UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On March 26, 2026, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (the “Company”) announced that Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Issuer”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, completed its previously announced private offerings of €3.0 billion euro denominated notes (the “Euro Notes”) and $2.55 billion USD denominated notes (the “USD Notes” and, together with the Euro Notes, the “Notes”). The Euro Notes consist of €600 million aggregate principal amount of 3.495% notes due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”), €800 million aggregate principal amount of 3.881% notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes”), €800 million aggregate principal amount of 4.224% notes due 2032 (the “2032 Notes”) and €800 million aggregate principal amount of 4.728% notes due 2035 (the “2035 Notes”). The USD Notes consist of $550 million aggregate principal amount of 4.750% notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”), $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.050% notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”), $700 million aggregate principal amount of 5.700% notes due 2036 (the “2036 Notes”) and $700 million aggregate principal amount of 6.625% notes due 2056 (the “2056 Notes”).
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offerings and sale of the Notes, together with other financing sources, to fund the announced acquisition of JDE Peet’s N.V. (“JDE Peet’s” and such acquisition, the “JDE Peet’s Acquisition”) and to pay related fees and expenses in connection with the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and related transactions. The Notes are subject to a special mandatory redemption if the JDE Peet’s Acquisition is not consummated by February 24, 2027.
The Euro Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Issuer and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, registrar and transfer agent (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 26, 2026, among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto, the Trustee and U.S. Bank Europe DAC, UK Branch, as paying agent (the “First Supplemental Indenture”). The USD Notes were issued pursuant to the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026, among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto and the Trustee (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, collectively with the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).
Interest on each series of the Euro Notes began accruing on March 26, 2026, the issue date of the Euro Notes. Interest on the 2028 Notes accrues at a rate of 3.495% per annum, payable annually on March 26 of each year, beginning on March 26, 2027. Interest on the 2030 Notes accrues at a rate of 3.881% per annum, payable annually on March 26 of each year, beginning on March 26, 2027. Interest on the 2032 Notes accrues at a rate of 4.224% per annum, payable annually on March 26 of each year, beginning on March 26, 2027. Interest on the 2035 Notes accrues at a rate of 4.728% per annum, payable annually on March 26 of each year, beginning on March 26, 2027. The 2028 Notes mature on March 26, 2028, the 2030 Notes mature on March 26, 2030, the 2032 Notes mature on March 26, 2032 and the 2035 Notes mature on March 26, 2035.
Interest on each series of the USD Notes began accruing on March 26, 2026, the issue date of the USD Notes. Interest on the 2029 Notes accrues at a rate of 4.750% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 26 and September 26 of each year, beginning on September 26, 2026. Interest on the 2031 Notes accrues at a rate of 5.050% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 26 and September 26 of each year, beginning on September 26, 2026. Interest on the 2036 Notes accrues at a rate of 5.700% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 26 and September 26 of each year, beginning on September 26, 2026. Interest on the 2056 Notes accrues at a rate of 6.625% per annum, payable semi-annually on March 26 and September 26 of each year, beginning on September 26, 2026. The 2029 Notes mature on March 26, 2029, the 2031 Notes mature on March 26, 2031, the 2036 Notes mature on March 26, 2036 and the 2056 Notes mature on March 26, 2056.
The interest rate payable on the Notes is subject to an interest rate step-up of 0.25% for each rating agency level downgrade below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or BBB- by S&P Global Ratings, subject to an aggregate maximum increase of 2.00%.
Prior to (i) March 26, 2028 (the maturity date of the 2028 Notes), in case of the 2028 Notes, (ii) February 26, 2030 (one month prior to the maturity date of the 2030 Notes), in the case of the 2030 Notes, (iii) February 26, 2032 (one month prior to the maturity date of the 2032 Notes), in the case of the 2032 Notes and (iv) December 26, 2034 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2035 Notes) (each such date, the “Euro Par Call Date”), in case
of the 2035 Notes, the Issuer may redeem the Euro Notes of any series, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time at a “make-whole” premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. On or after the applicable Euro Par Call Date, the Issuer may redeem the 2030 Notes, the 2032 Notes and the 2035 Notes in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such series of Euro Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
Prior to (i) February 26, 2029 (one month prior to the maturity date of the 2029 Notes), in the case of the 2029 Notes, (ii) February 26, 2031 (one month prior to the maturity date of the 2031 Notes), in the case of the 2031 Notes, (iii) December 26, 2035 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 2036 Notes), in the case of the 2036 Notes, and (iv) September 26, 2055 (six months prior to the maturity date of the 2056 Notes) (each such date, the “USD Par Call Date”), in the case of the 2056 Notes, the Issuer may redeem the USD Notes of any series, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a “make-whole” premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date. On or after the applicable USD Par Call Date, the Issuer may redeem the 2029 Notes, the 2031 Notes, the 2036 Notes and the 2056 Notes in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such series of USD Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
The Notes are the unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Issuer’s current and future unsubordinated indebtedness. The Notes are initially guaranteed by the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries that guarantee its other senior indebtedness, which guarantees will terminate upon the previously announced separation of the Company’s coffee and beverage businesses (the “Separation”). We expect JDE Peet’s to guarantee the Notes following the closing of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition. Following the Separation, the Notes will be guaranteed by the Issuer’s subsidiaries that guarantee its other senior indebtedness.
If a change of control triggering event (as defined in the Indenture) occurs, subject to certain exceptions, the Issuer must offer to repurchase the Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date.
The Indenture contains customary events of default, including: (i) default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, continued for 30 days, (ii) default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any Note when due, (iii) failure by the Company or the Issuer to comply with its obligations under the Indenture, in certain cases subject to notice and grace periods and (iv) specified events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or the Issuer or certain of their subsidiaries.
Prior to the Separation, the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries are subject to certain negative covenants under the Indenture, including limitations on the ability of the Company and each such subsidiary to, among other things: (i) incur indebtedness secured by principal properties, (ii) enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions with respect to principal properties and (iii) enter into certain mergers, consolidations and transfers of substantially all of its assets. Following the Separation, such covenants apply to the Issuer and its majority-owned subsidiaries.
The Notes were offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or outside of the United States, to persons other than “U.S. persons” in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The offering of the Notes was not, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and therefore the Notes may not be offered or resold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.
In connection with the issuance of the Euro Notes, the Issuer entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Euro Notes Registration Rights Agreement”), dated March 26, 2026, by and among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto, Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities plc as representatives of the initial purchasers, with respect to the Euro Notes. Additionally, in connection with the issuance of the USD Notes, the Issuer entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “USD Notes Registration Rights Agreement”, and together with the Euro Notes Registration Rights Agreement, the “Registration Rights Agreements”), dated March 26, 2026, by and among the Issuer, the guarantors party thereto, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the initial purchasers, with respect to the USD Notes.
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreements, the Issuer has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) file a registration statement on an appropriate form with respect to a registered offer to exchange each series or tranche of the Notes for new notes with terms substantially identical in all material respects to such series or tranche of the Notes (such new notes, the “Exchange Notes”) (except that the Exchange Notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions) and cause the registration statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act within 540 days of March 26, 2026 or (ii) in certain circumstances, file a shelf registration statement with respect to resales of the Notes.
