities of that series; |
| · | the price or prices at which the debt securities of that series will be offered to the public; |
| · | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series; |
| · | the date or dates on which we will pay the principal of the debt securities of that series; |
| · | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) or the method used to determine the rate or rates at which the debt securities of that series will bear interest, if any; the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue; the date or dates on which interest, if any, will be payable; and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
| · | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series and the length of any deferral period; |
| · | the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities of that series; |
| · | any obligation we may have to redeem or repurchase the debt securities of that series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the holders of debt securities of that series; |
| · | the denominations in which the debt securities of that series will be issued, if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
| · | the portion of principal amount of the debt securities of that series payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof, if other than the entire principal amount; |
| · | the currency of denomination of the debt securities of that series, if other than U.S. dollars; |
| · | the currency or currencies in which payment of principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will be made, if other than U.S. dollars; |
| · | if payments of principal of or premium or interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will be made in one or more currencies, other than that or those in which the debt securities of that series are denominated, the manner in which the currency exchange rate with respect to those payments will be determined; |
| · | the manner in which the amounts of payments of principal of or premium or interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will be determined, if those amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or other index; |
| 5 |
| · | any provisions relating to any collateral provided as security for the payment of the debt securities of that series; |
| · | any additions to or changes in the events of default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series; |
| · | any provisions for the conversion of the debt securities of that series into, or the exchange of the debt securities of that series for, other securities (including, without limitation, other securities described in this prospectus) or property; |
| · | any additions to or changes in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series; and |
| · | any other terms of the debt securities of that series, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series. (Section 2.2 of the base indenture) |
Without limitation to the foregoing, the terms of the debt securities of any series described in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may modify, supplement or supersede any of the terms of the debt securities or the indenture described in this prospectus.
Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest on the debt securities of each series will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
In addition, the indenture will allow us to issue subordinated debt securities, which may include senior subordinated debt securities, subordinated debt securities, junior subordinated debt securities and subordinated debt securities with any other ranking. Any subordination provisions of a particular series of debt securities will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. We may issue debt securities (which we refer to as “discount securities”) that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to any such discount securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Ranking
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities, the debt securities of each series will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The debt securities of each series will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of our secured indebtedness, if any, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries, which are separate legal entities having no contractual obligation to pay any amounts due pursuant to the debt securities or to make funds available for such purpose.
Form; Transfer and Exchange
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement:
| · | the debt securities of each series will be issued in fully registered form without coupons and in the form of one or more global debt securities (“global securities”) registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee, and |
| · | investors will not be entitled to receive debt securities of such series in definitive certificated form (“certificated securities”) or to have debt securities of such series registered in their names except under the limited circumstances described below under “Book-Entry Form and Transfer.” |
| 6 |
For additional information concerning global securities, see “Book-Entry Form and Transfer” below.
Debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of debt securities (except as otherwise expressly provided by the indenture), but we may (subject to limited exceptions) require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange. (Section 2.7 of the base indenture)
The indenture provides that neither we nor any registrar for the debt securities will be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days preceding the giving of a notice of redemption of debt securities of that series and ending at the close of business on the day such notice is given, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange debt securities (or portions thereof) selected, called or being called for redemption or, if applicable, surrendered for repurchase by us at the option of the holder, except any portion thereof not so selected, called or being called or so surrendered. (Section 2.7 of the base indenture)
The indenture provides that, prior to due presentment of a debt security for registration of transfer, we, the trustee and any agent of ours or the trustee may treat the person in whose name such debt security is registered in the register maintained for that purpose as the owner of such debt security for the purpose of receiving payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on such debt security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such debt security shall be overdue, and neither we, the trustee nor any agent of ours or the trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary. (Section 2.16 of the base indenture)
No Sinking Fund or Protection In the Event of a Change of Control
Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities, the debt securities will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund, will not be subject to repurchase by us at the option of the holders prior to maturity and, except to the limited extent described under “Covenants—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” below, will not be entitled to the benefit of any provisions which are intended to protect holders of debt securities in the event of a change of control of eBay or a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not related to a change in control) involving eBay.
Covenants
The following covenants will apply to the debt securities of each series unless otherwise expressly stated in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Limitation on Liens
In the indenture, we covenant and agree, for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of each series, that we will not, nor will we permit any Significant Subsidiary to, issue, incur, create, assume or guarantee any debt for borrowed money (including debt for borrowed money evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments) (collectively, “Debt”) secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, security interest, pledge, lien, charge or similar encumbrance (each, a “Lien”) upon any Principal Property, shares of Capital Stock of any Significant Subsidiary or intercompany Debt owed by any Significant Subsidiary to us or any of our other Subsidiaries (“Intercompany Debt”) (whether such Principal Property, shares of Capital Stock or Intercompany Debt is existing or owed on the date the debt securities of such series are first issued or thereafter created or acquired), without in any such case effectively providing, substantially concurrently with or prior to the issuance, incurrence, creation, assumption or guarantee of any such secured Debt or the grant of such Lien securing any such secured Debt, that the debt securities of such series (together with, if we shall so determine, any other indebtedness or other obligations (including, without limitation, debt securities of other series issued under the indenture) of or guarantees by us or any Significant Subsidiary ranking equally in right of payment with the debt securities of such series or any such guarantee) shall be secured equally and ratably with (or, at our option, prior to) such secured Debt (but only so long as such secured Debt is so secured). The foregoing restriction, however, will not apply to any of the following:
| 7 |
(1) Liens on property, Capital Stock, Debt or other assets of any person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary of ours, provided that such Liens are not incurred in anticipation of such person becoming a Subsidiary of ours and do not extend to any assets other than those of such person;
(2) Liens on property, Capital Stock, Debt or other assets existing at the time of acquisition thereof (including, without limitation, by merger, consolidation or acquisition of Capital Stock) by us or a Subsidiary of ours, or Liens thereon to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price thereof, or Liens on property, Capital Stock, Debt or other assets to secure any Debt incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 18 months after, the latest of the acquisition (including, without limitation, by merger, consolidation or acquisition of Capital Stock) thereof or, in the case of property, the completion of construction, the completion of improvements or the commencement of substantial commercial operation of such property for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof, such construction or the making of such improvements, as the case may be;
(3) Liens in favor of, or which secure Debt owing to, us or any of our Subsidiaries;
(4) Liens existing on the date the debt securities of such series were first issued;
(5) Liens on property of a person existing at the time such person is merged with or into, or consolidated with, us or a Subsidiary of ours or otherwise acquired by us or a Subsidiary of ours or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of the properties of any person as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us or a Subsidiary of ours, provided that such Liens were not incurred in anticipation of such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or other disposition and do not extend to any assets other than those of the person merged with or into, or consolidated with, us or a Subsidiary of ours or such property sold, leased or disposed of;
(6) Liens in favor of the United States of America or any state, territory or possession thereof (or the District of Columbia), or any department, agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States of America or any state, territory or possession thereof (or the District of Columbia), to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any Debt incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such Liens;
(7) Liens securing the debt securities of such series;
(8) Liens created in connection with a project financed with, or created to secure, Non-recourse Obligations;
(9) Liens to secure bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments on which the interest is exempt from federal income tax; and
(10) extensions, renewals, refinancings or replacements (in whole or in part) of any Liens or Debt which is secured by Liens that were permitted to be incurred by the indenture; provided, however, that (a) the principal or accreted amount of any Debt of ours or any of our Significant Subsidiaries secured by such Lien immediately after such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement shall not exceed the sum of the principal or accreted amount, as the case may be, of any Debt of ours or any of our Significant Subsidiaries so secured immediately prior to such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement plus any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any fees, premiums and penalties) related to such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement and (b) such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement Liens are limited to all or part of the same Principal Property (and any improvements thereon), shares of Capital Stock of any Significant Subsidiary or Intercompany Debt which secured any Debt of ours or any of our Significant Subsidiaries immediately prior to such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement.
| 8 |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we and our Significant Subsidiaries may, without securing the debt securities of such series or any other debt securities issued under the indenture, issue, incur, create, assume or guarantee Debt secured by any Liens which would otherwise be subject to the restrictions set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph if, immediately after giving effect thereto and, if applicable, to the application of any proceeds therefrom to repay Debt on a pro forma basis, our Aggregate Debt does not exceed the greater of (1) 20% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, determined as of the date of such issuance, incurrence, creation, assumption or guarantee, and (2) $500 million. (Section 4.1 of the supplemental indenture)
Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions
In the indenture, we covenant and agree, for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of each series, that we will not, nor will we permit any Significant Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal Property, unless:
(1) such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction involves a lease for a term of not more than three years;
(2) such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is between us and one of our Subsidiaries or between any Subsidiaries of ours;
(3) we or such Significant Subsidiary would be entitled, at the time of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, to incur Debt secured by a Lien on the Principal Property involved in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction at least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, without equally and ratably securing the debt securities of such series, pursuant to the first paragraph under “— Limitation on Liens” above;
(4) we or any of our Subsidiaries applies an amount equal to the net proceeds of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction within 365 days after such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction to any of (or a combination of) (i) the prepayment or retirement of the debt securities of such series, (ii) the prepayment or retirement of other bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments (including, without limitation, debt securities of any other series issued under the indenture) or Debt of ours or a Subsidiary of ours (other than bonds, notes, debentures, similar instruments or Debt of ours that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the debt securities of such series) that by its terms matures more than 12 months after its creation or (iii) the purchase, construction, development, expansion or improvement of properties or facilities that are used in or useful to our business or the business of any of our Subsidiaries; or
(5) such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction was entered into on or prior to the date the debt securities of such series were first issued.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we and our Significant Subsidiaries may, without securing the debt securities of such series or any other debt securities issued under the indenture, enter into a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction which would otherwise be subject to the restrictions set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph if, immediately after giving effect thereto and, if applicable, to the application of any proceeds therefrom to repay Debt on a pro forma basis, our Aggregate Debt does not exceed the greater of (1) 20% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, determined as of the date of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, and (2) $500 million. (Section 4.7 of the supplemental indenture)
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
In the indenture, we covenant and agree, for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of each series, that we will not consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:
| · | we are the surviving person or the successor person (if other than us) is organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities of each series and the indenture; |
| 9 |
| · | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default (as defined below), and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would be an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing under the indenture; and |
| · | certain other conditions are met. |
Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of eBay Inc. may consolidate with, merge into or convey, transfer or lease all or part of its properties or assets to eBay Inc. or any other Subsidiary of eBay Inc.
Upon compliance with the provisions above, the successor person (if other than eBay) will succeed to and be substituted for and may exercise every right and power of us under the debt securities and the indenture with the same effect as if such successor person had been the original obligor under the debt securities and the indenture, and thereafter (except in the case of a lease) we will be released from all obligations and covenants under the debt securities and the indenture. (Section 5.1 of the base indenture)
Certain Definitions
As used in this “Description of Debt Securities” section, the following terms have the meanings set forth below.
“Aggregate Debt” means, with respect to the debt securities of any series, the sum of the following, calculated as of the date of determination on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP:
| (1) | the aggregate amount of then outstanding Debt of us and our Significant Subsidiaries incurred after the date the debt securities of such series were first issued and secured by Liens not permitted under the first paragraph under “—Limitation on Liens” above, and |
| (2) | the aggregate amount of Attributable Debt of us and our Significant Subsidiaries then outstanding in respect of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions entered into by us and our Significant Subsidiaries after the date the debt securities of such series were first issued pursuant to the second paragraph under “—Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions” above. |
“Attributable Debt” with regard to a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal Property means, at the time of determination, the lesser of:
| (1) | the fair market value (as determined in good faith by our board of directors, which term, as defined in the indenture, includes committees thereof) of the Principal Property subject to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; and |
| (2) | the present value of the total net amount of rent required to be paid under the applicable lease during the remaining contractual term thereof (including any period for which such lease has been extended but subject to the last sentence of this subparagraph), discounted at the rate of interest per annum set forth or implicit in the terms of such lease (or, if not practicable to determine such rate, the weighted average interest rate per annum borne (at the time of determination) by the debt securities then outstanding under the indenture) compounded semi- annually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30 day months). For purposes of clarity, it is understood and agreed that (a) the total net amount of rent required to be paid under, and the term of, the applicable lease shall be determined upon the basis of the contractual terms of such lease and shall not be affected by the fact that all or any portion of such rent may, under GAAP, be characterized as interest or some other amount or that the amount of such rent or the term of such lease, as determined under GAAP, may be different from the amount of rent or the term specified by the contractual terms of such lease and (b) the total net amount of rent shall exclude any amounts required to be paid by the lessee, whether or not designated as rent or additional rent, on account of maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges or any amounts required to be paid by such lessee contingent upon the amount of sales or similar contingent amounts. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such total net amount of rent shall be the lesser of (1) the net amount determined assuming |
| 10 |
| termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the net amount shall also include the present value, calculated as provided above, of the amount of the penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or (2) the net amount determined assuming no such termination, in each case determined in accordance with the contractual terms of such lease. |
“Capital Stock” of any person means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) in the equity of such person.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date on which we effect a transaction requiring such Consolidated Net Tangible Assets to be measured under the indenture, the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves) after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities, except for current maturities of long-term debt and obligations under finance leases, and (b) all intangible assets (including goodwill), to the extent included in said aggregate amount of assets, all as set forth in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of us and our consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP contained in an annual report on Form 10-K or a quarterly report on Form 10-Q (in each case as amended, if applicable) filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor thereto) or if, at such date, we shall have ceased filing such reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor thereto), our then most recent consolidated annual or quarterly balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which are in effect as of the date of application thereof.
“holder” means any person in whose name a debt security is registered.
“Non-recourse Obligation” means indebtedness or other obligations substantially related to (1) the acquisition of assets not previously owned by us or any of our Subsidiaries or (2) the financing of a project involving the development or expansion of properties of ours or any of our Subsidiaries, as to which the obligee with respect to such indebtedness or obligation has no recourse to us or any Subsidiary of ours or to our or any such Subsidiary’s assets other than the assets which were acquired with the proceeds of such transaction or the project financed with the proceeds of such transaction (and the proceeds thereof).
“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including any government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Principal Property” means (1) our principal corporate office (whether owned on the date of the indenture or thereafter acquired, and including any leasehold interest therein) and (2) each data center, service and support facility or research and development facility (in each case, whether owned on the date of the indenture or thereafter acquired) which is owned by or leased to us or any of our Subsidiaries and is located within the United States of America, unless, with respect to clause (2), our board of directors (which term, as defined in the indenture, includes committees thereof) has determined in good faith that such center or facility is not of material importance to the total business conducted by us and our Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that any such center or facility (a) owned by us or any of our Subsidiaries for which the book value (less accumulated depreciation) on the date as of which the determination is being made is equal to or less than 1.0% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of such date, all determined in accordance with GAAP, or (b) leased by us or any of our Subsidiaries for which the annual lease obligation on the date as of which the determination is being made is equal to or less than $2.0 million shall in no event be deemed a Principal Property.
“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by us or any Significant Subsidiary of ours of any Principal Property, whether owned on the date of the indenture or thereafter acquired, which Principal Property has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or such Significant Subsidiary of ours to such person with the intention of taking back a lease of such Principal Property.
| 11 |
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of ours that is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor thereto) or any successor to such Rule.
“Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of outstanding shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or persons performing similar functions) is at the time owned (and, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of whose total general partnership interests then outstanding is at the time owned), directly or indirectly, by such person or other Subsidiaries of such person or a combination thereof and, in the case of an entity other than a corporation or a partnership, such person has the power to direct, directly or indirectly, the policies, management and affairs of such entity.
Events of Default
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an “event of default” with respect to the debt securities of any series means any of the following:
| · | default in the payment of any interest on any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of that default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of such 30-day period); or |
| · | default in the payment of principal of or premium (if any) on any debt security of that series when due and payable; or |
| · | default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of ours in the indenture (other than a covenant or warranty for which the consequences of nonperformance or breach are addressed by another event of default applicable to debt securities of that series and other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default or breach continues uncured for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, a written notice containing the statements required by the indenture; or |
| · | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of eBay; or |
| · | any other event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series that is specified in a resolution of our board of directors (or a committee thereof), supplemental indenture or officer’s certificate establishing the terms of the debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture and described in the applicable prospectus supplement. (Section 6.1 of the base indenture) |
No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain events of default or an acceleration of the debt securities of one or more series under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain of our other indebtedness outstanding from time to time.