The summary of the terms and provisions of the Notes, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreements set forth in this Item 1.01 is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete text of the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreements, which are filed as exhibits hereto and are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
The information set forth under Item 1.01 above with respect to the Notes and the Indenture is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference insofar as it relates to the creation of a direct financial obligation.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this report may be considered “forward-looking statements,” such as statements relating to the Notes, the JDE Peet’s Acquisition or the Separation. Forward-looking statements include those preceded by, followed by or that include the words “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “could,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar words. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. Although the Company believes that its assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (i) risks relating to the completion of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and the Separation in the anticipated timeframe or at all, (ii) risks relating to the Company’s incurrence of significant debt or the Company’s entry into other funding alternatives, in each case, to fund the JDE Peet’s Acquisition, including which may result in dilution to the Company’s stockholders or introduce complexity to the Company’s capital structure, (iii) additional risks associated with the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and those geographies where JDE Peet’s currently operates, (iv) the Company’s ability to successfully integrate JDE Peet’s into the Company’s business, or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, (v) constraints on management’s attention to operating and growing the Company’s business during the execution of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and the Separation, (vi) the potential downgrade of the Company’s credit ratings as a result of debt incurred and/or assumed in connection with the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and the Separation, (vii) the risk that the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and the Separation may incur significant additional costs, (viii) the risk of potential litigation, (ix) negative effects of the announcement and pendency of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and the Separation on the Company’s share price, (x) the ability to achieve the anticipated strategic and financial benefits from the Separation, and (xi) the other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company’s press releases and public filings. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless required by law.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| KEURIG DR PEPPER INC. | ||||
| By: | /s/ Anthony Shoemaker | |||
| Name: | Anthony Shoemaker | |||
| Title: | Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary | |||
Date: March 26, 2026
Exhibit 4.1
Execution Version
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
and
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of March 26, 2026
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||
| ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE |
1 | |||||
| Section 1.1 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
| Section 1.2 |
Other Definitions | 7 | ||||
| Section 1.3 |
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 7 | ||||
| Section 1.4 |
Rules of Construction | 8 | ||||
| ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES |
8 | |||||
| Section 2.1 |
Form, Dating and Terms | 8 | ||||
| Section 2.2 |
Denominations | 11 | ||||
| Section 2.3 |
Forms Generally | 11 | ||||
| Section 2.4 |
Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating | 11 | ||||
| Section 2.5 |
Registrar and Paying Agent | 13 | ||||
| Section 2.6 |
Paying Agent to Hold Money | 13 | ||||
| Section 2.7 |
Holder Lists | 14 | ||||
| Section 2.8 |
Transfer and Exchange | 14 | ||||
| Section 2.9 |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Wrongfully Taken Securities | 14 | ||||
| Section 2.10 |
Outstanding Securities | 15 | ||||
| Section 2.11 |
Cancellation | 15 | ||||
| Section 2.12 |
Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest | 16 | ||||
| Section 2.13 |
Temporary Securities | 17 | ||||
| Section 2.14 |
Persons Deemed Owners | 17 | ||||
| Section 2.15 |
Computation of Interest | 17 | ||||
| Section 2.16 |
Global Securities; Book-Entry Provisions | 17 | ||||
| Section 2.17 |
CUSIP Numbers, Etc. | 19 | ||||
| Section 2.18 |
Original Issue Discount and Foreign-Currency Denominated Securities | 19 | ||||
| ARTICLE III COVENANTS |
20 | |||||
| Section 3.1 |
Payment of Securities | 20 | ||||
| Section 3.2 |
Reports | 22 | ||||
| Section 3.3 |
Maintenance of Office or Agency | 21 | ||||
| Section 3.4 |
Corporate Existence | 21 | ||||
| Section 3.5 |
Compliance Certificate | 21 | ||||
| Section 3.6 |
Statement by Officer as to Default | 21 | ||||
| Section 3.7 |
Additional Amounts | 21 | ||||
i
| ARTICLE IV SUCCESSORS |
22 | |||||
| Section 4.1 |
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets | 22 | ||||
| ARTICLE V REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES |
23 | |||||
| Section 5.1 |
Applicability of Article | 23 | ||||
| Section 5.2 |
Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee | 23 | ||||
| Section 5.3 |
Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed | 23 | ||||
| Section 5.4 |
Notice of Redemption | 23 | ||||
| Section 5.5 |
Deposit of Redemption Price | 24 | ||||
| Section 5.6 |
Securities Payable on Redemption Date | 24 | ||||
| Section 5.7 |
Securities Redeemed in Part | 25 | ||||
| ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
25 | |||||
| Section 6.1 |
Events of Default | 25 | ||||
| Section 6.2 |
Acceleration | 26 | ||||
| Section 6.3 |
Other Remedies | 27 | ||||
| Section 6.4 |
Waiver of Past Defaults | 27 | ||||
| Section 6.5 |
Control by Majority | 28 | ||||
| Section 6.6 |
Limitation on Suits | 28 | ||||
| Section 6.7 |
Rights of Holders to Receive Payment | 28 | ||||
| Section 6.8 |
Collection Suit by Trustee | 28 | ||||
| Section 6.9 |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 29 | ||||
| Section 6.10 |
Priorities | 29 | ||||
| Section 6.11 |
Undertaking for Costs | 29 | ||||
| Section 6.12 |
Restoration of Rights | 30 | ||||
| ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE |
30 | |||||
| Section 7.1 |
Duties of Trustee | 30 | ||||
| Section 7.2 |
Rights of Trustee | 31 | ||||
| Section 7.3 |
Individual Rights of Trustee | 32 | ||||
| Section 7.4 |
Trustee’s Disclaimer | 33 | ||||
| Section 7.5 |
Notice of Defaults | 33 | ||||
| Section 7.6 |
Reports by Trustee to Holders | 33 | ||||
| Section 7.7 |
Compensation and Indemnity | 33 | ||||
| Section 7.8 |
Replacement of Trustee | 34 | ||||
| Section 7.9 |
Successor Trustee by Merger | 35 | ||||
| Section 7.10 |
Eligibility; Disqualification | 36 | ||||
| Section 7.11 |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 36 | ||||
ii
| ARTICLE VIII LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE |
36 | |||||
| Section 8.1 |
Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 36 | ||||
| Section 8.2 |
Legal Defeasance and Discharge | 36 | ||||
| Section 8.3 |
Covenant Defeasance | 37 | ||||
| Section 8.4 |
Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance | 37 | ||||
| Section 8.5 |
Deposited Cash and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | 38 | ||||
| Section 8.6 |
Repayment to Company | 39 | ||||
| Section 8.7 |
Reinstatement | 39 | ||||
| ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS |
39 | |||||
| Section 9.1 |
Without Consent of Holders | 39 | ||||
| Section 9.2 |
With Consent of Holders | 41 | ||||
| Section 9.3 |
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 42 | ||||
| Section 9.4 |
Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers | 42 | ||||
| Section 9.5 |
Notation on or Exchange of Securities | 43 | ||||
| Section 9.6 |
Trustee To Sign Amendments | 43 | ||||
| ARTICLE X SECURITIES GUARANTEE |
43 | |||||
| Section 10.1 |
Securities Guarantee | 43 | ||||
| Section 10.2 |
Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantees | 45 | ||||
| Section 10.3 |
Limitation on Liability; Termination, Release and Discharge | 45 | ||||
| Section 10.4 |
Limitation of Guarantors’ Liability | 46 | ||||
| Section 10.5 |
Contribution | 46 | ||||
| Section 10.6 |
Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms | 46 | ||||
| ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
47 | |||||
| Section 11.1 |
Satisfaction and Discharge | 47 | ||||
| ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS |
48 | |||||
| Section 12.1 |
Trust Indenture Act Controls | 48 | ||||
| Section 12.2 |
Notices | 48 | ||||
| Section 12.3 |
Communication by Holders with other Holders | 49 | ||||
| Section 12.4 |
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 49 | ||||
| Section 12.5 |
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 49 | ||||
| Section 12.6 |
When Securities Disregarded | 50 | ||||
| Section 12.7 |
Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar | 50 | ||||
| Section 12.8 |
Legal Holidays | 50 | ||||
iii
| Section 12.9 |
GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY | 50 | ||||
| Section 12.10 |
No Recourse Against Others | 50 | ||||
| Section 12.11 |
Successors | 50 | ||||
| Section 12.12 |
Multiple Originals | 50 | ||||
| Section 12.13 |
Severability | 51 | ||||
| Section 12.14 |
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 51 | ||||
| Section 12.15 |
Table of Contents; Headings | 51 | ||||
| Section 12.16 |
Force Majeure | 51 | ||||
| Section 12.17 |
Electronic Signatures | 51 | ||||
| Section 12.18 |
U.S.A. Patriot Act | 52 | ||||
iv
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of March 26, 2026, is entered into by and between MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company may from time to time duly authorize the issue of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”) up to such principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery and administration of the Securities; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid indenture and agreement according to its terms have been done;
NOW, THEREFORE:
In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by the holders thereof, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Securities as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1 Definitions.
“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts required by the express terms of a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein or pursuant thereto, to be paid by the Company with respect to certain taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on certain Holders and that are owing to those Holders.
“Adjusted Net Assets” of a Guarantor at any date means the amount by which the fair value of the properties and assets of such Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), but excluding liabilities under its Securities Guarantee, of such Guarantor at such date.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;
(2) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership;
(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and
(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or another place of payment are authorized or required by law to close.
“Capital Markets Indebtedness” means capital markets debt securities issued in a public offering registered under the Securities Act or a “Rule 144A” and/or “Regulation S” offering similar to, and including, the JDE Peet’s Notes.
“Capital Stock” means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A., or the successor to its securities clearance and settlement operations.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Coffee Business” means, collectively, (A) (i) the “U.S. Coffee” operating segment of KDP Parent excluding the sales related to the distribution of ready-to-drink La Colombe coffee beverages and (ii) that portion of the “International” operating segment of KDP Parent consisting of sales in Canada from the manufacture and distribution of finished goods relating to single serve brewers, K-Cup pods, AltaRounds pressed coffee and other coffee products and (B) after the consummation of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition, the business of JDE Peet’s and its Subsidiaries.
2
“Company” has the meaning ascribed to it in the first introductory paragraph of this Indenture.
“Company Order” and “Company Request” mean, respectively, a written order or request signed in the name of the Company by an Officer of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof as the initial Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include that successor.
“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debt.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors and assigns, or such other depositary institution hereinafter appointed by the Company.
“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
“Euroclear” means Euroclear S.A./N.V., a company organized under the laws of Belgium, as operator of the Euroclear System, or its successor in such capacity.
“European Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by a Participating Member State having a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s or BBB- or better by S&P (in each case, with a stable or better outlook), or carrying an equivalent rating by an internationally recognized rating agency if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of investments for the payment of which guarantee or obligations the full faith and credit of such Participating Member State is pledged.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect as of the date of determination.
“Global Securities” of any series means a Security of that series that is issued in global form in the name of the Depositary with respect thereto or its nominee.
“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which obligations or guarantee the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.
3
“Guarantee” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise), or entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part).
“Guarantors” means, with respect to any series of Securities, the Person or Persons, if any, named in accordance with Section 2.1(9) as the “Guarantors” with respect to such series and which shall have entered into a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.1(12) hereof whereby such Person shall have executed a Securities Guarantee under this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities until, as to any particular Guarantor, a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter any reference to such “Guarantor” shall mean such successor Person. If a series of Securities does not have any Guarantors, all references in this Indenture to Guarantors shall have no effect and shall be ignored with respect to such Securities.
“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the applicable Security Register.
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of any particular series of Securities and of any Securities Guarantees thereof established as contemplated by Section 2.1.
“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the Security as contemplated by Section 2.1.
“JDE Peet’s” means JDE Peet’s N.V., a public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) under Dutch law, with legal seat (statutaire zetel) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 73160377 (or its successor).
“JDE Peet’s Acquisition” means the acquisition by KDP Parent (or one of its Subsidiaries) of JDE Peet’s pursuant to the Merger Protocol including the public offer (openbaar bod) for all issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of JDE Peet’s referred to therein.
“JDE Peet’s Guarantee Trigger Date” means the 30th day after the first day on which all of the following have occurred: (i) the JDE Peet’s Acquisition has been consummated, (ii) the shares issued by JDE Peet’s listed on Euronext Amsterdam have been delisted in accordance with Euronext Amsterdam N.V.’s announcement on its delisting policy (2004-041), (iii) JDE Peet’s has been converted into a private limited liability company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) and (iv) JDE Peet’s has received, solely to the extent required, from each relevant Works Council, any of the following: (x) unconditional (or conditional, if all conditions have been fulfilled) positive or neutral advice related to JDE Peet’s decision to provide a Securities Guarantee under the Indenture, (y) the waiver of such advice right in accordance with applicable law or (z) a confirmation that such relevant Works Council agrees in writing that no advice is required under applicable laws and regulations or any covenant or undertaking with the relevant Works Council.
4
“JDE Peet’s Notes” means, collectively, JDE Peet’s outstanding unsecured, unsubordinated notes (i) denominated in euros in the following series: Floating Rate Note due 2027, 0.625% Notes due 2028, 0.500% Notes due 2029, 4.125% Notes due 2030, 1.125% Notes due 2033 and 4.500% Notes due 2034; and (ii) denominated in U.S. dollars in the following series: 1.375% Notes due 2027 and 2.250% Notes due 2031.
“KDP Guarantors” means, to the extent applicable, Guarantors that are Subsidiaries of KDP Parent but not Subsidiaries of the Company.
“KDP Parent” means Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Maturity” means, with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of that Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity thereof, or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Merger Protocol” means the merger protocol, dated August 24, 2025, between KDP Parent and JDE Peet’s, relating to the tender offer to acquire all of the issued ordinary shares of JDE Peet’s, for a cash offer price of €31.85 per share.
“Non-U.S. Person” means a person who is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.
“Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any indebtedness.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Officer.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable on a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Participating Member State” means any of the member states of the European Union that have adopted and continue to retain a common single currency through monetary union in accordance with European Union treaty law (as amended from time to time).
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Redemption Date” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
“Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
5
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in the second introductory paragraph of this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securities Guarantee” means the Guarantee by each Guarantor of the Company’s Obligations under this Indenture and any series of Securities.