If an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of eBay), then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal (or, if any debt securities of that series are discount securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms of such debt securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders). If an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of eBay occurs and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of any series, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities of such series will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of debt securities of such series. At any time after acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has occurred and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul such acceleration and its consequences if all events of default with respect to the debt securities
| 12 |
of such series, other than non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of the debt securities of such series which have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. (Section 6.2 of the base indenture) We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default.
The indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities of any series unless such holders shall have offered to the trustee security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. (Section 7.2(f) of the base indenture) Subject to certain rights of the trustee and to certain conditions specified in the indenture, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series. (Section 6.12 of the base indenture)
No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or the debt securities of such series, or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee or similar official, or for any other remedy under the indenture, unless:
| · | that holder has previously given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to debt securities of that series; |
| · | the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such event of default in its own name as trustee under the indenture; |
| · | such holder or holders have offered to the trustee security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; |
| · | the trustee for 90 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and |
| · | no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 90-day period by holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. (Section 6.7 of the base indenture) |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on that debt security on the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment. (Section 6.8 of the base indenture)
The indenture requires that we deliver to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each of our fiscal years, an officers’ certificate stating whether or not, to the knowledge of the signers thereof, we are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the indenture and, if we are in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which the signers may have knowledge. The indenture also requires that, so long as any debt securities are outstanding, we deliver to the trustee promptly upon becoming aware of any default or event of default under the indenture, an officers’ certificate specifying such default or event of default and what action we are taking or propose to take with respect thereto. (Section 4.3 of the base indenture) The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities
| 13 |
of any series of any default or event of default with respect to debt securities of that series (except a default in payment of principal of or premium or interest, if any, on any debt securities of that series) if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities of that series. (Section 7.5 of the base indenture)
Modification and Waiver
We and the trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture in order to amend or supplement the indenture with respect to the debt securities of one or more series or amend or supplement the debt securities of one or more series, without notice to or the consent of any holders of any debt securities, to:
| · | cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
| · | make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities in any material respect; |
| · | comply with the provisions described above under “Covenants—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”; |
| · | provide for the issuance of uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities or reflect any changes in the rules or procedures of any depositary for global securities; |
| · | add to the covenants or the events of default for the benefit of holders of all or any series of debt securities or surrender any right or power conferred on us by the indenture with respect to the debt securities of one or more series or to secure the debt securities of one or more series or to provide guarantees for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities; |
| · | amend or supplement any of the provisions of the indenture in respect of one or more series of debt securities, provided, however, that any such amendment or supplement either (A) shall not apply to any outstanding debt security of any series issued prior to the date of such amendment or supplement and entitled to the benefit of such provision or (B) shall become effective only if or when, as the case may be, there is no outstanding debt security of any series issued prior to the date of such amendment or supplement and entitled to the benefit of such provision; |
| · | establish the form and terms of any series of debt securities as permitted by the indenture; |
| · | evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the indenture by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts thereunder by more than one trustee; |
| · | supplement any provisions of the indenture as is necessary to permit or facilitate the legal defeasance, covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of any debt securities as described below under “Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants” or “Satisfaction and Discharge”; and |
| · | comply with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any applicable law or regulation in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or conform the indenture with any other mandatory provision of law or regulation, or conform the indenture or the debt securities of any series to the description thereof contained in any applicable prospectus, prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus, offering memorandum, term sheet or other offering document. (Section 9.1 of the base indenture) |
We and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures for the purpose of supplementing or amending in any manner the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, or supplementing or amending the debt securities of any series, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series; provided that no such consent of holders of debt securities shall be required for any amendment or supplement described in the immediately preceding paragraph. In addition, the
| 14 |
holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive compliance by us with any covenants or other provisions of the indenture and the debt securities of such series. (Section 9.2 of the base indenture)
However, the indenture provides that, subject to the provisions described in the next succeeding paragraph, an amendment, supplement or waiver described in the immediately preceding paragraph affecting the debt securities of any series may not, without the consent of the holder of each debt security of such series then outstanding:
| · | reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest, if any) on any debt security of that series; |
| · | reduce the principal of or premium on or change the stated maturity of any debt security of that series or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any debt securities of that series; |
| · | reduce the principal amount of any discount securities of that series payable upon acceleration of its maturity; |
| · | waive a default or event of default in the payment of the principal of or premium or interest, if any, on any debt security of that series (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of such series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| · | make the principal of or premium or interest, if any, on any debt security of such series payable in a currency other than that stated in such debt security; |
| · | make any change, insofar as relates to the debt securities of that series, to the provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities of that series to receive payment of the principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on, the debt securities of that series when due and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or relating to waivers of past defaults and events of default with respect to the debt securities of that series; |
| · | reduce the amount payable upon the redemption of any debt security of that series at our option or the repayment of any debt security of that series at the option of the holder; or |
| · | reduce the percentage in principal amount of debt securities of that series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any of the foregoing modifications or otherwise necessary to supplement or amend the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series, or to waive any past default or event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series. (Section 9.3 of the base indenture) |
The indenture provides that any amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind every holder of debt securities of each series affected by such amendment, supplement or waiver unless it is of the type, or relates to any of the matters, described in any of the bullet points in the immediately preceding paragraph. In that case then, anything in the indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind every holder of a debt security who has consented to it and every subsequent holder of a debt security or portion of a debt security that evidences the same debt as the consenting holder’s debt security. (Section 9.5 of the base indenture)
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of such series, waive any past default or event of default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default or event of default in the payment of the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on, any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration of the debt securities of that series and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration. (Section 6.13 of the base indenture)
| 15 |
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants
The indenture provides that, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the indenture, we shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all outstanding debt securities of any series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in clause (a) under “—Conditions to Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” below with respect to the debt securities of such series and the provisions of the indenture, as it relates to the outstanding debt securities of such series, shall no longer be in effect except for:
| · | the rights of holders of debt securities of such series to receive, solely from the funds described in clause (a) under “—Conditions to Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” below, payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the outstanding debt securities of such series when due; and |
| · | a limited number of other provisions of the indenture, including provisions relating to transfers and exchanges of, and the maintenance of a registrar and paying agent for, the debt securities of such series and the replacement of stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of such series. |
We sometimes refer to this as “legal defeasance.” Upon the legal defeasance of the debt securities of any series, we will be discharged from our obligations to make payments on the debt securities of such series and (subject to the exceptions as described above) all of our other obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series.
The indenture further provides that, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the indenture, we will be released from our obligations under, and may omit to comply with, the covenants described under the heading “Covenants” above and certain other covenants in the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, as well as any additional covenants applicable to the debt securities of such series which may be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement as being subject to covenant defeasance, and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a default or event of default with respect to any debt securities of such series. We sometimes refer to this as “covenant defeasance.”
Conditions to Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. In order to effect legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of the debt securities of any series, we must, among other things:
| (a) | deposit with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities of any series denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, money and/or foreign government obligations, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide an amount in cash sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the dates those payments are due or, if applicable, any redemption date; |
| (b) | in the case of legal defeasance, deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, legal defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, legal defeasance and discharge had not occurred; and |
| (c) | in the case of covenant defeasance, deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred. (Sections 8.3 and 8.4 of the base indenture) |
| 16 |
In the event we exercise our option to effect covenant defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities and the debt securities of that series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of an event of default (including an event of default due to our failure to comply with any covenant that remains in effect following such covenant defeasance), the amount of money and/or U.S. government obligations or foreign government obligations, as the case may be, on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series on the dates those payments are due or, if applicable, a redemption date, but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. However, we shall remain liable for those payments.
When we use the term “U.S. government obligations,” we mean:
| · | securities which are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, and which in the case of (a) and |
| · | (b) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof; and |
| · | depository receipts issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. government obligations or a specific payment of interest on, or principal of or other amount payable with respect to, such U.S. government obligations 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 U.S. government obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount payable with respect to the U.S. government obligation evidenced by such depository receipt. |
Satisfaction and Discharge
The indenture will cease to be of any further effect with respect to any series of debt securities if:
| · | all outstanding debt securities of such series have (subject to certain exceptions) been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or |
| · | all outstanding debt securities of such series not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year, or have been legally defeased as described above under “Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants,” and (except in the case of debt securities that have been legally defeased) we have deposited with the trustee an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on, such debt securities to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; |
and, in either case, we also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable under the indenture by us with respect to the debt securities of that series and satisfy certain other conditions specified in the indenture. We also must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we complied with all requirements to properly discharge the debt securities of that series. We sometimes refer to this as “satisfaction and discharge.” (Section 8.1 of the base indenture)
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, a limited number of provisions of the indenture shall remain in effect, including provisions relating to transfers and exchanges of, and the maintenance of a registrar and paying agent for, debt securities, and the replacement of stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities.
| 17 |
Repayment of Unclaimed Funds
The indenture provides that the trustee and any paying agent shall pay to us upon request any money, U.S. government obligations or foreign government obligations held by them for payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, or any sinking fund payment on any debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years after the respective dates such principal, interest or premium, if any, or sinking fund payment shall have become due and payable. Thereafter, holders of debt securities entitled to those payments must look to us for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person. (Section 8.5 of the base indenture)
Legal Holidays
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if a payment date for any debt security is not a business day (as defined in the indenture) at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding business day, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. (Section 10.7 of the base indenture)
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. (Section 10.10 of the base indenture)
No Recourse Against Others
The indenture provides that a director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of ours shall not have any liability for any of our obligations under the debt securities or the indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. The indenture further provides that each holder of debt securities, by accepting a debt security, waives and releases all such liability and that such waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the debt securities. (Section 10.8 of the base indenture)
Concerning Our Relationship with the Trustee
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the trustee, provides commercial and investment banking services to us and our subsidiaries from time to time. In that regard, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas serves as a lender under our current unsecured revolving credit facility.
| 18 |
Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “charter”), the total number of shares of all classes of stock which we are authorized to issue is 3,590,000,000 shares, consisting of two classes: 3,580,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“common stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share (“preferred stock”). As of February 21, 2023, there were 536,880,282 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding (the foregoing amount does not include 1,188,562,319 shares of common stock that we held as treasury stock as of that date) and no shares of our preferred stock issued and outstanding.
The following is a description of some of the terms of our common stock and preferred stock, our charter, our amended and restated bylaws (the “bylaws”) and certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). The following description is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our charter and bylaws, which have been filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and any amendments or supplements to or restatements of our charter or by-laws which may in the future be filed as exhibits to such registration statement or to documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, all of which may be obtained as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information,” and the DGCL. You should read our charter and bylaws and the applicable provisions of the DGCL for a complete statement of the provisions described in this section and for other provisions that may be important to you.
Common Stock
Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of our common stockholders. Our charter does not entitle the holders of our common stock to cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of our directors. This means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock can elect all of the directors then standing for election by our common stockholders (assuming there are no outstanding shares of our preferred stock entitled to vote as a single class with our common stock in such election).
Nominees for election as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders shall stand for election to a one-year term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, subject to earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal. Pursuant to our bylaws and subject to the rights of any series of our preferred stock that may be outstanding, each member of our board of directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director (excluding abstentions) by the shares represented and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present; provided, however, that if our board of directors determines that the number of nominees for director exceeds the number of directors to be elected at such meeting (a “Contested Election”) and has not rescinded that determination as provided in our bylaws, each of the directors to be elected at such meeting shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the shares represented and entitled to vote at such meeting with respect to the election of such director. If an incumbent director fails to receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting for the election of directors (other than a Contested Election), either our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee or a committee of independent directors shall determine whether to accept or reject any resignation that may have been previously tendered by such incumbent director or whether other action should be taken (including whether to request the incumbent director to resign from the board of directors if no resignation has previously been tendered).
Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, the rules or regulations of any applicable stock exchange, or our charter or bylaws, every matter to be voted on by our stockholders, other than the election of directors, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of our stock entitled to vote thereon that are present in person or represented by proxy at the applicable meeting.
| 19 |
Our bylaws require us to include in our proxy materials for an annual meeting of stockholders the name of any person nominated for election to our board of directors by a stockholder or group of up to 20 stockholders who own and have owned, or are acting on behalf of up to 20 beneficial owners who own and have owned, in each case continuously for at least three years, at least 3% (determined as provided in our bylaws) of the aggregate voting power of our outstanding common stock and any other capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; provided that such stockholders give us written notice of such request within the time period set forth in our bylaws and such stockholders and their nominees satisfy the other requirements specified in our bylaws; and provided, further, that the number of such nominees whose names appear in our proxy materials shall not exceed the greater of (x) two nominees and (y) the largest whole number of nominees that does not exceed 20% of the number of our directors then in office, subject to possible reduction as provided in our bylaws.
Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding shares of our preferred stock to receive dividends before any dividends may be paid on our common stock, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in any dividends payable on our common stock that may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in any of our assets remaining for distribution to our common stockholders after payment of or provision for our debts and other liabilities and subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding shares of our preferred stock to receive distributions in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up before distributions are made to holders of our common stock.
Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights.
Preferred Stock
Under our charter, our board of directors is authorized, without vote or other action by our stockholders, to cause the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of our preferred stock in one or more series from time to time, to establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series (which may include, without limitation, voting rights, dividend rights and preferences, liquidation rights and preferences, redemption provisions and rights to convert the preferred stock of such series into other securities or property) and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding). Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting, dividend, liquidation, conversion or other rights (which may include, without limitation, rights of one or more series of preferred stock, voting as a separate class, to elect one or more directors, rights of one or more series of preferred stock to vote with our common stock in the election of directors, and rights to receive dividends and to receive distributions in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up before any dividends or distributions may be paid to holders of our common stock) that could dilute or otherwise adversely affect the voting power or the dividend, liquidation or other rights of the holders of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, financings and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a merger, change of control or other takeover of our company that our stockholders might consider to be in their best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium being paid over the market price of our common stock, and may also adversely affect the market price of our common stock and any other securities that we may issue as contemplated by this prospectus, and the voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights of the holders of our common stock.
Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL (“Section 203”). In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in “business combination” transactions with any “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
| · | prior to the time the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the corporation’s board of directors approved either the applicable business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
| 20 |
| · | upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) shares owned by directors who are also officers of the corporation and shares owned by employee stock plans in which the employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
| · | at or subsequent to the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the corporation’s board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
A “business combination” is defined to include, among other things and in general and subject to exceptions, a merger of the corporation with the interested stockholder; a sale of 10% or more of the market value of the corporation’s consolidated assets to the interested stockholder; certain transactions that result in the issuance of the corporation’s stock to the interested stockholder; a transaction that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the corporation’s stock owned by the interested stockholder; and any receipt by the interested stockholder of loans, guarantees or other financial benefits provided by the corporation. An “interested stockholder” is defined to include, in general and subject to exceptions, a person that (1) owns 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or (2) is an “affiliate” or “associate” (as defined in Section 203) of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock at any time within the prior three year period.
A Delaware corporation may opt out of Section 203 with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or by an amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws expressly electing not to be governed by Section 203 and approved by a majority of its outstanding voting shares. We have not opted out of Section 203. As a result, Section 203 could delay, deter or prevent a merger, change of control or other takeover of our company that our stockholders might consider to be in their best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium being paid over the market price of our common stock, and may also adversely affect the market price of our common stock and any other securities that we may issue as contemplated by this prospectus.