“Securities Register” means the register of Securities, maintained by the Registrar, pursuant to Section 2.5.
“Security Custodian” means, with respect to Securities of a series issued in global form, the Trustee for Securities of that series, as custodian with respect to the Securities of that series, or any successor entity thereto.
“Separation” means the proposed separation of all or substantially all of the Coffee Business through (x) a contribution, directly or indirectly, of the applicable assets and liabilities of such business and/or through a contribution, directly or indirectly, of the applicable legal entities comprising such business to the Company (or a Subsidiary of the Company), in each case to the extent such assets, liabilities or entities are not already held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, and (y) the distribution of outstanding equity securities of the Company (or a direct or indirect parent of the Company) to the holders of common stock of KDP Parent as of a record date to be determined by KDP Parent, in each case of the foregoing, in a transaction qualifying under Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code, together with any transactions related thereto or contemplated thereby.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture.
“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such indebtedness as of the date of this Indenture, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
“Subsidiary” of any specified Person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.
“TIA” or “Trust Indenture Act,” except as otherwise provided in Section 9.3, means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa 77bbbb), as in effect on the date hereof.
“Trust Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, senior trust officer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
6
“Trustee” means the Person named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” means 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 means the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
Section 1.2 Other Definitions.
| Term | Defined in Section | |
| “Agent Members” | 2.16 | |
| “Certificate of Destruction” | 2.11 | |
| “Corporate Trust Office” | 3.3 | |
| “Covenant Defeasance” | 8.3 | |
| “Defaulted Interest” | 2.12 | |
| “Event of Default” | 6.1 | |
| “Exchange Rate” | 2.18 | |
| “Exchange Securities” | 9.1(6) | |
| “Funding Guarantor” | 10.5 | |
| “Legal Defeasance” | 8.2 | |
| “Legal Holiday” | 12.8 | |
| “Parent Guarantor” | 3.2(2) | |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.5 | |
| “protected purchaser” | 2.9 | |
| “Registrar” | 2.5 | |
| “Special Interest Payment Date” | 2.12(a) | |
| “Special Record Date” | 2.12(a) | |
| “Surviving Entity” | 4.1 |
Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA, which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Commission” means the SEC.
(2) “indenture securities” means the Securities.
(3) “indenture security holder” means a Holder of a Security.
(4) “indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
(5) “indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
(6) “obligor” on any series of Securities means the Company, any Guarantors and any other obligor on such series of Securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined in the TIA by reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
7
Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(3) “or” is not exclusive;
(4) “including” means including without limitation;
(5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;
(6) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Company dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP; and
(7) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.
ARTICLE II
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Form, Dating and Terms.
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. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate of the Company or in a Company Order, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from the Securities of all other series);
(2) if there is to be a limit, the limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 2.8, 2.9, 2.13, 2.16, 5.7 or 9.5 and except for any Securities that, pursuant to Section 2.4 or 2.16, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however, that unless otherwise provided in the terms of the series, the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased before or after the issuance of any Securities of the series by a Board Resolution (or action pursuant to a Board Resolution) to such effect;
(3) whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form, as Global Securities or otherwise, and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.16, and the initial Depositary and Security Custodian, if any, for any Global Security or Securities of such series;
8
(4) the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary Global Security on any Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.12;
(5) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium (if any) on the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;
(6) the rate or rates, or the method of determination thereof, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be payable, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the record date for the interest payable on any Securities on any Interest Payment Date, or if other than provided herein, the Person to whom any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;
(7) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series shall be payable;
(8) the period or periods within which, the price or prices (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option, and the manner in which the Company must exercise any such option, if different from those set forth herein;
(9) whether Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Securities Guarantee of any Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture, the identity of any such Guarantors, whether Notations of such Securities Guarantees are to be included on such Securities and any terms of such Securities Guarantee with respect to the Securities of the series in addition to those set forth in Article X or any exceptions to or changes to those set forth in Article X;
(10) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid in whole or in part pursuant to such obligation;
(11) if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denomination in which any Securities of that series shall be issuable;
(12) if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) or the form, including equity securities, other debt securities (including Securities), warrants or any other securities or property of the Company, any Guarantor or any other Person, in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series shall be payable;
(13) if the principal of, premium (if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies (including composite currencies) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;
9
(14) if the amount of payments of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to any commodities, currencies or indices, values, rates or prices or any other index or formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(15) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;
(16) any additional means of satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and any additional conditions or limitations to discharge with respect to Securities of the series and the related Securities Guarantees, if any, pursuant to Article VIII or any modifications of or deletions from such conditions or limitations;
(17) any deletions or modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 6.1 or covenants of the Company or any Guarantor set forth in Article III pertaining to the Securities of the series;
(18) any restrictions or other provisions with respect to the transfer or exchange of Securities of the series, which may amend, supplement, modify or supersede those contained in this Article II;
(19) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, other debt securities (including Securities), warrants, other equity securities or any other securities or property of the Company, any Guarantor or any other Person, at the option of the Company or the Holder or upon the occurrence of any condition or event, the terms and conditions for such conversion or exchange;
(20) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall not be defeasible pursuant to Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 or both such Sections, and, if such Securities may be defeased, in whole or in part, pursuant to either or both such Sections, any provisions to permit a pledge of obligations other than Government Securities (or the establishment of other arrangements) to satisfy the requirements of Section 8.4(1) for defeasance of such Securities and, if other than by a Board Resolution of the Company, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced; and
(21) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 2.3) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate or Company Order referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action, together with such Board Resolution, shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate or certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate or Company Order setting forth the terms of the series.
10
Section 2.2 Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.1. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Section 2.3 Forms Generally. The Securities of each series shall be in fully registered form and in substantially such form or forms (including temporary or permanent global form) established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, securities exchange rule, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other similar governing documents, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). A copy of the Board Resolution establishing the form or forms of Securities of any series shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 2.4 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.
The definitive Securities of each series shall be printed and produced in any other manner as determined by the Officer executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof.
The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
“This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee
| By: |
| |||
| Authorized Officer” |
Section 2.4 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. Two Officers of the Company shall sign the Securities on behalf of the Company by manual, electronic or facsimile signature.
If an Officer of the Company whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.
A Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or any related Securities Guarantees or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual or electronic signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee, which signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security has been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company delivers such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 2.11, together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 12.5 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or the related Securities Guarantees.
11
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities for original issue upon a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by Company Order. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated, the name or names of the initial Holder or Holders and any other terms of the Securities of such series not otherwise determined. If provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize (1) authentication and delivery of Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, with certain terms (including, without limitation, the Maturity dates or dates, original issue date or dates and interest rate or rates) that differ from Security to Security and (2) may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.
If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 2.1, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive (in addition to the Company Order referred to above and the other documents required by Section 12.4), and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:
(a) an Officer’s Certificate of the Company setting forth the Board Resolution and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant thereto, as contemplated by the last paragraph of Section 2.1; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:
(i) the form of such Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(ii) the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(iii) that such Securities and the related Securities Guarantees, if any, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, in accordance with their respective terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or other similar laws in effect from time to time affecting the rights of creditors generally, and the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and
(iv) that all conditions precedent in respect to the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities have been complied with.
If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel at the time of issuance of each such Security, but such Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued.
12
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issuance of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture would affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an agent to deal with the Company, any Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Section 2.5 Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency for each series of Securities where Securities of such series may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities of such series may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange (the “Securities Register”). The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.
The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of each such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.7. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or transfer agent.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Securities. In acting hereunder and in connection with the Securities, the Registrar and Paying Agent shall act solely as an agent of the Company, and will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder.
Section 2.6 Paying Agent to Hold Money. By no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date on which any amount or Additional Amounts, if any, in respect of any Security is due and payable, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such amount or Additional Amounts, if any, when due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee or its affiliates) to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold such funds for the benefit of the applicable Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of such amount and Additional Amounts, if any, on the applicable Securities and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company or any Guarantor in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section 2.6, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.
13
Section 2.7 Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, or to the extent otherwise required under the TIA, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date with respect to such series of Securities and at such other times as the Trustee may 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 Holders of such series.
Section 2.8 Transfer and Exchange.
Except as set forth in Section 2.16 or as may be provided pursuant to Section 2.1, when Securities of any series are presented to the Registrar with the request to register the transfer of those Securities or to exchange those Securities for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same series of like tenor and of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements and the requirements of this Indenture for those transactions are met; provided, however, that the Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or by his attorney, duly authorized in writing, on which instruction the Registrar can rely.
To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute Securities and the Trustee shall authenticate such Securities at the Registrar’s written request and submission of the Securities (other than Global Securities). No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company, any Paying Agent and/or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable on exchanges pursuant to Section 2.13, 5.7 or 9.5). The Trustee shall authenticate Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.4. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to register the transfer or exchange of (a) any Security selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article V, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part or (b) any Security during the period beginning 15 Business Days before the delivery of notice of any offer to repurchase Securities of the series required pursuant to the terms thereof or of redemption of Securities of a series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the date of delivery.
Section 2.9 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Wrongfully Taken Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security with respect to such series if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Company or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Company or Trustee prior to the Security being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced, and, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and, upon a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for any such mutilated Security or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security, a new Security of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
14
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security of such series, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 2.9, the Company, any Paying Agent and/or the Trustee 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) in connection therewith.
Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, any Guarantor (if applicable) and any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 2.9 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Securities.
Section 2.10 Outstanding Securities. Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section 2.10 as not outstanding. A Security ceases to be outstanding in the event the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company holds the Security, provided, however, that (i) for purposes of determining which are outstanding for consent or voting purposes hereunder, the provisions of Section 12.6 shall apply and (ii) in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making a determination whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes or have consented to or voted in favor of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, amendment or modification hereunder, or relying upon any such quorum, consent or vote, only Securities which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be held by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall not be considered outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.9 it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser.
If, in accordance with this Indenture, on a Redemption Date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all amounts and Additional Amounts, if any, payable on that date with respect to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, has been irrevocably deposited with the Paying Agent, and the Paying Agent is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
Section 2.11 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 and no one else shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and destroy such Securities in accordance with its internal policies, including delivery of a certificate (a “Certificate of Destruction”) describing such Securities disposed (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for any reason other than in connection with a transfer or exchange.
15
Section 2.12 Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on any Security of such series which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.8.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, any interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on any Security of such series which is payable, but is not paid when the same becomes due and payable and such nonpayment continues for a period of 30 days shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the regular record date, and such defaulted interest and (to the extent lawful) interest on such defaulted interest at the rate provided for in the Securities therefor (such defaulted interest and interest thereon herein collectively called “Defaulted Interest”) shall be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:
(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date (as defined below) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date (not less than 30 days after such notice) of the proposed payment (the “Special Interest Payment Date”), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, and such money when deposited shall be held by the Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a record date (the “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which date shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the Special Interest Payment Date and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date, and in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor to be given in the manner provided for in Section 12.2, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid on the Special Interest Payment Date to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).
(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of, transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest and Additional Amounts, if any, each as accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
16
Section 2.13 Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities of any series are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities of such series. 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 upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities.
Section 2.14 Persons Deemed Owners. The Company, any Guarantors, the Trustee, any agent and any authenticating agent may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of that Security for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, that Security and for all other purposes. None of the Company, the Trustee, any of their agents or any authenticating agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 2.15 Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Section 2.16 Global Securities; Book-Entry Provisions. If Securities of a series are issuable in global form as a Global Security, as contemplated by Section 2.1, then, notwithstanding clause (11) of Section 2.1 and the provisions of Section 2.2, any such Global Security shall represent those of the outstanding Securities of that series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities of that series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities of that series represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, transfers or redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of outstanding Securities of that series represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee (i) in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified in that Security or in a Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.4 or (ii) otherwise in accordance with written instructions or such other written form of instructions as is customary for the Depositary for that Security, from that Depositary or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in that Global Security (or, if held by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, in accordance with the customary procedures of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable). Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4 and, if applicable, Section 2.13, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified in that Security or in the applicable Company Order. With respect to the Securities of any series that are represented by a Global Security, the Company and any Guarantors authorize the execution and delivery by the Trustee of a letter of representations or other similar agreement or instrument in the form customarily provided for by the Depositary appointed with respect to that Global Security. Any Global Security may be deposited with the Depositary or its nominee, or may remain in the custody of the Trustee or the Security Custodian therefor pursuant to a FAST Balance Certificate Agreement or similar agreement between the Trustee and the Depositary. If a Company Order has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 12.5 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee or the Security Custodian as its custodian, or under that Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian and any agent of the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian as the absolute owner of that Global Security for all
17
purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the registered holder of a Global Security of any series may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action that a Holder of Securities of that series is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities of that series and (ii) nothing herein shall prevent the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or the Security Custodian or any agent of the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee, or the Security Custodian from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or shall impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a beneficial owner of any Security.
Notwithstanding Section 2.8, and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.1, transfers of a Global Security shall be limited to transfers of that Global Security in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in a Global Security may be transferred in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary. Securities of any series shall be transferred to all beneficial owners of a Global Security of that series in exchange for their beneficial interests in that Global Security if, and only if, either (1) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Security or the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered in order to act as depositary, and, in either case, a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, (2) the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of definitive Securities or (3) a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities.
In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interests in a Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to this Section 2.16, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Security to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee on receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Securities shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Securities of the same series of like tenor and amount.
In connection with the transfer of all the beneficial interests in a Global Security of any series to beneficial owners pursuant to this Section 2.16, the Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series of authorized denominations.
Neither the Company, any Guarantor nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, Agent Members or other Person for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, Securities by the Depositary, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary relating to those Securities, nor with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities, the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or purchase), the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities, or for any other actions taken or not taken by the Depositary. Neither the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee shall be liable for any delay by the related Global Security Holder or the Depositary in identifying the beneficial owners, and each such Person may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, instructions from that Global Security Holder or the Depositary for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Securities to be issued). All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the
18
registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Security, or, if a Security is held by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, delivered in accordance with the customary procedures of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Agent Members, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. Neither the Trustee nor any of its agents shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
The provisions of the last sentence of the third paragraph of Section 2.4 shall apply to any Global Security if that Global Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company or a Guarantor delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 12.5 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the cancellation or reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of the third paragraph of Section 2.4.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.3 and 2.12, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to Securities of any series, payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Global Security shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.