Anti-Takeover Provisions of Our Charter and Bylaws
Certain provisions of our charter and bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing another party from acquiring or seeking to acquire control of us. For example, our charter and bylaws include anti-takeover provisions that:
| · | authorize our board of directors, without vote or other action by our stockholders, to cause the issuance of preferred stock in one or more series from time to time and, with respect to each series, to establish the number of shares constituting that series and to fix the rights and other terms of that series, which may include, without limitation, voting rights, dividend rights and preferences, liquidation rights and preferences and rights to convert the preferred stock of such series into other securities or property; |
| · | provide that, subject to the rights of any series of our preferred stock that may be outstanding, vacancies on our board of directors or newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of our directors may be filled only by a majority of directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director; |
| · | provide that the number of directors constituting our board of directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution adopted by our board of directors; |
| · | require that actions to be taken by our stockholders must be taken at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders and not by written consent; |
| 21 |
| · | establish advance notice procedures and other requirements for stockholders to submit nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors and other proposals to be brought before a stockholders meeting; |
| · | provide that, subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock that may be outstanding and except as may be required by law, special meetings of stockholders may be called only by (1) our board of directors; (2) our Chairman of the Board; (3) our Chief Executive Officer; or (4) our Secretary upon the written request of one or more of our stockholders that have continuously held, for their own account or on behalf of others, at least a 20% aggregate “net long position” (as defined and determined as provided in our bylaws) of our outstanding common stock for at least 30 days as of the date such request is delivered to us and that have complied with the other requirements set forth in our bylaws; and |
| · | do not give the holders of our common stock cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors, which means that the holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock can elect all directors standing for election by our common stockholders. |
The provisions described above are intended to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage anyone seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. However, these provisions may also delay, deter or prevent a merger, change of control or other takeover of our company that our stockholders might consider to be in their best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium being paid over the market price of our common stock, and may also adversely affect the market price of our common stock and any other securities that we may issue as contemplated by this prospectus. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management.
Limitation on Liability of Directors; Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our charter provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, none of our directors shall be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. We believe that these limitations of liability and indemnification provisions are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Inc.
Nasdaq Global Select Market Listing
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “EBAY”.
| 22 |
We may issue warrants to purchase our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares or units. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. Additional information regarding any warrants we may offer and the related warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
We may offer depositary shares representing fractional interests in shares of our preferred stock of any series. In connection with the issuance of any depositary shares, we will enter into a deposit agreement with a depositary. Depositary shares may be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the related deposit agreement. Additional information regarding any depositary shares we may offer, the series of preferred stock represented by those depositary shares and the related deposit agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of, among other things, any of our other securities described in this prospectus or securities of third parties. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, the securities specified in the applicable prospectus supplement at a specified price or prices, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Additional information regarding any purchase contracts we may offer will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may issue units consisting of any of our other securities described in this prospectus, which units may also include securities of third parties. Additional information regarding any units we may offer will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of each series will be issued in the form of one or more debt securities in global, fully registered form (“global securities”), without interest coupons. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each such global security will be deposited with or on behalf of DTC and registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC (we sometimes refer to DTC or any other depositary for the global securities of any series as the “Depositary”).
References in this section to “eBay,” “eBay Inc.,” “we,” “our” and “us” and similar references mean eBay Inc. excluding, unless the context otherwise requires or otherwise expressly stated, its subsidiaries.
Investors may hold their interests in a global security directly through DTC if they are direct participants (as defined below) or indirectly through organizations that are DTC participants (as defined below). Except in the limited circumstances described below, holders of beneficial interests in the global securities of any series will not be entitled to receive debt securities of such series in definitive, certificated form (“certificated securities”) or to have debt securities of such series registered in their names.
We understand that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the 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 of institutions that have accounts with DTC (“direct participants”) to facilitate the clearance and
| 23 |
settlement of securities transactions among its participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of such participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC’s direct participants include brokers, dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include underwriters, agents or dealers involved in the distribution of the securities referred to in this prospectus. Indirect access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to other organizations (“indirect participants” and, together with direct participants, “participants”), such as brokers, dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, whether directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its direct participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of debt securities evidenced by global securities must be made by or through participants. Upon the issuance of a global security of any series, DTC will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the individual beneficial interests in the global security to the accounts of the applicable direct participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in each global security will be limited to participants or persons that hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in each global security will be shown on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to direct participants’ interests) and by its direct and indirect participants (with respect to the interests of beneficial owners).
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered holder of a global security of any series, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole holder and owner of the debt securities represented by such global security for all purposes under the indenture and such debt securities. Owners of beneficial interests in a global security of any series will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities of such series under the indenture, will not be able to transfer those beneficial interests except in accordance with the procedures of DTC and its participants and, except under the limited circumstances set forth below, will not be entitled to receive certificated securities or to have debt securities of such series registered in their names. Accordingly, each owner of a beneficial interest in a global security of any series must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such person is not a direct participant, on the procedures of the participants through which it owns its beneficial interest to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities of such series under the indenture. We understand that, under existing industry practice, in the event owners of beneficial interests in global securities of any series wish to take any action that DTC or its nominee, as the holder of such global securities, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the applicable participants to take such action, and that such participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through such participants to take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of such beneficial owners. Because DTC can only act on behalf of direct participants, who in turn act on behalf of others, the ability of a person having a beneficial interest in a global security to pledge that interest to persons that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of that interest, may be impaired by the lack of a physical certificate representing that interest.
All payments on the debt securities represented by a global security of any series registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of the global security.
We expect that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on, a global security of any series, will credit the applicable direct participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of DTC. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices as is now the case with securities held for accounts for customers registered in “street name”; those payments will be the responsibility of such participants. Neither we, the trustee nor any agent of ours or of the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial interests in any global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and its participants or the relationship between such participants and the owners of beneficial interests in the global securities.
| 24 |
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for certificated securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules.
The indenture provides that the global securities of any series will be exchanged for debt securities of the same series in certificated form only in the following limited circumstances:
(1) we receive notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the global securities of such series or if the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, we fail to appoint a successor Depositary for the global securities of such series registered as clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days after the date we receive such notice or learn that the Depositary has ceased to be so registered;
(2) we in our sole discretion determine that the global securities of such series shall be exchanged (in whole but not in part) for debt securities of such series in certificated form and we deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate to such effect; or
(3) an event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series shall have occurred and shall be continuing.
Any global security of any series that is exchanged for certificated securities as provided above will be exchanged for an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated securities of the same series, in authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Depositary instructs the trustee. It is expected that such instructions will be based upon directions received by the Depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in global securities.
Euroclear and Clearstream
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may hold interests in global securities of any series through Clearstream Banking S.A., which we refer to, together with any successor in such capacity, as “Clearstream,” or Euroclear Bank SA/NV, as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to, together with any successor in such capacity, as “Euroclear,” either directly if you are a participant in Clearstream or Euroclear or indirectly through organizations which are participants in Clearstream or Euroclear. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their respective participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Clearstream and Euroclear, respectively, on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in such depositaries’ names on DTC’s books.
Clearstream and Euroclear are securities clearance systems in Europe. Clearstream and Euroclear hold securities for their respective participating organizations and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between those participants through electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.
Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global securities owned through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and other participants in DTC, on the other hand, are also subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.
Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers and other transactions involving any beneficial interests in global securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.
| 25 |
Cross-market transfers between participants in DTC, on the one hand, and participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with the DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by their respective U.S. depositaries; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the global securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day fund settlement. Participants in Euroclear or Clearstream may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.
Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream purchasing an interest in a global security from a direct participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant participant in Euroclear or Clearstream, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a global security by or through a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream to a direct participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.
Other
The information in this section of this prospectus concerning DTC, Clearstream, Euroclear and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do not take responsibility for this information. This information has been provided solely as a matter of convenience. The rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear are solely within the control of those organizations and could change at any time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any agent of ours or of the trustee has any control over those entities and none of us takes any responsibility for their activities. You are urged to contact DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants directly to discuss those matters. In addition, although we expect that DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear will perform the foregoing procedures, none of them is under any obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any agent of ours or of the trustee will have any responsibility for the performance or nonperformance by DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants of these or any other rules or procedures governing their respective operations.
| 26 |
We may sell the securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions described in the applicable prospectus supplement, which may include:
| · | to purchasers directly; |
| · | to underwriters for public offering and sale by them; |
| · | through agents; |
| · | through dealers; or |
| · | through a combination of any of the foregoing or any other methods of sale. |
We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:
| · | a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| · | market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| · | prices related to such prevailing market prices; |
| · | negotiated prices; or |
| · | other prices determined as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
Direct Sales
We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any sale of securities we are offering to purchasers directly. Direct sales may be arranged by a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary.
To Underwriters
The applicable prospectus supplement will name any underwriter involved in a sale of the securities to which that prospectus supplement relates. Underwriters may offer and sell securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to time at market prices, at negotiated prices, or at other prices determined as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us from sales of securities in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of any securities.
Underwriters may sell our securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from purchasers.
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the applicable securities if any are purchased.
Underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions that may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the applicable securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market, including, for example, by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or imposing penalty bids. However, the underwriters will be under no obligation to perform any such transactions and any such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time without notice.
| 27 |
To or Through Agents and Dealers
We will name any agent involved in a sale of any securities, as well as any commissions payable by us to such agent, in a prospectus supplement.
If we utilize a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus then, unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal, and the dealer may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
If we so specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase the securities pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on future dates. Such contracts may be subject to conditions described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, underwriters, dealers and agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of any delayed delivery contracts. We will set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the delayed delivery contracts the price to be paid for the securities, the commissions payable for solicitation of the delayed delivery contracts and the date in the future for delivery of the securities.
Other
Underwriters, agents or dealers involved in the offering or sale of our securities and their affiliates may engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
There is no existing market for the securities described in this prospectus (other than our common stock) and, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we do not intend to apply for or to maintain a listing of those securities (other than our common stock) on any securities exchange or automated quotation system. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a trading market for the applicable securities will develop or will be maintained. Further, there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any market that may develop for the applicable securities, whether you will be able to sell your securities or the prices at which you may be able to sell your securities.
Morrison & Foerster LLP, Washington, D.C., will pass upon the validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus for us.
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 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.
The consolidated financial statements of Adevinta ASA appearing in eBay Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K/A) for the year ended December 31, 2021 and filed with the SEC on May 10, 2022, have been audited by Ernst & Young AS, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
| 28 |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us. The SEC’s internet site can be found at http://www.sec.gov.
This prospectus constitutes part of a registration statement filed under the Securities Act. As permitted by the SEC’s rules, this prospectus omits certain information that is included or incorporated by reference in the registration statement. For further information about us and the securities described in this prospectus, you should read the registration statement and the exhibits thereto. You may read and copy those documents as described in the immediately preceding paragraph. Statements contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement as to the contents of any contract or other document are not complete and in each instance we refer you to the copy of the contract or document filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or to a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by such reference.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference in this prospectus information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we have filed with the SEC. The information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC (other than any document, portion of a document, information or exhibit that is “furnished” to, rather than “filed” with, the SEC, including, without limitation, our compensation committee report and performance graph included or incorporated by reference in any Annual Report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, any information and related exhibits provided under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, and any exhibit that is “furnished” to, rather than “filed” with, the SEC pursuant to Item 9.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K):
| · | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023; and |
| · | our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2022; and |
| · | the sections of our proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 21, 2022 that are incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021; and |
| · | our Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the SEC on January 13, 2023. |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus all documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus until we have terminated the offering (other than any document, portion of a document, information or exhibit that is “furnished” to, rather than “filed” with, the SEC, including, without limitation, our compensation committee report and performance graph included or incorporated by reference in any Annual Report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, any information and related exhibits provided under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, and any exhibit that is “furnished” to, rather than “filed” with, the SEC pursuant to Item 9.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K).
| 29 |
Documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus after the date hereof will automatically update and, to the extent inconsistent, supersede the information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus. In that regard, any information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to have been modified or superseded to the extent that a subsequent statement contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, or any other document that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes the original statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to be part of this prospectus.
Documents incorporated by reference herein, excluding all exhibits unless an exhibit has been specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus, are available without charge to each person (including a beneficial owner) to whom this prospectus is delivered by requesting them in writing, by telephone or via the internet, at:
eBay Inc.
2025 Hamilton
Avenue
Attn: Investor Relations
San Jose, CA 95125
(408) 376-7493
https://investors.ebayinc.com
The information contained on or that can be accessed through any of our websites is not a part of this prospectus, the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, any prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus.
| 30 |
PART
II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth the estimated fees and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the registration of securities pursuant to this registration statement. The actual amount of fees and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the offering and sale of such securities will be determined from time to time in connection with the offering of securities pursuant to this registration statement.
| SEC registration fee | $ | (1 | ) | |
| Accounting fees and expenses | $ | (2 | ) | |
| Legal fees and expenses | $ | (2 | ) | |
| Rating agency fees and expenses | $ | (2 | ) | |
| Trustee fees and expenses | $ | (2 | ) | |
| Printing and miscellaneous expenses | $ | (2 | ) | |
| Total | $ | (2 | ) |
| (1) | This registration statement relates to the registration of securities having an indeterminate maximum aggregate principal amount. Payment of the registration fee has been deferred and will be made in accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933. |
| (2) | Estimated offering expenses are not presently known and will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the registrant’s amended and restated bylaws (the “bylaws”) provide that (i) the registrant is required to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL (provided, however, that the registrant is required to provide indemnification with respect to a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by one of such persons only if the proceeding (or part thereof) is authorized by the registrant’s board of directors), (ii) the registrant may, in its discretion, indemnify other persons as set forth in the DGCL,
(iii) to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, the registrant is required to advance all expenses incurred by its directors and officers in connection with a legal proceeding (subject to certain exceptions), (iv) the rights conferred in the bylaws are not exclusive, (v) the registrant is authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors, officers, employees and agents and (vi) the registrant may not retroactively amend the bylaws provisions relating to indemnity.
The registrant has entered into agreements with its directors and executive officers that require the registrant to indemnify such persons against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts that such person becomes legally obligated to pay (including expenses of a derivative action) in connection with any proceeding, whether actual or threatened, to which any such person may be made a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the registrant or any of its affiliated enterprises, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant. The indemnification agreements also set forth certain procedures that will apply in the event of a claim for indemnification thereunder.
Any underwriting agreement that the registrant enters into in connection with an offering of securities registered hereunder may require the underwriters to indemnify the registrant, some or all of its directors and officers and its controlling persons, if any, for specified liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933.
Item 16. Exhibits.
The information required by this Item appears in the Exhibit Index that precedes the signature pages in this Registration Statement on Form S-3.
| II-1 |
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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 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 (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) 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 SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement. |
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act 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. |
| (4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser: |
| (i) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
| (ii) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act 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 |
| II-2 |
| 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 communication 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 this 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 SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| II-3 |
Exhibit Index
| (1) | To be filed (if applicable) by amendment hereto or as an exhibit to a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, if applicable. |
| * | Filed herewith. |
| II-4 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 San Jose, State of California, on February 24, 2023.
| eBay Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Jamie Iannone | |
| Jamie Iannone | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jamie Iannone, Steve Priest, Brian J. Doerger and Marie Oh Huber, and each of them, as such person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including pre-effective and post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any additional registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under 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, or SEC, and generally to do any and all such things in such person’s name, place and stead and in such person’s capacity as an officer and/or director of the registrant in connection therewith; 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 that they or any of them deems necessary or appropriate to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or any substitutes or substitute therefor, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on February 24, 2023.
| Signature | Title |
/s/ Jamie Iannone |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
| Jamie Iannone | (Principal Executive Officer) |
/s/ Steve Priest |
Chief Financial Officer |
| Steve Priest | (Principal Financial Officer) |
/s/ Brian J. Doerger |
Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer |
| Brian J. Doerger | (Principal Accounting Officer) |
/s/ Paul S. Pressler |
Chair of the Board and Director |
| Paul S. Pressler |
| II-5 |
| Signature | Title |
/s/ Adriane M. Brown |
Director |
| Adriane M. Brown | |
/s/ Aparna Chennapragada |
Director |
| Aparna Chennapragada | |
/s/ Logan D. Green |
Director |
| Logan D. Green | |
/s/ E. Carol Hayles |
Director |
| E. Carol Hayles | |
/s/ Mohak Shroff |
Director |
| Mohak Shroff | |
/s/ Robert H. Swan |
Director |
| Robert H. Swan | |
/s/ Perry M. Traquina |
Director |
| Perry M. Traquina |
| II-6 |
Exhibit 4.3
EBAY INC.
INDENTURE
Dated as of
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trustee
Table of Contents
eBay Inc.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
Indenture, dated as of
| § 310(a)(1) | 7.10 | |
| (a)(2) | 7.10 | |
| (a)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(4) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(5) | 7.10 | |
| (b) | 7.10 | |
| § 311(a) | 7.11 | |
| (b) | 7.11 | |
| (c) | Not Applicable | |
| § 312(a) | 2.6 | |
| (b) | 10.3 | |
| (c) | 10.3 | |
| § 313(a) | 7.6 | |
| (b)(1) | 7.6 | |
| (b)(2) | 7.6 | |
| (c)(1) | 7.6 | |
| (d) | 7.6 | |
| § 314(a) | 4.2, 10.5 | |
| (b) | Not Applicable | |
| (c)(1) | 10.4 | |
| (c)(2) | 10.4 | |
| (c)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (d) | Not Applicable | |
| (e) | 10.5 | |
| (f) | Not Applicable | |
| § 315(a) | 7.1 | |
| (b) | 7.5 | |
| (c) | 7.1 | |
| (d) | 7.1 | |
| (e) | 6.14 | |
| § 316(a) | 2.10 | |
| (a)(1)(A) | 6.12 | |
| (a)(1)(B) | 6.13 | |
| (a)(2) | Not Applicable | |
| (b) | 6.8 | |
| (c) | 9.05 | |
| §317(a)(1) | 6.3 | |
| (a)(2) | 6.4 | |
| (b) | 2.5 | |
| § 318(a) | 10.1 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
Indenture between eBay Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE
1.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series which by its terms provides for the payment of Additional Amounts, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are or would be payable in respect of such principal or interest, as the case may be, pursuant to such terms.
“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” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent.
“Aggregate Debt” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series, the sum of the following, calculated as of the date of determination on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP:
(1) the aggregate amount of then outstanding Debt of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries incurred after the date the Securities of such Series were first issued and secured by Liens not permitted under the first paragraph of Section 4.6; and
(2) the aggregate amount of Attributable Debt of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries then outstanding in respect of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions entered into by the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries after the date the Securities of such Series were first issued pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 4.7.
| 1 |
“Attributable Debt” with regard to a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal Property means, at the time of determination, the lesser of:
(1) the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) of the Principal Property subject to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; and
(2) the present value of the total net amount of rent required to be paid under the applicable lease during the remaining contractual term thereof (including any period for which such lease has been extended but subject to the last sentence of this subparagraph), discounted at the rate of interest per annum set forth or implicit in the terms of such lease (or, if not practicable to determine such rate, the weighted average interest rate per annum borne (at the time of determination) by the Securities then outstanding under this Indenture) compounded semi-annually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30 day months). For purposes of clarity, it is understood and agreed that (a) the total net amount of rent required to be paid under, and the term of, the applicable lease shall be determined upon the basis of the contractual terms of such lease and shall not be affected by the fact that all or any portion of such rent may, under GAAP, be characterized as interest or some other amount or that the amount of such rent or the term of such lease, as determined under GAAP, may be different from the amount of rent or the term specified by the contractual terms of such lease and (b) the total net amount of rent shall exclude any amounts required to be paid by the lessee, whether or not designated as rent or additional rent, on account of maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges or any amounts required to be paid by such lessee contingent upon the amount of sales or similar contingent amounts. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such total net amount of rent shall be the lesser of (1) the net amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the net amount shall also include the present value, calculated as provided above, of the amount of the penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or (2) the net amount determined assuming no such termination, in each case determined in accordance with the contractual terms of such lease.
“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close; provided that such term shall mean, when used with respect to any place of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of any Series, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in such place of payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“Capital Stock” of any person means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) in the equity of such person.
“Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.
| 2 |
“Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by one Officer, who must be the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Legal Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any other Vice President, General Counsel, or Treasurer of the Company.
“Company Request” means a written request signed in the name of the Company by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date on which the Company effects a transaction requiring such Consolidated Net Tangible Assets to be measured under this Indenture, the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves) after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities, except for current maturities of long-term debt and obligations under finance leases, and (b) all intangible assets (including goodwill), to the extent included in said aggregate amount of assets, all as set forth in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP contained in an annual report on Form 10-K or a quarterly report on Form 10-Q (in each case as amended, if applicable) filed by the Company with the SEC or if, at such date, the Company shall have ceased filing such reports with the SEC, the Company’s then most recent consolidated annual or quarterly balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Trust and Agency Services, 1 Columbus Circle, 17th Floor, Mail Stop: NYC01-1710, New York, New York 10019, USA, Attention: EBAY INC., Deal ID: S89978, or such other office 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 to time by notice to the Issuer and the Holders).
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.
“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Dollars” and “$” means the currency of The United States of America.
“euros” and “€” means the single currency of participating member states of the economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto, in each case as amended or supplemented from time to time.
| 3 |
“Foreign Currency” means any currency, composite currency or currency unit issued by a government or governments other than the government of The United States of America including, without limitation, the euro.
“Foreign Government Obligations” means, with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (a) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (a) or (b), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Foreign Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount payable with respect to any such Foreign 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 Foreign Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount payable with respect to the Foreign Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which are in effect as of the date of application thereof.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“interest” means, with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, any installment of interest on such Security; and, when used with respect to any Security, shall be deemed to mean “interest, if any” on such Security unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.
“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means any date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Non-recourse Obligation” means indebtedness or other obligations substantially related to (1) the acquisition of assets not previously owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (2) the financing of a project involving the development or expansion of properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as to which the obligee with respect to such indebtedness or obligation has no recourse to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or to the Company’s or any such Subsidiary’s assets other than the assets which were acquired with the proceeds of such transaction or the project financed with the proceeds of such transaction (and the proceeds thereof).
| 4 |
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Legal Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, and other Vice-President, General Counsel, Treasurer, Controller, Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer, any Assistant Controller or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Legal Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any other Vice President, General Counsel or Treasurer of the Company.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, which opinion may be subject to customary exceptions, qualifications and limitations and, without limitation to the foregoing, may rely on certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or public officials, and which shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including any government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Physical Security” means a certificated Security which is not a Global Security.
“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the Security.
“Principal Property” means (1) the Company’s principal corporate office (whether owned on the date of this Indenture or thereafter acquired, and including any leasehold interest therein) and (2) each data center, service and support facility or research and development facility (in each case, whether owned on the date of this Indenture or thereafter acquired) which is owned by or leased to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and is located within the United States of America, unless, with respect to clause (2), the Board of Directors has determined in good faith that such center or facility is not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that any such center or facility (a) owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for which the book value (less accumulated depreciation) on the date as of which the determination is being made is equal to or less than 1.0% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of such date, all determined in accordance with GAAP, or (b) leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for which the annual lease obligation on the date as of which the determination is being made is equal to or less than $2.0 million shall in no event be deemed a Principal Property.
| 5 |
“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any managing director, director, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer, assistant secretary, associate or any other officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also shall mean, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company of any Principal Property, whether owned on the date of this Indenture or thereafter acquired, which Principal Property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Significant Subsidiary of the Company to such person with the intention of taking back a lease of such Principal Property.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
“Securities” means any bonds, debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Series” or “Series of Securities” means any series of bonds, debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the SEC or any successor to such Rule.
“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date established by or pursuant to this Indenture or specified or determined as provided 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.
“Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of outstanding shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or persons performing similar functions) is at the time owned (and, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of whose total general partnership interests then outstanding is at the time owned), directly or indirectly, by such person or other Subsidiaries of such person or a combination thereof and, in the case of an entity other than a corporation or a partnership, such person has the power to direct, directly or indirectly, the policies, management and affairs of such entity.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect as of the date of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 9.4.
“Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
| 6 |
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (a) direct obligations of The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of The United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by The United States of America, and which in the case of (a) and (b) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount payable with respect to any such U.S. 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 U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount payable with respect to the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
Section 1.2 Other Definitions.
TERM |
DEFINED
IN SECTION | |
| “Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 | |
| “Custodian” | 6.1 | |
| “Debt” | 4.6 | |
| “Event of Default” | 6.1 | |
| “Judgment Currency” | 10.16 | |
| “Intercompany Debt” | 4.6 | |
| “Lien” | 4.6 | |
| “mandatory sinking fund payment” | 11.1 | |
| “Market Exchange Rate” | 10.15 | |
| “optional sinking fund payment” | 11.1 | |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.4 | |
| “Registrar” | 2.4 | |
| “Required Currency” | 10.16 | |
| “Service Agent” | 2.4 | |
| “successor person” | 5.1 | |
| “Executed Documentation” | 10.9 |
Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Securities.
“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
| 7 |
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) “or” is not exclusive;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(f) the phrase “in writing” as used herein shall be deemed to include PDFs, e-mails and other electronic means of transmission, unless otherwise indicated.
Section 2.1 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. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series, and Securities within any Series may differ from any or all other Securities of such Series, in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
Section 2.2 Establishment of Form and Terms of Series of Securities.
The Securities of each Series shall be in such form or forms as may be set forth or determined in a manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the terms of such Securities shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1, and either as to any Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.22) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate, which terms shall include, without limitation and to the extent applicable with respect to Securities of such Series, the following:
| 8 |
2.2.1 the title of such Series (which shall distinguish such Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
2.2.2 any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.7 or 9.6 or, in the case of Securities of a Series that the Company may be required to repurchase at the option of the Holders thereof, Securities authenticated and delivered in exchange for other Securities of the same Series that were repurchased in part);
2.2.3 the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of such Series is or are payable;
2.2.4 if applicable, the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of such Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
2.2.5 the right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the length of any deferral period;
2.2.6 the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of such Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, if other than the Corporate Trust Office, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
2.2.7 if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of such Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
2.2.8 if applicable, the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or repurchase the Securities of such Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holders thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of such Series shall be redeemed or repurchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
2.2.9 if other than denominations in which the debt securities of that series will be issued, if other than denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;
2.2.10 whether any or all of the Securities of such Series are to be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities and, if so, the initial Depositary with respect to such Global Securities;
| 9 |
2.2.11 if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of such Series that shall be payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.12 if other than Dollars, the currency of denomination of the Securities of such Series, which may be any Foreign Currency;
2.2.13 if other than Dollars, the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of such Series will be made;
2.2.14 if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of such Series are to be made in one or more currencies, composite currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;
2.2.15 if applicable, the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of such Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or other index;
2.2.16 the provisions, if any, relating to any security or guarantees provided for the Securities of such Series;
2.2.17 any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of such Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2 and any change in the circumstances under which the Securities of such Series shall become due and payable automatically pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.18 any addition to or change in the covenants which apply to Securities of such Series;
2.2.19 any other terms of the Securities of such Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series);
2.2.20 if the Securities of such Series will be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities of the Company or any other person, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including, if applicable, the conversion or exchange price or rate, how such price or rate will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at the Company’s option or at the option of the Holders thereof) conversion or exchange features, and the applicable conversion or exchange period;
2.2.21 if the Securities of such Series will not be senior Securities, whether the Securities of such Series will be senior subordinated, subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities and, in that case, a description of the subordination terms thereof; and
2.2.22 if applicable, any interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the Securities of such Series.
| 10 |
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, if so provided by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate referred to above. A Series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders of such Series, to issue additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate.
Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication. One Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual, electronic or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual, electronic or facsimile signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents. If all the Securities of any one Series are not to be originally issued at one time and if a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth the procedures for the issuance and authentication of such Securities. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in such Section 2.2 or Sections 2.8 and 2.9.
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.1), in authenticating such Securities, shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.2 and the preceding paragraph, if all the Securities of a Series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate pursuant to this Section 2.3, the Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4 or the Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4 prior to the issuance and authentication of each Security of such Series if such documents are delivered prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Securities of such Series to be issued and such documents provide for the issuance of all Securities of such Series.
| 11 |
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by a Responsible Officer shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
The Trustee may, with the prior written consent of the Company, appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served (“Service Agent”); provided that, if no such place or places are specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, then the place for the foregoing purposes shall be the Corporate Trust Office. The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent (if other than the Trustee). If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional service agents 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 obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent in each place, if any, so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional service agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Service Agent” includes any additional service agent.
The Company hereby appoints the Trustee as the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to or after the time Securities of that Series are first issued or pursuant to Section 2.2 with respect to the Securities of such Series. The Company may change any Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent without any notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or Service Agent.
| 12 |
Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on such Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
Section 2.6 Securityholder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date (or such later date as may be acceptable to the Trustee) and at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange. Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series of like tenor and terms, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met, in accordance with this Indenture, and, if applicable, any Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such tax or other governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.7 or 9.6).
Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar or any transfer agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among participants or indirect participants 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.
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series during the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the giving of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day such notice is given, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities (or portions thereof) of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption, or, if applicable, surrendered for repurchase by the Company at the option of the Holders, except any portion thereof not so selected, called, being called or surrendered.
| 13 |
Section 2.8 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, terms and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor, terms and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
To the extent lawful, the provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 2.9 Outstanding Securities. The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the principal amount of a Global Security recorded by the Trustee or other custodian for such Global Security and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a destroyed, lost or stolen Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it in its sole discretion that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
| 14 |
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay the principal of and/or interest on such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
If any Security is converted into or exchanged for common stock or other securities as contemplated by this Indenture and the terms of such Security, such Security ceases to be outstanding on the date of such conversion or exchange, as the case may be.
A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or taken any other action hereunder or in respect of such Securities, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes 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 6.2.
Section 2.10 Treasury Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities or of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or any other action, Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11 Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities.
Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series, principal amount, tenor and terms in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary Securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
Section 2.12 Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation (subject to any record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13 Payment of Interest; Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.2 with respect to any Series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any date or dates on which interest shall be payable 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.
| 15 |
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series, interest on the Securities of each Series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Section 2.14 Defaulted Interest. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series at the close of business on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the special record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the special record date, the Company shall give notice to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series of the special record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
Section 2.15 Global Securities.
2.15.1 Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate may establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more temporary or permanent Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.
2.15.2 Transfer and Exchange. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2 with respect to the Securities of any Series, the Global Securities of any Series shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 for Physical Securities of such Series in an equal aggregate principal amount and of like tenor and terms registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Global Securities or its nominee only if (a) the Company receives notice from such Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Securities of such Series or if such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary for the Global Securities of such Series registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days after the date the Company receives such notice or learns that such Depositary has ceased to be so registered, (b) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that the Global Securities of such Series shall be exchanged (in whole but not in part) for Securities of such Series in certificated form and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to such effect, or (c) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and shall be continuing. Any Global Security of a Series that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Physical Securities of the same Series registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such Series being exchanged and with like tenor and terms. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof being exchanged for Physical Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of Physical Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms as the Global Security or portion thereof to be exchanged, subject, however, to the provisions of the second paragraph of Section 2.7. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such Global Security shall, at the option of the Company, either be returned by the Trustee to such Depositary (or its custodian) and the Trustee shall endorse such Global Security to reflect the decrease in the principal amount thereof resulting from such exchange or such Global Security shall be exchanged for another Global Security in a principal amount reflecting the decrease in such principal amount resulting from such exchange. If a Physical Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a Global Security after the close of business on (i) any record date for such Security and before the opening of business on the next interest payment date for such Security, or (ii) any special record date for such Security and before the opening of business on the related proposed date for payment of interest or defaulted interest thereon, as the case may be, interest shall not be payable on such interest payment date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Physical Security, but shall be payable on such interest payment date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such Global Security shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and such Security.
| 16 |
2.15.3 Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear such legend as the Company may deem appropriate or as the Depositary may require.
2.15.4 Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents, grant proxies and otherwise authorize participants in its book-entry system and others to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under this Indenture.
2.15.5 Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.
2.15.6 No Responsibility for Global Securities. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the 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.