Section 2.17 CUSIP Numbers, Etc. The Company in issuing the Securities of any series may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities of such series or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities of such series, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code numbers.
Section 2.18 Original Issue Discount and Foreign-Currency Denominated Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of outstanding Securities have concurred in any direction, amendment, supplement, waiver or consent, unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, (a) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security of such series shall be the principal amount thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of that determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2, and (b) the principal amount of a Security of such series denominated in a foreign currency shall be the Dollar equivalent, as determined by the Company by reference to the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for that currency, as that rate is certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Exchange Rate”) on the date of original issuance of that Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent, as determined by the Company by reference to the Exchange Rate on the date of original issuance of that Security, of the amount determined as provided in (a) above), of that Security.
19
ARTICLE III
COVENANTS
Section 3.1 Payment of Securities. The Company shall promptly pay the principal of, premium, if any, on, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture immediately available funds sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, then due and the Trustee or Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from principal or interest payments hereunder.
Section 3.2 Reports.
So long as the Securities of any series are outstanding, the Company shall:
(1) provide the Trustee with copies of its annual report and the information, documents and other reports which the Company files with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, within 15 days after the Company files such annual report, documents and other reports with the SEC; provided that provision of such reports, documents and information pursuant to this Section 3.2 may be satisfied by filing of such reports, documents and information via the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor electronic filing system) or posting such reports, documents and information on its website, in each case within the time periods specified herein; and
(2) comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of TIA.
In the event that any direct or indirect parent of the Company is or becomes a guarantor (a “Parent Guarantor”) of the Securities of any series outstanding hereunder and such Parent Guarantor files reports with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, for so long as the Parent Guarantor is a guarantor of the Securities pursuant to the Indenture, the Parent Guarantor shall be deemed to be the Company for all purposes of this Section 3.2.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents pursuant to this Section 3.2 to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt thereof will not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s or any other person’s compliance with any of the covenants under the Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee will not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s or any other person’s compliance with any of the covenants described herein or to determine whether such reports, information or documents have been filed via the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor electronic filing system) or posted on any website or other online data system or to participate in any conference calls.
20
Section 3.3 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in the United States of America an office or agency for any series of Securities where such Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where, if applicable, the Securities of that 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 that series and this Indenture may be served. The principal corporate trust office of the Trustee at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.2 hereof or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (collectively, the “Corporate Trust Office”) shall be such office or agency of the Company, unless the Company shall designate and maintain some other office or agency for one or more of such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the United States of America for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
Section 3.4 Corporate Existence. Subject to Article IV, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence. This Section 3.4 shall not prohibit or restrict the Company from converting into a different form of legal entity.
Section 3.5 Compliance Certificate. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an Officer’s Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an Officer of the Company he or she would normally have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default and whether or not the signer knows of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during such period. If he or she does, the certificate shall describe the Default or Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with TIA § 314(a)(4).
Section 3.6 Statement by Officer as to Default. So long as Securities of any series are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 5 Business Days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Default with respect to that series an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.
Section 3.7 Additional Amounts. If the Securities of a series expressly provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of that series Additional Amounts as expressly provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or the net proceeds received from the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, that mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this Section 3.7 to the extent that, in that context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.7 and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where that express mention is not made.
21
Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.1 with respect to Securities of any series, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least ten days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least ten days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate, the Company shall furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether that payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are United States aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then that Officer’s Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on those payments to those Holders of Securities, and the Company will pay to that Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for and to hold them harmless against any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision) on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 3.7.
ARTICLE IV
SUCCESSORS
Section 4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets. The Company will not consolidate or combine with or merge with or into or, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, convey, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person or Persons in a single transaction or through a series of transactions, unless:
(1) the Company shall be the successor or continuing Person or, if the Company is not the successor or continuing Person, the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Surviving Entity”) is a company organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that expressly assumes all of the Company’s obligations under the Securities and this Indenture pursuant to a supplement hereto executed and delivered to the Trustee;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and
(3) the Company or the Surviving Entity will have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that the transaction or series of transactions and any supplement hereto complies with the terms of this Indenture.
If any consolidation or merger or any sale, assignment, conveyance, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets occurs in accordance with the terms hereof, the Surviving Entity will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Surviving Entity had been named as the Company. The Company will (except in the case of a lease) be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and any Securities issued hereunder, and may be liquidated and dissolved. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may merge or consolidate into or with any Guarantor.
22
In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, the consummation of the Separation, and any action taken by KDP Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries that is required in connection with or incidental to the Separation, shall not be deemed, individually or in the aggregate, to be a sale, assignment, conveyance, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any person or persons.
ARTICLE V
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 5.1 Applicability of Article. Redemption of Securities at the election of the Company or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and (except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series) this Article V.
Section 5.2 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. In case of any redemption of any series of Securities at the election of the Company, the Company shall at least 15 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Securities of such series to be redeemed pursuant to Section 5.3.
Section 5.3 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If fewer than all of the Securities of any series are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will, subject to applicable law, select Securities of any series for redemption as follows:
(1) if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed; or
(2) if the Securities are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis (or in the case of the Securities in global form, by such methods as DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, may require).
Section 5.4 Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided for in Section 12.2 not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if such notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. Notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. The Trustee shall give notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least three Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be sent or caused to be sent to Holders pursuant to this Section (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice at the Company’s expense and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the following items.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date;
23
(2) the redemption price (or if not determinable at the time of such notice, the methodology for determining such redemption price) and the amount of accrued interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 5.6;
(3) if less than all outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification of the particular Securities (or portion thereof) to be redeemed, as well as the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be outstanding after such partial redemption;
(4) in case any series of Securities is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Securities shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Securities, the Holder will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed;
(5) that on the Redemption Date the redemption price (and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 5.6) will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed, and, unless the Company defaults in making the redemption payment, that interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on Securities (or the portions thereof) called for redemption will cease to accrue on and after said date;
(6) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any;
(7) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(8) that Securities called for redemption (other than a Global Note) must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(9) the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code number, and that no representation is made as to the accuracy or correctness of the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities; and
(10) the section of the Indenture and the paragraph of the Securities pursuant to which the Securities are to be redeemed.
Section 5.5 Deposit of Redemption Price. Not later than 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.6) an amount of money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date, provided, further, that to the extent such deposit is received by the Trustee or a Paying Agent after 11:00 a.m. New York City time on any such due date, such deposit will be deemed deposited on the next Business Day.
Section 5.6 Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, unless the notice of redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent which have not been satisfied, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the redemption price therein specified (together with accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest and Additional Amounts, if any) such Securities shall cease to bear interest and Additional Amounts, if any. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the redemption price, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Additional Amounts, if any, due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date).
24
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest and Additional Amounts, if any, from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Securities.
Section 5.7 Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article V) shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.5 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so require, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder of such Security at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered, provided that each such new Security will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof and no Securities of $2,000 or less may be redeemed in part, or in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.1.
ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1 Events of Default. Unless either inapplicable to a particular series or specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture or Board Resolution establishing such series of Securities or in the form of Security for such series, an “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, occurs if:
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any Security of that series under this Indenture when due, continued for 30 days;
(2) the Company defaults in the payment when due (at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, upon acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the Securities of that series;
(3) the Company fails to comply with the provisions of Section 4.1 hereof;
(4) the Company or, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent (if applicable), fails for 90 days after written notice to the Company by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then outstanding to comply with any of the other covenants or agreements in this Indenture;
(5) the Company fails to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any debt security of that series;
(6) (a) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Security Guarantee of that series shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect or (b) any Guarantor of that series, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Security Guarantee (except pursuant to the release or termination of such Security Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture); and
25
(7) (a) the Company or, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent, or any Significant Subsidiary or a group of Subsidiaries that, taken together (as of the latest available consolidated financial statements of the Company or KDP Parent, as applicable), would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent, or, following the Separation, the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;
(ii) consents to the entry of a judgment, decree or order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property;
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
(v) consents to or acquiesces in the institution of a bankruptcy or an insolvency proceeding against it; or
(vi) or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or
(b) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company or, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent or any Significant Subsidiary of, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent, or, following the Separation, the Company;
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or prior to the Separation, KDP Parent, or any Significant Subsidiary of, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent, or, following the Separation, the Company; or
(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent, or any Significant Subsidiary of, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent, or, following the Separation, the Company; or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order, decree or relief remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days.
Section 6.2 Acceleration. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1, with respect to the Securities of such series, if any Event of Default with respect to any Securities of such series at the time outstanding (other than those of the type described in clause (7) of Section 6.1) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may, and at the written direction of the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities of such series shall, declare the principal of all the Securities of that series, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, and premium, if any, to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that such notice is a notice of acceleration, and the same shall become immediately due and payable.
26
Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, in the case of an Event of Default with respect to such series specified in clause (7) of Section 6.1 hereof, all outstanding Securities of such series shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice by the Trustee or the Holders. Holders may not enforce this Indenture or the Securities except as provided in this Indenture.
Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Securities of such series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series then outstanding (by written notice to the Trustee) may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of that series, rescind and cancel such declaration and its consequences if:
(1) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction;
(2) all existing Defaults and Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal of or interest on the Securities of that series that has become due solely by reason of such declaration of acceleration;
(3) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest (at the same rate specified in the Securities of such series) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts, if any, and overdue payments of principal which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration has been paid;
(4) the Company or any Guarantor has paid the Trustee its compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances; and
(5) in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (7) of Section 6.1, the Trustee has received an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel that such Event of Default has been cured or waived.
Section 6.3 Other Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities of such series or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities of such series or this Indenture with respect to such series.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.
Section 6.4 Waiver of Past Defaults. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such series by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series, (a) waive, by their consent (including, without limitation consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such series), an existing Default or Event of Default, with respect to such series and its consequences or compliance with any provisions except (i) a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on a Security of such series or (ii) a
27
Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected and (b) rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Securities of such series and its consequences if rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. When a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any consequent right.
Section 6.5 Control by Majority. With respect to Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders or would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.
Section 6.6 Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.7, a Holder of a Security of any series may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of such series or any related Securities Guarantees unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice stating that an Event of Default is continuing with respect to such series;
(2) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such series have requested in writing that the Trustee pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holders have offered to the Trustee security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;
(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security and/or indemnity; and
(5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such series have not given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.
A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).
Section 6.7 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 6.6), the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, when due on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Securities, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.8 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in clauses (1) or (2) of Section 6.1 occurs and is continuing with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or any Guarantor for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) with respect to such series and the amounts provided for in Section 7.7.
28
Section 6.9 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or the Guarantors, their respective Subsidiaries or its or their respective creditors or properties and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make 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 its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.10 Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:
FIRST: to the Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Registrar or any transfer agent (in each of its capacities) for amounts due under Section 7.7;
SECOND: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, for principal, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, respectively; and
THIRD: to the Company or any Guarantors or to such other party as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.
Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by the Company, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.7 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in outstanding principal amount of the Securities of any series.
29
Section 6.12 Restoration of Rights. If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security 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 the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of Securities shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, 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.
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
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 such Person’s own affairs; provided that if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity and/or security against loss, liability or expense satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series:
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates, opinions or orders furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(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:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.1;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.5.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.1.
30
(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.
(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law or any other provision of this Indenture.
(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.
(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.1 and to the provisions of the TIA.
(i) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if evidenced by a Company Order.
(j) 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 unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 7.1:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document (whether in its original or in PDF format) reasonably 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 Officer’s Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on an Officer’s Certificate and/or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(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 the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion of such counsel.
(f) The Trustee is not required to make any inquiry or investigation into facts or matters stated in any document but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit and, if the Trustee determines to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company.
31
(g) The Trustee is not required to take notice and shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default hereunder with respect to any series of Securities, except failure to receive any of the payments required to be made to the Trustee under Section 6.1(1) and 6.1(2) of this Indenture, unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has received notice in writing at its Corporate Trust Office of such Default or Event of Default from the Company or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then outstanding and such notice references the Company, the Securities and this Indenture, and in the absence of any such notice, the Trustee may conclusively assume that no such Default or Event of Default exists.
(h) The Trustee is not required to give any bond or surety with respect to the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers under this Indenture.
(i) In the event the Trustee receives inconsistent or conflicting requests and indemnity from two or more groups of Holders of Securities, each representing less than the aggregate principal amount of Securities outstanding required to take any action thereunder, the Trustee, in its sole discretion may but shall have no obligation to determine what action, if any, shall be taken.
(j) The Trustee’s rights, privileges, benefits, immunities and protections, including, its protection from liability and its right to indemnification in connection with the performance of its duties under this Indenture shall extend to the Trustee’s officers, directors, agents, attorneys and employees and to the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder. Such rights, privileges, benefits, immunities and protections and right to indemnification, together with the Trustee’s right to compensation, shall survive the Trustee’s resignation or removal, the discharge of this Indenture and final payments of the Securities.
(k) The permissive right of the Trustee to take actions permitted by this Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or duty to do so.
(l) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company’s covenants herein.
(m) Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution.
(n) 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.
(o) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.
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 its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
32
Section 7.4 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and 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 of the Company in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.
Section 7.5 Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series occurs and is continuing and if a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder of a Security of such series notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs, unless the Default was already cured or waived. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any Security of any series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its trust officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of such series.
Section 7.6 Reports by Trustee to Holders. As promptly as practicable after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture and for so long as the Securities of any series remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder of Securities of such series a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports required by TIA § 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders of Securities of any series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Securities of such series are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee in writing whenever the Securities of any series become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
Section 7.7 Compensation and Indemnity. The Company and any Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree 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 promptly upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, costs of preparing and reviewing reports, certificates and other documents, costs of preparation and mailing of notices to Holders, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company and any Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims, penalties, fines or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (for purposes of this Section 7.7, “losses”) incurred by it in connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.7) and of defending itself against any claims (whether asserted by any Holder, the Company or otherwise), except to the extent such losses may be attributable to its gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision). The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s and/or the Guarantors’ expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel provided that the Company and the Guarantors shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes the Trustee’s defense, and, in the reasonable judgment of outside counsel to the Trustee, there is no conflict of interest between the Company and the Trustee in connection with such defense. Any settlement which affects the Trustee may not be entered into without the written consent of
33
the Trustee, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld, unless the Trustee is given a full and unconditional release from liability with respect to the claims covered thereby and such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Trustee. The Company and the Guarantors shall not be under any obligation to pay for any written settlement without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld. The Company and the Guarantors need not reimburse any expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence.