Section 2.16 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the person in whose name such Security is registered in the register maintained by the Registrar for the Securities of such Series as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Security shall be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Section 2.17 CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
| 17 |
Section 3.1 Applicability of Article. If provision is made for redemption of Securities of any Series before their Stated Maturity pursuant to Section 2.2, then the Securities of such Series shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and, except as otherwise specified as contemplated in Section 2.2, in accordance with this Article III.
Section 3.2 Notice to Trustee. The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, have the option to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities or pursuant to Section 2.2. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 10 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).
Section 3.3 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed. Unless otherwise provided for a particular Series pursuant to Section 2.2, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Registrar or Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series (or portions thereof) by lot, on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable or by any other method the Trustee deems to be fair and appropriate (or, in the case of Global Securities, based on the method required by the applicable Depositary or, if it is not so required, a method that most nearly approximate a pro rata basis), unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange or depositary requirement. At least 10 days (or such shorter period as may be permitted by the Trustee) but no more than 60 days prior to the redemption rate, the Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 (or in such other authorized denominations as may be provided as contemplated by Section 2.2), provided that the remaining principal amount of any Security redeemed in part shall be an authorized denomination. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption. In the event that all of the Securities of any Series do not have the same tenor or other terms, then the Company may specify, by Company Order delivered to the Trustee, that the selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be made from Securities of such Series having the same tenor or other terms.
Section 3.4 Notice of Redemption. Unless otherwise provided for a particular Series pursuant to Section 2.2, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall give notice of redemption (which may be given by first-class mail, airmail, recognized delivery service for scheduled delivery within four business days, hand delivery, facsimile transmission, email or other electronic transmission, including, without limitation, electronic transmission to or through the facilities of the Depositary for any Global Securities) to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
| 18 |
(c) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(d) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(e) that on the redemption date, the redemption price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(f) if less than all the outstanding Securities of any Series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such Series of a specified tenor and terms are to be redeemed), the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;
(g) the CUSIP number, if any; and
(h) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.
At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense.
Section 3.5 Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is sent or given as provided in Section 3.4, Securities of a Series or portions thereof called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price and, unless the Company defaults in the payment of such redemption price, on and after that redemption date interest shall cease to accrue on the Securities of such Series and portions thereof called for redemption. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.2, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date; provided that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is 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 record date therefor according to their terms and the terms of this Indenture.
Section 3.6 Deposit of Redemption Price. On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.7 Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same tenor and terms equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
| 19 |
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities, that it will deposit with the Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the payment date money sufficient to, and duly and punctually, pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
Section 4.2 SEC Reports. The Company covenants and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of each Series, to provide (which delivery may be via electronic mail) to the Trustee within 15 days, after the Company files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential treatment by the SEC; and provided further, that so long as such filings by the Company are available on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR) or any successor system or on the Company’s website, such filings shall be deemed to have been filed with the Trustee for purposes of this Section 4.2 without any further action required by the Company. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a). For the avoidance of doubt, a failure by the Company to file annual reports, information and other reports with the SEC within the time periods prescribed therefor by the SEC shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 4.2. Delivery of such information, documents and reports to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
Section 4.3 Compliance Certificate. The Company covenants and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of each Series, that, it will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate (one of the signers of which shall include the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer) stating whether or not, to the knowledge of the signers thereof, the Company is in default in the performance or 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.
The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee promptly upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.4 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so), for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of each Series, that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants (to the extent it may lawfully do so) that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will (to the extent it may lawfully do so) suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
| 20 |
Section 4.5 Corporate Existence. The Company covenants and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of each Series, that, subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.
Section 4.6 Limitation on Liens. The Company covenants and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of each Series, that the Company will not, nor will it permit any Significant Subsidiary to, issue, incur, create, assume or guarantee any debt for borrowed money (including debt for borrowed money evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments) (collectively, “Debt”) secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, security interest, pledge, lien, charge or similar encumbrance (each, a “Lien”) upon any Principal Property, shares of Capital Stock of any Significant Subsidiary or intercompany Debt owed by any Significant Subsidiary to the Company or any of its other Subsidiaries (“Intercompany Debt”) (whether such Principal Property, shares of Capital Stock or Intercompany Debt is existing or owed on the date the Securities of such Series are first issued or thereafter created or acquired), without in any such case effectively providing, substantially concurrently with or prior to the issuance, incurrence, creation, assumption or guarantee of any such secured Debt or the grant of such Lien securing any such secured Debt, that the Securities of such Series (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other indebtedness or other obligations (including, without limitation, Securities of other Series issued under this Indenture) of or guarantees by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary ranking equally in right of payment with the Securities of such Series or any such guarantee) shall be secured equally and ratably with (or, at the Company’s option, prior to) such secured Debt (but only so long as such secured Debt is so secured). The foregoing restriction, however, will not apply to any of the following:
(1) Liens on property, Capital Stock, Debt or other assets of any person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens are not incurred in anticipation of such person becoming a Subsidiary of the Company and do not extend to any assets other than those of such person;
(2) Liens on property, Capital Stock, Debt or other assets existing at the time of acquisition thereof (including, without limitation, by merger, consolidation or acquisition of Capital Stock) by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, or Liens thereon to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price thereof, or Liens on property, Capital Stock, Debt or other assets to secure any Debt incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 18 months after, the latest of the acquisition (including, without limitation, by merger, consolidation or acquisition of Capital Stock) thereof or, in the case of property, the completion of construction, the completion of improvements or the commencement of substantial commercial operation of such property for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof, such construction or the making of such improvements, as the case may be;
(3) Liens in favor of, or which secure Debt owing to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(4) Liens existing on the date the Securities of such Series were first issued;
| 21 |
(5) Liens on property of a person existing at the time such person is merged with or into, or consolidated with, the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or otherwise acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of the properties of any person as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were not incurred in anticipation of such merger, consolidation, sale, lease or other disposition and do not extend to any assets other than those of the person merged with or into, or consolidated with, the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or such property sold, leased or disposed of;
(6) Liens in favor of the United States of America or any state, territory or possession thereof (or the District of Columbia), or any department, agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States of America or any state, territory or possession thereof (or the District of Columbia), to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any Debt incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such Liens;
(7) Liens securing the Securities of such Series;
(8) Liens created in connection with a project financed with, or created to secure, Non-recourse Obligations;
(9) Liens to secure bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments on which the interest is exempt from federal income tax; and
(10) extensions, renewals, refinancings or replacements (in whole or in part) of any Liens or Debt which is secured by Liens that were permitted to be incurred by this Indenture; provided, however, that (a) the principal or accreted amount of any Debt of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries secured by such Lien immediately after such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement shall not exceed the sum of the principal or accreted amount, as the case may be, of any Debt of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries so secured immediately prior to such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement plus any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any fees, premiums and penalties) related to such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement and (b) such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement Liens are limited to all or part of the same Principal Property (and any improvements thereon), shares of Capital Stock of any Significant Subsidiary or Intercompany Debt which secured any Debt of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary immediately prior to such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries may, without securing the Securities of such Series or any other Securities issued under this Indenture, issue, incur, create, assume or guarantee Debt secured by any Liens which would otherwise be subject to the restrictions set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph if, immediately after giving effect thereto and, if applicable, to the application of any proceeds therefrom to repay Debt on a pro forma basis, the Company’s Aggregate Debt does not exceed the greater of (1) 20% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, determined as of the date of such issuance, incurrence, creation, assumption or guarantee, and (2) $500 million.
| 22 |
Section 4.7 Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. The Company covenants and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of each Series, that the Company will not, nor will it permit any Significant Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal Property, unless:
(1) such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction involves a lease for a term of not more than three years;
(2) such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is between the Company and one of its Subsidiaries, or between any of its Subsidiaries;
(3) the Company or such Significant Subsidiary would be entitled, at the time of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, to incur Debt secured by a Lien on the Principal Property involved in such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction at least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, without equally and ratably securing the Securities of such Series, pursuant to the first paragraph of Section 4.6;
(4) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries applies an amount equal to the net proceeds of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction within 365 days after such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction to any of (or a combination of) (i) the prepayment or retirement of the Securities of such Series, (ii) the prepayment or retirement of other bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments (including, without limitation, Securities of any other Series issued under this Indenture) or Debt of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company (other than bonds, notes, debentures, similar instruments or Debt of the Company that is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Securities of such Series) that by its terms matures more than 12 months after its creation or (iii) the purchase, construction, development, expansion or improvement of properties or facilities that are used in or useful to the Company’s business or the business of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries; or
(5) such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction was entered into on or prior to the date the Securities of such Series were first issued.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries may, without securing the Securities of such Series or any other Securities issued under this Indenture, enter into a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction which would otherwise be subject to the restrictions set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph if, immediately after giving effect thereto and, if applicable, to the application of any proceeds therefrom to repay Debt on a pro forma basis, the Company’s Aggregate Debt does not exceed the greater of (1) 20% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, determined as of the date of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, and (2) $500 million.
Section 5.1 When Company May Merge, Etc. The Company covenants and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of each Series, that the Company shall not consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:
(a) the Company is the surviving person or the successor person (if other than the Company) is organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes the Company’s obligations under the Securities of each Series and this Indenture; and
| 23 |
(b) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would be an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or convey, transfer or lease all or part of its properties or assets to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries. Neither an Officers’ Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.
Section 5.2 Successor Person Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the properties and assets is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Securities and this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person had been named as the Company in the Securities of each Series and this Indenture, and thereafter the predecessor Company shall, except in the case of a lease, be released from all obligations and covenants under the Securities of each Series and this Indenture.
ARTICLE
6.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1 Events of Default. “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.2:
(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such 30-day period); or
(b) default in the payment of principal of or premium (if any) on any Security of that Series when due and payable; or
(c) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty for which the consequences of nonperformance or breach are addressed by another Event of Default applicable to Securities of that Series and other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series), which default or breach continues uncured for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
| 24 |
(d) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v) admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as the same become due; or
(e) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or
(f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities of such Series 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 Securities of such Series.
At any time after such acceleration with respect to any Series of Securities has occurred and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such acceleration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
| 25 |
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants that if
(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such 30-day period); or
(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security when due and payable; or
(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,
then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and the Trustee, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be permitted by law, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover all amounts then due to the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other similar judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of any Series or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities of such Series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
| 26 |
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities of such Series and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under this Article 6 and Section 7.7; and
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest; and
Third: To the Company.
| 27 |
Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of such Series, or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee or similar official, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series;
(b) the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity and/or security satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 90 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity and/or security has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 90-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.
Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date or, in the case of any Security that is subject to repurchase by the Company at the option of the Holder, on the date of any such required repurchase) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and, in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, to the extent permitted by applicable law, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by applicable law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
| 28 |
Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver. To the extent permitted by applicable law, no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein and every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 6.12 Control by Holders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture;
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction; and
(c) subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
Section 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may (including by consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series, waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security 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 of the Securities of that Series and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but, to the extent permitted by applicable law, no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date or, in the case of any Security that is subject to repurchase by the Company at the option of the Holder, on the date of any such required repurchase).
| 29 |
Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise 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.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(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, whose duties and obligations shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture.
(ii) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; provided, however, in the case of any such Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers’ Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of Section 10.5.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.
(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree to in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
| 30 |
(f) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, 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 is not reasonably assured to it.
(g) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel or both.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute negligence or bad faith. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder without negligence and in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any Series unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular Series and this Indenture.
| 31 |
(i) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
(j) The Trustee may refrain from taking any action in any jurisdiction if the taking of such action in that jurisdiction would, in its opinion, based upon legal advice in the relevant jurisdiction, be contrary to any law of that jurisdiction or, to the extent applicable, the State of New York. Furthermore, the Trustee may also refrain from taking such action if it would otherwise render it liable to any person in that jurisdiction, or, to the extent applicable, the State of New York or if it is determined by any court or other competent authority in that jurisdiction, or, to the extent applicable, in the State of New York, that it does not have such power.
(k) If the Trustee shall receive conflicting or inconsistent requests from two or more groups of Holders, each representing less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Securities then outstanding, the Trustee in its sole discretion may determine what action, if any, shall be taken, notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture.
(l) In the event the Trustee receives inconsistent or conflicting requests and security and/or indemnity from two or more groups of Holders, each representing less than the requisite majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee, in its sole discretion, may determine what action, if any, shall be taken and shall be held harmless and shall not incur any liability for its failure to act until such inconsistency or conflict is, in its reasonable opinion, resolved.
(m) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company with respect to the covenants contained in Article 4. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 4 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’ compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).
(n) The Trustee may assume without inquiry in the absence of actual knowledge that the Company is duly complying with its obligations contained in this Indenture required to be performed and observed by it, and that no Default or Event of Default or other event which would require repayment of any Series of the Securities has occurred.
Section 7.3 Individual Rights of Trustee. 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 an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
Section 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.
| 32 |
Section 7.5 Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default, in each case unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived or ceased to exist; provided, further, that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 6.1(c), no such notice to Holder shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
Section 7.6 Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 7.7 Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Trustee in the performance of its duties under this Indenture, as Trustee or Agent. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (including the cost of defending itself) against any loss, liability or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by income) incurred by it in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent except as set forth in the next paragraph. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall have the right (but not the obligation) to defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding (including, without limitation, the first two paragraphs of this Section 7.7), the Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
| 33 |
To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on any Securities.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
Section 7.8 Replacement of Trustee. A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign and be discharged at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company in writing at least 30 days (or such shorter time as the Trustee deems necessary, provided a successor Trustee is in place) prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property;
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting; or
(e) the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another person.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
| 34 |
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company containing an acknowledgement that it will be holding and exercising the lien provided in Section 7.7 for the benefit of the prior claims of the predecessor Trustee. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another person, the successor person without any further act shall be the successor Trustee, provided that the Company does not elect to remove such successor person as Trustee pursuant to Section 7.8(e).
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.
ARTICLE
8.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
Section 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1) with respect to any Series of Securities specified in such Company Order, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(a) any of the following shall have occurred:
(i) no Securities of such Series have been issued hereunder;
(ii) all Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities of such Series that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid and Securities of such Series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust as in this Indenture provided) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(iii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
(1) have become due and payable, or
(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
| 35 |
(3) have been called for redemption or 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, or
(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;
and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has irrevocably (except as provided in Sections 8.2(c) and 8.5 hereof) deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, 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 Securities of such Series; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.
Section 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 8.2(c) and 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 with respect to the Securities of any Series, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money and/or U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.3 or 8.4 with respect to the Securities of such Series.
(b) The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof, other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Securities of such Series.
| 36 |
(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under Section 8.3 or 8.4.
Section 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series. Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same (“legal defeasance”)), except as to:
(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, solely from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment, if any, of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;
(b) the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and
(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder;
provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(d) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c) and Section 8.5) with the Trustee 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 the Securities of such Series (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of or interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the Securities of such Series, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due or, if applicable, any redemption date;
(e) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material instrument or agreement relating to or evidencing indebtedness for borrowed money to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
| 37 |
(f) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, legal defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, legal defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(h) if the deposit of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations shall be sufficient to pay the principal of, interest, if any on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of any or all of the outstanding Securities of such Series provided such Securities are redeemed on a particular redemption date, and if such Securities have not been called for redemption, the Company shall make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of such redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense of, the Company; and
(i) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, to the effect that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 8.3 have been complied with.
Section 8.4 Covenant Defeasance. Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under, and may omit to comply with, any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 and 5.1 with respect to the Securities of any Series as well as any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture, a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 with respect to the Securities of such Series (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to any Securities of such Series, whether such Default or Event of Default is specified in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of such Series (“covenant defeasance”)), provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c) and Section 8.5) with the Trustee 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 the Securities of such Series (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of or interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the Securities of such Series, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due or, if applicable, any redemption date;
| 38 |
(b) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material instrument or agreement relating to or evidencing indebtedness for borrowed money to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(c) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred;
(e) if the deposit of money and/or U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations shall be sufficient to pay the principal of, interest, if any on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of any or all of the outstanding Securities of such Series provided such Securities are redeemed on a particular redemption date, and if such Securities have not been called for redemption, the Company shall make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of such redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense of, the Company; and
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 8.4 have been complied with.
Section 8.5 Repayment to Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations held by them in trust for the payment of principal, interest, premium, if any, or any sinking fund payment on any Securities and not applied that remains unclaimed for two years after the respective dates such principal, interest and premium, if any, or sinking fund payment on such Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable. After that, Securityholders entitled to the payment thereof must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
Section 8.6 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money deposited with respect to Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.1 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.1; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest or premium on or any sinking fund payments with respect to any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
| 39 |
ARTICLE
9.
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture in order to amend or supplement this Indenture with respect to Securities of one or more Series or amend or supplement the Securities of one or more Series without notice to or the consent of any Securityholder to:
(a) cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;
(c) comply with Article V;
(d) provide for the issuance of uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities or reflect any changes in the rules or procedures of any Depositary for Global Securities;
(e) add to the covenants or Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any Series of Securities (and if such covenants or Event of Default, as the case may be, are to be for the benefit of less than all Series of Securities, stating that such covenants or Events of Default, as the case may be, are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such Series); or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company with respect to Securities of one or more Series (and, if the surrender of any such right or power is to be for the benefit of less than all Series of Securities, stating that the surrender of such right or power, as the case may be, is expressly being included or made solely for the benefit of such Series); or to secure the Securities of one or more Series or to provide guarantees for the benefit of one or more Series of Securities (and, if such security or guarantees are to be for the benefit of less then all Series of Securities, stating that such security or guarantees, as the case may be, are expressly being included or provided for the benefit of such Series);
(f) amend or supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more Series of Securities, provided, however, that any such amendment or supplement either (A) shall not apply to any outstanding Security of any Series issued prior to the date of such amendment or supplement and entitled to the benefit of such provision or (B) shall become effective only if or when, as the case may be, there is no outstanding Securities of any Series issued prior to the date of such amendment or supplement and entitled to the benefit of such provision;
(g) establish the form and terms of any Series of Securities as permitted by this Indenture;
(h) evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee
(i) supplement any provisions of this Indenture as is necessary to permit or facilitate the legal defeasance, covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of any Securities as described in Article VIII; and
(j) comply with requirements of the SEC or any applicable law or regulation in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, or conform the Indenture with any other mandatory provision of law or regulation, or conform the Indenture or the Securities of any Series to the description thereof contained in any applicable prospectus, prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus, offering memorandum, term sheet or other offering document.
| 40 |
Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture for the purpose of supplementing or amending in any manner this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any Series, or supplementing or amending the Securities of any Series, with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series); provided that no such consent of Holders shall be required in respect of any supplement or amendment permitted by Section 9.1 hereof; and provided, further, that any such supplement or amendment affecting more than one Series of Securities may be set forth in a single supplemental indenture. Without limitation to Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of that Series, waive compliance by the Company with any covenants or other provisions of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series (including, without limitation, any covenants and provisions that may be set forth in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate).
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this Section 9.2 becomes effective, the Company shall deliver to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to deliver or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
Section 9.3 Limitations. Subject to Section 9.5, an amendment, supplement or waiver pursuant to Section 9.2 affecting the Securities of any Series may not, without the consent of the Holder of each Security of such Series then outstanding:
(a) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including any default interest, if any) on any Security of such Series;
(b) reduce the principal of or premium on or change the Stated Maturity of any Security of such Series or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any Securities of such Series;
(c) reduce the principal amount of any Discount Securities of such Series payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on any Security of such Series (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of such Series by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(e) make the principal of or premium or interest, if any, on any Security of such Series payable in a currency other than that stated in such Security;
| 41 |
(f) make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.3 (this sentence) with respect to the Securities of such Series;
(g) reduce the amount payable upon the redemption of any Security of such Series at the Company’s option or the repayment of any Security of such Series at the option of the Holder; or
(h) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Securities of such Series, the consent of the Holders of which is required for any of the foregoing modifications or otherwise necessary to supplement or amend this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series or to waive any past Default with respect to the Securities of such Series.
Section 9.4 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment or supplement is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his or her Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment, supplement or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment, supplement or waiver unless it is of the type or relates to any matters described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case then, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of Securities. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.7 Trustee Protected. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights or duties.
| 42 |
Section 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
Section 10.2 Notices. Except as otherwise set forth herein, any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or by overnight courier or five days after it is mailed by first class mail or when transmitted by facsimile transmission (confirmed, in the case of facsimile transmission, by delivery in person or by overnight courier no later than the next day):
if to the Company:
eBay Inc.
2145 Hamilton Avenue
San Jose, California 95125
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (408) 376-7514
if to the Trustee:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust and Agency Services
1 Columbus Circle, 17th Floor
Mail Stop: NYC01-1710
New York, New York 10019
USA
Attention: EBAY INC., Deal ID: S89978
Facsimile: +1 732-578-4635
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Except as otherwise set forth in this Indenture, any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail, sent by overnight courier or hand delivery, transmitted by email or transmitted by facsimile transmission to his or her address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to deliver a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication is delivered in the manner provided above or as otherwise provided in this Indenture, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company delivers a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall deliver a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
| 43 |
Section 10.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with, unless such requirement has been waived or is not required by the Trustee.
Section 10.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 10.7 Legal Holidays. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.2 for a Series of Securities, if a payment date for any Security is not a Business Day at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
Section 10.8 No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Securities.
| 44 |
Section 10.9 Counterparts; E-Signatures. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Facsimile, documents executed, scanned and transmitted electronically and electronic signatures, including those created or transmitted through a software platform or application, shall be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Indenture and all other related documents and all matters and agreements related thereto, with such facsimile, scanned and electronic signatures having the same legal effect as original signatures. The parties agree that this Indenture or any other related document or any instrument, agreement or document necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture or the other related documents or related hereto or thereto (including, without limitation, addendums, amendments, notices, instructions, communications with respect to the delivery of securities or the wire transfer of funds or other communications) (“Executed Documentation”) may be accepted, executed or agreed to through the use of an electronic signature in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations in effect from time to time applicable to the effectiveness and enforceability of electronic signatures. Any Executed Documentation accepted, executed or agreed to in conformity with such laws, rules and regulations will be binding on all parties hereto to the same extent as if it were physically executed and each party hereby consents to the use of any third party electronic signature capture service providers as may be reasonably chosen by a signatory hereto or thereto. When the Trustee and any Agents acts on any Executed Documentation sent by electronic transmission, the Trustee and such Agents will not be responsible or liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from its reliance upon and compliance with such Executed Documentation, notwithstanding that such Executed Documentation (a) may not be an authorized or authentic communication of the party involved or in the form such party sent or intended to send (whether due to fraud, distortion or otherwise) or (b) may conflict with, or be inconsistent with, a subsequent written instruction or communication; it being understood and agreed that the Trustee and Agents shall conclusively presume that Executed Documentation that purports to have been sent by an authorized officer of a Person has been sent by an authorized officer of such Person. The party providing Executed Documentation through electronic transmission or otherwise with electronic signatures agrees to assume all risks arising out of such electronic methods, including, without limitation, the risk of the Trustee and Agents acting on unauthorized instructions and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
Section 10.10 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE, PAYING AGENT, REGISTRAR AND ANY OTHER AGENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 10.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company and any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
| 45 |
Section 10.12 Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 10.13 Severability. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.14 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 10.15 Securities in a Composite Currency, Currency Unit or Foreign Currency. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.2 with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of one or more Series at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any such Series which are denominated in a currency or currencies other than Dollars (including, but not limited to, any composite currency, currency units or Foreign Currency), then the principal amount (or, in the case of Discount Securities, such other amount as may be specified pursuant to the terms of such Discount Securities) of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of giving any consent, notice or waiver or taking any other action under this Indenture or the Securities of such Series shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such principal amount (or other amount, as the case may be) at the Market Exchange Rate at such time. For purposes of this Section 10.15, “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of such currency or currencies as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as of the most recent available date. If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to any such currency, the Company shall use, in its sole discretion, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations or rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question, which for purposes of euros shall be Brussels, Belgium, or such other quotations or rates of exchange as the Company shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount (or other amount, as the case may be) in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency or currencies other than Dollars in connection with any consent, notice, waiver or other action taken by Holders of Securities of such Series pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
The Company may, at its option, appoint a “Market Rate Agent” to obtain the Market Exchange Rate (or alternative rate) and to perform the relevant calculations with respect to any Securities denominated in a currency or currencies other than Dollars. All decisions and determinations of the Company or any such Market Rate Agent regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.
| 46 |
Section 10.16 Payment in Required Currency; Judgment Currency. The Company agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, in which case the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day that is a Business Day in The City of New York.
Section 10.17 Force Majeure. The Trustee and Agents shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Trustee and Agents (including but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, pandemic, epidemic, any act of terrorism, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility).
Section 10.18 U.S.A. Patriot Act. In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including, without limitation, those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable Law”), the Trustee and Agents are required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee and Agents. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee and Agents, upon their request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee and Agents to comply with Applicable Law. The provisions of this Section 10.18 are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Trustee and no failure by the Company to comply with, or any breach of, this Section 10.18 shall constitute a Default, Event of Default or other default with respect to the Securities of any Series or under this Indenture, nor shall any person other than the Company and the Trustee have any rights under this Section 10.18.
| 47 |
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article. In the case of any Securities of a Series that are entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of such Series, the provisions of this Article shall be applicable to such sinking fund, except as otherwise permitted or required pursuant to Section 2.2.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other sinking fund amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of the applicable Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
Section 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officers’ Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee or Depositary begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption pursuant to such sinking fund, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at 100% of the principal amount thereof unless a different price is specified by the terms of such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.
Section 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 45 days (or such shorter notice as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated pursuant to Section 2.2 in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.3 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7.
[Signature Page Follows]
| 48 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| eBay Inc., as Issuer | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: |
Exhibit 5.1
|
2100
L Street, NW TELEPHONE: 202.887.1500 FACSIMILE: 202.887.0763 www.mofo.com |
morrison & foerster llp austin, beijing, berlin,
boston, brussels, denver, hong kong, london, los angeles, miami, new york, palo alto, san diego, | ||
February 24, 2023
Board of Directors
eBay Inc.
2025 Hamilton Avenue
San Jose, California 95125
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to eBay Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing of its registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the proposed issuance and sale by the Company of the following securities: (i) shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) debt securities (the “Debt Securities”); (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Depositary Shares or Units (the “Warrants”); (v) depository shares representing fractional interests in shares of Preferred Stock (the “Depositary Shares”); (vi) purchase contracts entitling or obligating holders thereof to purchase from or sell to the Company, and the Company to sell to or purchase from the holders thereof, Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants or Units (as defined below) (the “Purchase Contracts”); and (vii) units consisting of two or more of the types of securities referred to above (the “Units” and, together with the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, Warrants, Depositary Shares and Purchase Contracts the “Securities”), all of which may be offered and sold from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis in accordance with Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as set forth in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement, and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the prospectus.
As counsel for the Company, we have examined the Registration Statement and originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such agreements, instruments, documents, certificates and records as we have deemed relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinions hereinafter expressed. In such examination, we have assumed: (i) the authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (ii) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (iii) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the agreements, instruments, documents, certificates and records that we have reviewed; and (iv) the legal capacity of all natural persons. As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established or verified the facts so relied on. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.
For purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that: (i) the issuance, sale, amount and terms of any Securities to be offered from time to time under the Registration Statement will have been duly authorized and established by proper action (“Board Action”) of the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee of such Board of Directors in accordance with the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (as amended, the “Charter”) and bylaws and applicable provisions of Delaware corporate law, in a manner that does not violate any law, government or court-imposed order or restriction or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company or otherwise impair the valid or binding nature of the obligations represented by the applicable Securities; (ii) at the time of offer, issuance and sale of any Securities, the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have been declared effective under the Securities Act, and no stop order suspending its effectiveness will have been issued and remain in effect; (iii) a prospectus supplement will have been filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby; (iv) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement; (v) prior to the issuance of any Securities, a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (vi) any Preferred Stock will be issued in one or more series and the number of shares and the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the Preferred Stock of such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, will be set forth in a certificate of designation (each, a “Certificate of Designation”); (vii) any Debt Securities will be issued under the form of indenture, to be between the Company and a bank, trust company, or other financial institution identified therein as trustee (the “Trustee”) filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement, as such indenture may be supplemented from time to time (the “Indenture”); (viii) any Warrants will be issued under one or more warrant agreements, each to be between the Company and a bank, trust company, or other financial institution identified therein as warrant agent (each a “Warrant Agreement”); (ix) any Depositary Shares representing fractional interests in the shares of Preferred Stock of any series will be evidenced by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Receipts”) issued under a deposit agreement (each, a “Deposit Agreement”), to be entered into by the company and a depositary (each, a “Depositary”); (x) any Purchase Contract will be issued under one or more purchase contracts (each, a “Purchase Contract Agreement”) each to be entered into by the Company and a purchase contract agent (each, a “Purchase Contract Agent”) (xi) any Units will be issued under one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”), each to be entered into by the company and a unit agent (each, a “Unit Agent”); (xii) if being sold by the issuer thereof, the Securities will be delivered against payment of valid consideration therefor and in accordance with the terms of the applicable Board Action authorizing such sale and any applicable underwriting agreement or purchase agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable prospectus supplement; (xiii) the Company will remain a Delaware corporation; (xiv) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock, including Common Stock which may be issued upon conversion or exercise of any other Securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock (“Common Securities”), the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter; (xv) upon the issuance of any Preferred Stock, including Preferred Stock which may be issued upon conversion or exercise of any other Securities convertible into or exercisable for Preferred Stock, the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and the total number of issued and outstanding shares of the applicable class or series of Preferred Stock designated pursuant to the Charter, will not exceed the total number of shares of Preferred Stock or the number of shares of such class or series of Preferred Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter; (xvi) with respect to any Preferred Stock, a Certificate of Designation relating to the Preferred Stock to be issued by the Company will be adopted by the Board of Directors and the Certificate of Designation will be filed with and accepted for record by the Delaware Secretary of State prior to their issuance; (xvii) the terms of the Securities will conform in all material respects to the respective descriptions thereof in the prospectus which is part of the Registration Statement; (xviii) certificates, if required, representing the Securities will be duly executed and delivered and, to the extent required by any applicable agreement, duly authenticated and countersigned; (xix) the laws of the State of New York will be the governing law with respect to any Indenture, Deposit Agreement, Warrant Agreement, Purchase Contract Agreement and Unit Agreement; and (xx) any Securities convertible into or exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable for any other Securities will be duly converted, exercised, exchanged or redeemed in accordance with their terms.
2
To the extent that the obligations of the Company with respect to the Securities may be dependent upon such matters, we assume for purposes of this opinion that, with respect to each instrument or agreement referred to in or otherwise relevant to the opinions set forth herein (each, an “Instrument”), that each other party to such Instrument is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by such Instrument; that such Instrument will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other party and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the other party enforceable against the other party in accordance with its terms; that such other party will be in compliance with respect to performance of its obligations under the Instrument with all applicable laws and regulations; that such other party will have the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Instrument; and that a Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1 has been properly filed with the Commission.
Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | After the Board of Directors of the Company has taken appropriate Board Action, the Common Stock will be duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered in accordance with the Registration Statement and the applicable Board Action and consideration therefor has been received by the Company, the Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
| 2. | After the Board of Directors of the Company has taken appropriate Board Action, the Preferred Stock will be duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered in accordance with the Registration Statement and the applicable Board Action and consideration therefor has been received by the Company, the Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
| 3. | After the Board of Directors of the Company has taken appropriate Board Action and upon the due execution and delivery of an Indenture on behalf of the Company and the Trustee, the Debt Securities will be duly authorized and, upon (a) due authentication by the Trustee, (b) the issuance and delivery of the Debt Securities in accordance with the Registration Statement and the applicable Board Action, and (c) receipt of the consideration therefor by the Company, the Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms. |
| 4. | After the Board of Directors of the Company has taken appropriate Board Action and upon due execution and delivery of and the Depositary Agreement, the Depositary Shares will be duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered in accordance with the Registration Statement and the applicable Board Action and consideration therefor has been received by the Company, the Depositary Shares will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
3
| 5. | After the Board of Directors of the Company has taken appropriate Board Action and upon the due execution and delivery of the Warrant Agreements by the Company and the applicable Warrant Agent and due authentication of the Warrants by such Warrant Agent, the Warrants will be duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered in accordance with the Registration Statement and the applicable Board Action and consideration therefor has been received by the Company, the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
| 6. | After the Board of Directors of the Company has taken appropriate Board Action and upon the due execution and delivery of the Purchase Contract Agreements, the Purchase Contracts will be duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered in accordance with the Registration Statement and the applicable Board Action and consideration therefor has been received by the Company, the Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
| 7. | After the Board of Directors of the Company has taken appropriate Board Action and upon the due execution and delivery of the Unit Agreements, the Units will be duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered in accordance with the Registration Statement and the applicable Board Action and consideration therefor has been received by the Company, the Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
Our opinion that any document is legal, valid and binding is qualified as to:
| (a) | limitations imposed by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally; |
| (b) | rights to indemnification and contribution, which may be limited by applicable law or equitable principles; and |
| (c) | general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief and limitation of rights of acceleration, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. |
This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on (i) the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, and (ii) applicable provisions of the laws of the State of New York (but not including any laws, statutes, ordinances, administrative decisions, rules or regulations of any political subdivision of the State of New York). We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations. As used herein, the term “Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended” includes the statutory provisions contained therein, all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws. Our opinion is based upon current statutes, rules, regulations, cases and official interpretive opinions, and it covers certain items that are not directly or definitively addressed by such authorities.
This opinion letter has been prepared for your use in connection with the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement with the Commission and to reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are acting within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Sincerely, | |
| /s/ Morrison & Foerster LLP |
4
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of eBay Inc. of our report dated February 23, 2023 relating to the financial statements, financial statement schedule and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in eBay Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Jose, California
February 24, 2023
Exhibit 23.2
Consent of Independent Auditors
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated April 28, 2022, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Adevinta ASA as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of eBay Inc. filed on May 10, 2022 and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of eBay Inc. for the registration of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares or purchase contracts, as well as units that include any of these securities.
/s/ Ernst & Young AS
Oslo, Norway
February 24, 2023
Exhibit 25.1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
(formerly BANKERS TRUST COMPANY)
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
| NEW YORK | 13-4941247 |
| (Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or organization if not a U.S. national bank) |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification no.) |
| 1 COLUMBUS CIRCLE | |
| NEW YORK, NEW YORK | 10005 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Attention: Mirko Mieth
Legal Department
1 Columbus Circle, 19th Floor
New York, New York 10019
(212) 250 – 1663
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
eBay Inc.
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| Delaware | 77-0430924 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 2025
Hamilton Avenue San Jose, CA |
95125 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (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.
| Name | Address |
| Federal Reserve Bank (2nd District) | New York, NY |
| Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation | Washington, D.C. |
| New York State Banking Department | Albany, NY |
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
Yes.
Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.
none.
Item 3. -15. Not Applicable
Item 16. List of Exhibits.
| Exhibit 1 - | Restated Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated August 31, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 25, 1998; Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated December 18, 1998;Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated September 3, 1999; and Certificate of Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated March 14, 2002, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. |
| Exhibit 2 - | Certificate of Authority to commence business, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. |
| Exhibit 3 - | Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. |
| Exhibit 4 - | A copy of existing By-Laws of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, dated March 2, 2022 (see attached). |
| Exhibit 5 - | Not applicable. |
| Exhibit 6 - | Consent of Bankers Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of the Act, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6 filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration No. 333-201810. |
| Exhibit 7 - | A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. | |
| Exhibit 8 - | Not Applicable. | |
| Exhibit 9 - | Not Applicable. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, 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 this 24 day of February, 2023.
| DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS | |||
| By: | /s/ Jacqueline Bartnick | ||
| Name: Jacqueline Bartnick | |||
| Title: Director | |||
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.01. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Company”) shall be held in the City of New York within the State of New York within the first four months of the Company’s fiscal year, on such date and at such time and place as the board of directors of the Company (“Board of Directors” or “Board”) may designate in the call or in a waiver of notice thereof, for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 1.02. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Company may be called by the Board of Directors or by the President, and shall be called by the President or by the Secretary upon the written request of the holders of record of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, at such times. If for a period of thirteen months after the last annual meeting, there is a failure to elect a sufficient number of directors to conduct the business of the Company, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting for the election of directors within two weeks after the expiration of such period; otherwise, holders of record of ten percent (10%) of the shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote in an election of directors may, in writing, demand the call of a special meeting at the office of the Company for the election of directors, specifying the date and month thereof, but not less than two nor more than three months from the date of such call. At any such special meeting called on demand of stockholders, the stockholders attending, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote in an election of directors shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of electing directors, but not for the transaction of any other business.
Section 1.03. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time, place and purpose of every meeting of stockholders shall be delivered personally or mailed not less than 10 nor more than 50 days before the date of such meeting (or any other action) to each stockholder of record entitled to vote, at his post office address appearing upon the records of the Company or at such other address as shall be furnished in writing by him to the Secretary of the Company for such purpose. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law or by these By-Laws. Any meeting may be held without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present in person or by proxy, or if notice is waived in writing, either before or after the meeting, by those not present.
Section 1.04. Quorum. The holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of the stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, shall, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Company’s Organization Certificate or by these By-Laws, constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders; if there be no such quorum, the holders of a majority of such shares so present or represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall have been obtained.
Section 1.05. Organization of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or, if he is not present, by the President or, if he is not present, by a chairman to be chosen at the meeting. The Secretary of the Company, or in his absence an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, if present.
| -1- |
Section 1.06. Voting. At each meeting of stockholders, except as otherwise provided by statute, the Company’s Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, every holder of record of stock entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of such stock standing in his name on the records of the Company. Elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast thereat and, except as otherwise provided by statute, the Company’s Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, all other action shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.
At all elections of directors, the voting shall be by ballot or in such other manner as may be determined by the stockholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote at such election.
Section 1.07. Action by Consent. Except as may otherwise be provided in the Company’s Organization Certificate, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if, prior to such action, a written consent or consents thereto, setting forth such action, is signed by all the holders of record of shares of the stock of the Company, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 2.01. Chairman of the Board. Following the election of the Board of Directors at each annual meeting, the elected Board shall appoint one of its members as Chairman. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.02. Lead Independent Director. Following the election of the Board of Directors at each annual meeting, the elected Board may appoint one of its independent members as its Lead Independent Director. When the Chairman of the Board is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, the Lead Independent Director, if there be one, shall preside.
Section 2.03. Director Emeritus. The Board of Directors may from time to time elect one or more Directors Emeritus. Each Director Emeritus shall be elected for a term expiring on the date of the regular meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting. No Director Emeritus shall be considered a “director” for purposes of these By-Laws or for any other purpose.
Section 2.04. Powers, Number, Quorum, Term, Vacancies, Removal. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Company’s Organization Certificate or by these By-Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
The number of directors may be changed by a resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or by a vote of the holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, but at all times the Board of Directors must consist of not less than seven nor more than thirty directors. No more than one-third of the directors shall be active officers or employees of the Company. At least one-half of the directors must be citizens of the United States at the time of their election and during their continuance in office.
| -2- |
Except as otherwise required by law, rule or regulation, or by the Company’s Organization Certificate, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board of Directors or a majority of the directors constituting such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors or committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, or such committee, as applicable. Any one or more members of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of a conference telephone or video, or other similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting. Whether or not a quorum shall be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time; notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment, but if the time and place of the adjourned meeting are announced, no additional notice shall be required to be given to the directors present at the time of adjournment.
Directors shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors shall have been elected and shall have qualified. Director vacancies not exceeding one-third of the whole number of the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and the directors so elected shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term.
Any one or more of the directors of the Company may be removed either with or without cause at any time by a vote of the holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, and thereupon the term of the director or directors who shall have been so removed shall forthwith terminate and there shall be a vacancy or vacancies in the Board of Directors, to be filled by a vote of the stockholders as provided in these By-Laws.
Section 2.05. Meetings, Notice. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place either within or without the State of New York, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board, or as may be specified in the call or in a waiver of notice thereof. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors and its Executive Committee shall be held as often as may be required under applicable law, and special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of two directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President, by oral, telegraphic or written notice duly served on or sent or mailed to each director not less than two days before such meeting. Any meeting may be held without notice, if all directors are present, or if notice is waived in writing, either before or after the meeting, by those not present.
Section 2.06. Compensation. The Board of Directors may determine, from time to time, the amount of compensation, which shall be paid to its members. The Board of Directors shall also have power, in its discretion, to allow a fixed sum and expenses for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board, or of any committee of the Board. The Board of Directors shall also have power, in its discretion, to provide for and pay to directors rendering services to the Company not ordinarily rendered by directors, as such, special compensation appropriate to the value of such services, as determined by the Board from time to time.
| -3- |
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 3.01. Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board who shall be appointed annually by resolution adopted by the majority of the entire Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee. In his absence, the Chief Executive Officer or, in his absence, the President or any Co-President or, in their absence, such other member of the Executive Committee as the Executive Committee from time to time may designate shall preside at such meetings.
Section 3.02. Audit and Fiduciary Committee. There shall be an Audit and Fiduciary Committee appointed annually by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors which shall consist of such number of independent directors, as may from time to time be fixed by the Audit and Fiduciary Committee charter adopted by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.03. Other Committees. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint any other Committees as may seem necessary, and from time to time to suspend or continue the powers and duties of such Committees. Each Committee appointed pursuant to this Article shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.04. Limitations. No committee shall have the authority as to the following matters: (i) the submission to stockholders of any action that needs stockholders’ authorization under New York Banking Law; (ii) the filling of vacancies in the Board of Directors or in any such committee; (iii) the fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the Board of Directors or on any committee; (iv) the amendment or repeal of these By-Laws, or the adoption of new by-laws; (v) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board of Directors which by its terms shall not be so amendable or repealable; or (vi) the taking of action which is expressly required by any provision of New York Banking Law to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or by a specified proportion of the directors.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01. Titles and Election. The officers of the Company, who shall be chosen by the Board of Directors within twenty-five days after each annual meeting of stockholders, shall be a President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and a General Auditor. The Board of Directors from time to time may elect one or more Managing Directors, Directors, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, and may define their powers and duties. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary.
Section 4.02. Terms of Office. Each officer shall hold office for the term for which he is elected or appointed, and until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified.
Section 4.03. Removal. Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.04. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 4.05. Vacancies. If the office of any officer or agent becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the Board of Directors may choose a successor, who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.
| -4- |
Section 4.06. President. The President shall have general authority to exercise all the powers necessary for the President of the Company. In the absence of the Chairman and the Lead Independent Director, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders. The President shall have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the president of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.07. Chief Executive Officer. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall exercise the powers and perform the duties usual to the chief executive officer and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, shall have general management and control of the affairs and business of the Company; he shall appoint and discharge employees and agents of the Company (other than officers elected by the Board of Directors); he shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect; he shall have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the chief executive officer of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.08. Chief Risk Officer. The Chief Risk Officer shall have the responsibility for the risk management and monitoring of the Company. The Chief Risk Officer shall have the power to execute bonds, notes, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to his office and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.09. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the responsibility for reporting to the Board of Directors on the financial condition of the Company, preparing and submitting all financial reports required by applicable law, and preparing annual financial statements of the Company and coordinating with qualified third party auditors to ensure such financial statements are audited in accordance with applicable law.
Section 4.10. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys, and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company, in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the directors whenever they may require it an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company.
Section 4.11. Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all sessions of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of proceedings in records or books to be kept for that purpose. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to the office of the secretary of a corporation and as from time to time may otherwise be prescribed by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall have and be the custodian of the stock records and all other books, records and papers of the Company (other than financial) and shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law are properly kept and filed.
| -5- |
Section 4.12. General Auditor. The General Auditor shall be responsible, through the Audit and Fiduciary Committee, to the Board of Directors for the determination of the program of the internal audit function and the evaluation of the adequacy of the system of internal controls. Subject to the Board of Directors, the General Auditor shall have and may exercise all the powers and shall perform all the duties usual to such office and shall have such other powers as may be prescribed or assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or vested in him by law or by these By-Laws. He shall perform such other duties and shall make such investigations, examinations and reports as may be prescribed or required by the Audit and Fiduciary Committee. The General Auditor shall have unrestricted access to all records and premises of the Company and shall delegate such authority to his subordinates. He shall have the duty to report to the Audit and Fiduciary Committee on all matters concerning the internal audit program and the adequacy of the system of internal controls of the Company which he deems advisable or which the Audit and Fiduciary Committee may request.
Section 4.13. Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents. If chosen, the Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents, in the order of their seniority, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, exercise all of the powers and duties of the President. Such Managing Directors, Directors and Vice Presidents shall have the power to execute bonds, notes, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Company, and they shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may be incident to their respective offices and as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the President.
Section 4.14. Duties of Officers may be Delegated. In case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Company, or for any other reason that the Board may deem sufficient, the Board may delegate, for the time being, the powers or duties, or any of them, of such officer to any other officer.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND OTHERS
Section 5.01. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Company. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, the Company shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding (other than one by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor), whether civil or criminal, including an action by or in the right of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any director or officer of the Company served in any capacity at the request of the Company, by reason of the fact that such person, his or her testator or intestate, was a director or officer of the Company, or served such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or proceeding, or any appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which such person reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, and had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.
| -6- |
Section 5.02. Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, the Company shall indemnify any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person, his or her testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, or in connection with an appeal therein, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, not opposed to, the best interests of the Company, except that no indemnification under this Section 5.02 shall be made in respect of (a) a threatened action, or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed of, or (b) any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action was brought, or, if no action was brought, any court of competent jurisdiction, determines upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement amount and expenses as the court deems proper.
Section 5.03. Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article V (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Company only if authorized in the specific case (i) by the Board acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding upon a finding that the director or officer has met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be; or (ii) if a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, (x) by the Board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be, has been met by such director or officer; or (y) by the stockholders upon a finding that the director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be. A person who has been successful on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a civil or criminal action or proceeding of the character described in Sections 5.01 or 5.02, shall be entitled to indemnification as authorized in such section.
Section 5.04. Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 5.03, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, or to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Company or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Company or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Company or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Company or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Company or another enterprise. The provisions of this Section 5.04 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02, as the case may be.
Section 5.05. Serving an Employee Benefit Plan on behalf of the Company. For the purpose of this Article V, the Company shall be deemed to have requested a person to serve an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his duties to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall be considered fines; and action taken or omitted by a person with respect to an employee benefit plan in the performance of such person’s duties for a purpose reasonably believed by such person to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
| -7- |
Section 5.06. Indemnification upon Application to a Court. Notwithstanding the failure of the Company to provide indemnification and despite any contrary resolution of the Board or stockholders under Section 5.03, or in the event that no determination has been made within ninety days after receipt of the Company of a written claim therefor, upon application to a court by a director or officer, indemnification shall be awarded by a court to the extent authorized in Section 5.01 or Section 5.02. Such application shall be upon notice to the Company. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 5.03 nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct.
Section 5.07. Expenses Payable in Advance. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, and subject to applicable law, expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action or proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount (i) if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this Article V, (ii) where indemnification is granted, to the extent expenses so advanced by the Company or allowed by a court exceed the indemnification to which such person is entitled and (iii) upon such other terms and conditions, if any, as the Company deems appropriate. Any such advancement of expenses shall be made in the sole and absolute discretion of the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by the Board acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding, or (ii) if a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, (x) by the Board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel or (y) by the stockholders and, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to revoke at any time any approval previously granted in respect of any such request for the advancement of expenses or to, in its sole and absolute discretion, impose limits or conditions in respect of any such approval.
Section 5.08. Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses granted pursuant to, or provided by, this Article V shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a director or officer seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled whether contained in the Company’s Organization Certificate, these By-Laws or, when authorized by the Organization Certificate or these By-Laws, (i) a resolution of stockholders, (ii) a resolution of directors, or (iii) an agreement providing for such indemnification, provided that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled. Nothing contained in this Article V shall affect any rights to indemnification to which corporate personnel other than directors and officers may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.
Section 5.09. Insurance. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V, the Company may purchase and maintain insurance (in a single contract or supplement thereto, but not in a retrospective rated contract): (i) to indemnify the Company for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors and officers under the provisions of this Article V, (ii) to indemnify directors and officers in instances in which they may be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Article V and applicable law, and (iii) to indemnify directors and officers in instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the Company under the provisions of this Article V, provided the contract of insurance covering such directors and officers provides, in a manner acceptable to the New York Superintendent of Financial Services, for a retention amount and for co-insurance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such insurance shall be subject to the provisions of, and the Company shall comply with the requirements set forth in, Section 7023 of the New York State Banking Law.
| -8- |
Section 5.10. Limitations on Indemnification and Insurance. All indemnification and insurance provisions contained in this Article V are subject to any limitations and prohibitions under applicable law, including but not limited to Section 7022 (with respect to indemnification, advancement or allowance) and Section 7023 (with respect to insurance) of the New York State Banking Law and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (with respect to administrative proceedings or civil actions initiated by any federal banking agency). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article V to the contrary, no indemnification, advancement or allowance shall be made (i) to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he was not legally entitled, or (ii) in any circumstance where it appears (a) that the indemnification would be inconsistent with a provision of the Company’s Organization Certificate, these By-Laws, a resolution of the Board or of the stockholders, an agreement or other proper corporate action, in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the threatened or pending action or proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or (b) if there has been a settlement approved by the court, that the indemnification would be inconsistent with any condition with respect to indemnification expressly imposed by the court in approving the settlement.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article V to the contrary, but subject to any requirements of applicable law, (i) except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 5.06), the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his testators intestate) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Company, (ii) with respect to indemnification or advancement of expenses relating to attorneys’ fees under this Article V, counsel for the present or former director or officer must be reasonably acceptable to the Company (and the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, establish a panel of approved law firms for such purpose, out of which the present or former director or officer could be required to select an approved law firm to represent him), (iii) indemnification in respect of amounts paid in settlement shall be subject to the prior consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld), (iv) any and all obligations of the Corporation under this Article V shall be subject to applicable law, (v) in no event shall any payments pursuant to this Article V be made if duplicative of any indemnification or advancement of expenses or other reimbursement available to the applicable director or officer (other than for coverage maintained by such person in his individual capacity), and (vi) no indemnification or advancement of expenses shall be provided under these By-Laws to any person in respect of any expenses, judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement to the extent incurred by such person in his capacity or position with another entity (including, without limitation, an entity that is a stockholder of the Company or any of the branches or affiliates of such stockholder), except as expressly provided in these By-Laws in respect of such person’s capacity and position as a director or officer of the Company or such person is a director or officer of the Company serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.
Section 5.11. Indemnification of Other Persons. The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses (whether pursuant to an adoption of a policy or otherwise) to employees and agents of the Company (whether similar to those conferred in this Article V upon directors and officers of the Company or on other terms and conditions authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors), as well as to employees of direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company and to other persons (or categories of persons) approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.
| -9- |
Section 5.12. Repeal. Any repeal or modification of this Article V shall not adversely affect any rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses of a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VI
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 6.01. Certificates. The interest of each stockholder of the Company shall be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The certificates of stock shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or the President or a Managing Director or a Director or a Vice President and by the Secretary, or the Treasurer, or an Assistant Secretary, or an Assistant Treasurer, sealed with the seal of the Company or a facsimile thereof, and countersigned and registered in such manner, if any, as the Board of Directors may by resolution prescribe. Where any such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent other than the Company or its employee, or registered by a registrar other than the Company or its employee, the signature of any such officer may be a facsimile signature. In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Company, whether because of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Company, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Company and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Company.
Section 6.02. Transfer. The shares of stock of the Company shall be transferred only upon the books of the Company by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Company or its agents may reasonably require.
Section 6.03. Record Dates. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date, not less than 10 nor more than 50 days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders, or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the distribution or allotment of any rights, or the date when any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or to receive any distribution or allotment of such rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, and in such case only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend, or to receive such distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Company after any such record date fixed as aforesaid.
Section 6.04. Lost Certificates. In the event that any certificate of stock is lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of a new certificate of the same tenor and for the same number of shares in lieu thereof. The Board may in its discretion, before the issuance of such new certificate, require the owner of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate or the legal representative of the owner to make an affidavit or affirmation setting forth such facts as to the loss, destruction or mutilation as it deems necessary and to give the Company a bond in such reasonable sum as it directs to indemnify the Company.
| -10- |
ARTICLE VII
CHECKS, NOTES, ETC.
Section 7.01. Checks, Notes, Etc. All checks and drafts on the Company’s bank accounts and all bills of exchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, may be signed by the President or any Managing Director or any Director or any Vice President and may also be signed by such other officer or officers, agent or agents, as shall be thereunto authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 8.01. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company shall be from January 1 to December 31, unless changed by the Board of Directors.
Section 8.02. Books. There shall be kept at such office of the Company as the Board of Directors shall determine, within or without the State of New York, correct books and records of account of all its business and transactions, minutes of the proceedings of its stockholders, Board of Directors and committees, and the stock book, containing the names and addresses of the stockholders, the number of shares held by them, respectively, and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof, and in which the transfer of stock shall be registered, and such other books and records as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 8.03. Voting of Stock. Unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Board of Directors, all stock owned by the Company, other than stock of the Company, shall be voted, in person or by proxy, by the President or any Managing Director or any Director or any Vice President of the Company on behalf of the Company.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 9.01. Amendments. The vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote shall be necessary at any meeting of stockholders to amend or repeal these By-Laws or to adopt new by-laws. These By-Laws may also be amended or repealed, or new by-laws adopted, at any meeting of the Board of Directors by the vote of at least a majority of the entire Board, provided that any by-law adopted by the Board may be amended or repealed by the stockholders in the manner set forth above.
Any proposal to amend or repeal these By-Laws or to adopt new by-laws shall be stated in the notice of the meeting of the Board of Directors or the stockholders or in the waiver of notice thereof, as the case may be, unless all of the directors or the holders of record of all of the shares of stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote are present at such meeting.
| -11- |

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS 00623 New York, NY 10019 Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of the Comptroller of the Currency OMB Number 7100 - 0036 OMB Number 3064 - 0052 OMB Number 1557 - 0081 Approval expires December 31, 2024 Page 1 of 87 Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income for a Bank with Domestic Offices Only — FFIEC 041 Report at the close of business December 31, 2022 20221231 (RCON 9999) This report is required by law : 12 U . S . C . † 324 (State member banks) ; 12 U . S . C . † 1817 (State nonmember banks) ; 12 U . S . C . † 161 (National banks) ; and 12 U . S . C . † 1464 (Savings associations) . This report form is to be filed by banks with domestic offices only and total consolidated assets of less than $ 100 billion, except those banks that file the FFIEC 051 , and those banks that are advanced approaches institutions for regulatory capital purposes that are required to file the FFIEC 031 . Unless the context indicates otherwise, the term "bank" in this report form refers to both banks and savings associations. NOTE : Each bank’s board of directors and senior management are responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective system of internal control, including controls over the Reports of Condition and schedules) for this report date have been prepared in confor - mance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true and correct to the best of my Income. The Reports of Condition and Income are to be prepared in knowledge and belief. accordance with federal regulatory authority instructions. The Reports of Condition and Income must be signed by the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the reporting bank (or by the individual performing an equivalent function) and attested to by not less than two directors (trustees) for state nonmember banks and three directors for state member banks, national banks, and savings associations . We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that the Reports of Condition and Income have been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true and correct . I, the undersigned CFO (or equivalent) of the named bank, attest that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting Director (Trustee) Signature of Chief Financial Officer (or Equivalent) 01/30/2023 Director (Trustee) Date of Signature Director (Trustee) Submission of Reports Each bank must file its Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) data by either: To fulfill the signature and attestation requirement for the Reports of Condition and Income for this report date, attach your bank’s completed signature page (or a photocopy or a computer gener - (a) Using computer software to prepare its Call Report and then ated version of this page) to the hard - copy record of the data file submitting the report data directly to the FFIEC’s Central Data Repository (CDR), an Internet - based system for data collec - tion (https : //cdr . ffiec . gov/cdr/), or (b) Completing its Call Report in paper form and arranging with a software vendor or another party to convert the data into the submitted to the CDR that your bank must place in its files. The appearance of your bank’s hard - copy record of the submitted data file need not match exactly the appearance of the FFIEC’s sample report forms, but should show at least the caption of each electronic format that can be processed by the CDR. The Call Report item and the reported amount. software vendor or other party then must electronically submit the bank’s data file to the CDR. DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS Legal Title of Bank (RSSD 9017) For technical assistance with submissions to the CDR, please contact the CDR Help Desk by telephone at (888) CDR - 3111, by New York fax at (703) 774 - 3946, or by e - mail at cdr.help@cdr.ffiec.gov. City (RSSD 9130) FDIC Certificate Number 623 NY State Abbreviation (RSSD 9200) Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) 10019 Zip Code (RSSD 9220) (RSSD 9050) 8EWQ2UQKS07AKK8ANH81 (Report only if your institution already has an LEI.) (RCON 9224) The estimated average burden associated with this information collection is 55 . 53 hours per respondent and is expected to vary by institution, depending on individual circumstances . Burden estimates include the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data in the required form, and completing the information collection, but exclude the time for compiling and maintaining business records in the normal course of a respondent’s activities . A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and an organization (or a person) is not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number . Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and suggestions for reducing this burden should be directed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503 , and to one of the following : Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20 th and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20551 ; Legislative and Regulatory Analysis Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Washington, DC 20219 ; Assistant Executive Secretary, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, DC 20429 . 12/2022 06/2012

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS 00623 New York, NY 10019 FFIEC 041 Page 17 of 87 RC - 1 Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Banks and Savings Associations for December 31, 2022 All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the quarter. Schedule RC — Balance Sheet 1.a. 1.b. 2.a. 2.b. 2.c. 3.a. 3.b. 4.a. 4.b. 4.c. 4.d. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.a. 13.a.(1) 13.a.(2) 14.a. 14.b. 15. 16. 19. 1. Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits. 2. Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading. 3. Institutions that have adopted ASU 2016 - 13 should report in item 2.a amounts net of any applicable allowance for credit losses, and item 2.a should equal Schedule RC - B, item 8, column A, less Schedule RI - B, Part II, item 7, column B. 4. Item 2.c is to be completed by all institutions. See the instructions for this item and the Glossary entry for "Securities Activities" for further detail on accounting for investments in equity securities. 5. Includes all securities resale agreements, regardless of maturity. 6. Institutions that have adopted ASU 2016 - 13 should report in items 3.b and 11 amounts net of any applicable allowance for credit losses. 7. Institutions that have adopted ASU 2016 - 13 should report in item 4.c the allowance for credit losses on loans and leases. 8. Includes noninterest - bearing demand, time, and savings deposits. 9. Report overnight Federal Home Loan Bank advances in Schedule RC, item 16, "Other borrowed money." 10. Includes all securities repurchase agreements, regardless of maturity. 11. Includes limited - life preferred stock and related surplus. 12/2022 06/2012 Dollar Amounts in Thousands RCON Amount Assets 1. Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC - A) a. Noninterest - bearing balances and currency and coin (1 ) …………………………….…….…..... b. Interest - bearing balances (2 ) ………………………………………………………........................ 2. Securities: a. Held - to - maturity securities (from Schedule RC - B, column A) (3 ) ……………………………........ b. Available - for - sale debt securities (from Schedule RC - B, column D)…………………….…….... c. Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading (4 ) ………………… 3. Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell: a. Federal funds sold………………………………………………………......................................... b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell (5, 6 ) …………………………......................... 4. Loans and lease financing receivables (from Schedule RC - C): a. Loans and leases held for sale………………………………………………………..……............. 0081 25,000 0071 16,031,000 JJ34 0 1773 708,000 JA22 5,000 B987 0 B989 5,918,000 5369 0 b. Loans and leases held for investment………………....................... c. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses…………….................. B528 14,072,000 3123 16,000 d. Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance (item 4.b minus 4.c) (7 ) ………........... 5. Trading assets (from Schedule RC - D)…………………………………………………….……........... 6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)……………………………………............ 7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC - M)………………………………………………........... 8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies……………………........... 9. Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures...................................……........................ 10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC - M)……………………………………………………………… 11. Other assets (from Schedule RC - F) (6 ) ……………………………………………………………........ 12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)………………………………………………………........... Liabilities 13. Deposits: a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C from Schedule RC - E)………………… B529 14,056,000 3545 0 2145 0 2150 0 2130 0 3656 0 2143 4,000 2160 2,445,000 2170 39,192,000 2200 26,830,000 (1) Noninterest - bearing (8 ) ………………………………………… (2) Interest - bearing…………………………………………………… 6631 10,895,000 6636 15,935,000 b. Not applicable 14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase: a. Federal funds purchased (9 ) ………………………………………..………….............................. b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase (10 ) …………………………………………… 15. Trading liabilities (from Schedule RC - D)…………………………………………………..…………... 16. Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness) (from Schedule RC - M)...................... 17. and 18. Not applicable 19. Subordinated notes and debentures (11 ) ……………………………………………………………… B993 0 B995 0 3548 0 3190 111,000 3200 0

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS 00623 New York, NY 10019 To be reported with the March Report of Condition. 2. Bank's fiscal year - end date (report the date in MMDD format)................................................................... M.2. 1. Includes, but is not limited to, net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available - for - sale securities, accumulated net gains ( losses) on cash flow hedges, and accumulated defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan adjustments. 2. Includes treasury stock and unearned Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares. 06/2012 FFIEC 041 Page 18 of 87 RC - 2 Schedule RC — Continued Dollar Amounts in Thousands RCON Amount Liabilities — continued 20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC - G)…………………………………………………………………….…… 2930 2,772,000 20. 21. 21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)…………………………………………………………………… 2948 29,713,000 22. Not applicable Equity Capital Bank Equity Capital 23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus………………………………………………………………… 3838 0 23. 24. 25. 26.a. 26.b. 0 26.c. 27.a. 0 27.b. 28. 29. 24. Common stock……………………………………………………………………………………………….…… … 3230 2,127,000 25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)………………………………………………..……… 3839 939,000 26. a Retained earnings………………………………………………………………………………………..……… 3632 6,462,000 b Accumulated other comprehensive income (1 ) ………………………………………………………….…… B530 (49,000) c Other equity capital components (2 ) ………………………………………………………………………… … A130 27. a Total bank equity capital (sum of items 23 through 26.c)………………………………………………….. 3210 9,479,000 b Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries…………………………………….……... 3000 28. Total equity capital (sum of items 27.a and 27.b)………………………………………………………..…… … G105 9,479,000 29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)……………………………………………..…… 3300 39,192,000 Memoranda To be reported with the March Report of Condition. 1. Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external auditors as of any date during 202 1 ……………………………………………………………………………………............. M.1. 1a = An integrated audit of the reporting institution’s financial statements and its internal control over financial reporting conducted in accordance with the standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) or Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) by an indepen - dent public accountant that submits a report on the institution 1b = An audit of the reporting institution's financial statements only conducted in accordance with the auditing standards of the AICPA or the PCAOB by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the institution 2a = An integrated audit of the reporting institution's parent holding company's consolidated financial statements and its internal control over financial reporting conducted in accordance with the standards of the AICPA or the PCAOB by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the institution separately) 2b = An audit of the reporting institution's parent holding company's consolidated financial statements only conducted in accordance with the auditing standards of the AICPA or the PCAOB by an independent public accountant that submits a report on the consolidated holding company (but not on the institution separately) 3 = This number is not to be used 4 = Directors’ examination of the bank conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by state - chartering authority) 5 = Directors’ examination of the bank performed by other external auditors (may be required by state - chartering authority) 6 = Review of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors 7 = Compilation of the bank’s financial statements by external auditors 8 = Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work) 9 = No external audit work RCON Number 6724 NA RCON Date 8678 NA