To secure the Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.7, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property deposited with the Trustee and/or a Paying Agent to pay principal of, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on particular Securities.
The Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall survive the discharge of this Indenture, the resignation or removal of the Trustee and payment in full of the Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in clause (7) of Section 6.1 with respect to the Company and the Guarantors, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 7.8 Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company. The Company or the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series upon 30 days’ prior written notice by so notifying the Trustee and the Company may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company also may remove the Trustee if:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series and such Holders of such series do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to such series.
If a successor Trustee with respect to Securities of any series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such series may petition, at the Company’s expense, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to Securities of such series.
If the Trustee with respect to the Securities of a series fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in TIA § 310(b), any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.
34
In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, each such successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee, to the Company and to any Guarantors. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall have all the rights, power and duties of the retiring Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7.
In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, any Guarantors, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto in which each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (1) shall confer to each successor Trustee all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall confirm that all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee. Nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, and each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee. Upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. On request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall transfer to such successor Trustee all property held by such retiring Trustee as Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Such retiring Trustees shall, however, have the right to deduct its unpaid fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and expenses.
Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8 the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee. The predecessor Trustee shall have no liability for any action or inaction by any successor Trustee.
In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture.
35
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA § 310(a). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met.
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with 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 VIII
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.1 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. Unless otherwise designated pursuant to Section 2.1(20), the Securities of any series shall be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 8.2 or 8.3, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 2.1 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth in this Article VIII. The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof be applied to all outstanding Securities of any series so subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution of the Company or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 for such Securities.
Section 8.2 Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.2 with respect to Securities of any series, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its Obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities of such series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”) and each Guarantor, if applicable, shall be released and relieved from all of its Obligations under its Security Guarantee with respect to such series. For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities with respect to such series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.5 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) through (e) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities with respect to such series and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities with respect to such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Sections 8.4 and 8.5 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s Obligations with respect to such Securities under Article II and Section 3.1 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s and any Guarantors’ obligations in connection therewith, (d) the optional redemption provisions, if any, with respect to such Securities, and (e) this Article VIII. If the Company exercises under Section 8.1 hereof the option applicable to this Section 8.2, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, payment of the Securities with respect to such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.3 hereof.
36
Section 8.3 Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.3 with respect to Securities of any series, the Company shall, with respect to such series of Securities, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 3.2 and 3.3, with respect to the outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”) and each Guarantor, if applicable, shall be released from all of its obligations under its Security Guarantee with respect to such series of Securities, and the Securities of such series shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders of such series (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities of such series, the Company and any Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.1 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. If the Company exercises under Section 8.1 hereof the option applicable to this Section 8.3, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clauses (4) (with respect to Sections 3.2 and 3.3), (6) and (7) of such Section 6.1.
Section 8.4 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof to the outstanding Securities of any series.
In order to exercise Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Securities of any series:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, cash in U.S. dollars (or Euros, if the applicable payment on such Securities is Euros), non-callable Government Securities (or non-callable European Government Securities, if the applicable payment on such Securities is Euros), or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars (or Euros, if the applicable payment on such Securities is Euros), and non-callable Government Securities (or non-callable European Government Securities, if the applicable payment on such Securities is Euros), in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, and premium, if any, on the outstanding Securities of such series on the stated date for payment or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Securities of such series are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular Redemption Date;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that: (a) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or (b) since the date of this 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 will confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and shall be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
37
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that Holders of the outstanding Securities of such series shall not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and shall be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and be continuing with respect to the Securities of such series on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(6) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that such deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Securities of such series over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and
(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
Section 8.5 Deposited Cash and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.6 hereof, all cash and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee), collectively for purposes of this Section 8.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof in respect of the outstanding Securities of such series shall be held in trust by the Trustee and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities of such series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of Securities of such series of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such cash and securities need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities (or non-callable European Government Securities, if the applicable payment on such Securities is Euros) deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Securities of such series.
Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any cash or non-callable Government Securities (or non-callable European Government Securities, if the applicable payment on such Securities is Euros) held by it as provided in Section 8.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the certification delivered under clause (1) of Section 8.4 hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
38
Section 8.6 Repayment to Company. Any cash or non-callable Government Securities (or non-callable European Government Securities, if the applicable payment on such Securities is Euros) deposited with the Trustee in trust or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on, any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request (unless an abandoned property law designates another Person) or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and such Holder shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such cash and securities, and all liability of the Company as Trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the direction and the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such cash and securities remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such cash and securities then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.7 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any cash or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.5 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such cash and securities in accordance with Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.5 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, on, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on, any Security of such series following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such series to receive such payment from the cash and securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, the Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Securities or the Security Guarantees without notice to or consent of any Holder:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(3) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or a Guarantor’s, or, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent’s obligations to Holders of Securities of any series and Security Guarantees in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Guarantor’s, or, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent’s properties or assets, as applicable;
(4) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(5) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Securities of any series and Security Guarantees or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;
39
(6) to provide for the issuance of any new Securities of a series under the Securities Act (the “Exchange Securities”) having terms substantially identical in all material respects to Securities of an outstanding series (except that the new Exchange Securities need not contain terms with respect to additional interest due to a registration default (as defined in any registration rights agreement) or transfer restrictions), including to provide for treatment of the Exchange Securities and the Securities of such series as a single class of Securities under this Indenture;
(7) to add to the covenants of the Company or any Guarantor (including, to the extent such entity is a Guarantor for a series of Securities, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent) for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor (including, to the extent such entity is a Guarantor for a series of Securities, prior to the Separation, KDP Parent);
(8) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of the Securities (and, if any such Event of Default is applicable to less than all series of Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default is applicable);
(9) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture that is adversely affected in any material respect by such change in or elimination of such provision;
(10) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.1;
(11) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 8.1; provided, however, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect;
(12) to add any Guarantor with respect to the Securities of any series by executing a supplemental indenture and/or a Security Guarantee with respect to such series, or release Security Guarantees of any series, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Indenture;
(13) to secure the Securities of any series;
(14) to evidence and provide for the acceptance under this Indenture of a successor trustee; or
(15) to conform the text of this Indenture or any Securities to the description thereof in any prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or a similar offering document of the Company with respect to the offer and sale of Securities of such series, to the extent that such provision is inconsistent with a provision of this Indenture or the Securities.
After an amendment under this Indenture becomes effective, the Company is required to deliver to the Holders of each Security affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all the Holders of each Security affected thereof, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment or supplemental indenture under this Section 9.1.
40
Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, except as provided below in this Section 9.2, the Company, any Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture with the consent (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities) of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of each series affected by such amendment or supplement (acting as separate classes).
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a Board Resolution, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.5, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 9.6, join with the Company and any Guarantors in the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture.
Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of one or more series or of all series affected by such waiver (acting as separate classes) may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company or any Guarantor with any provision of this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series (including waivers obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Securities of such series).
However, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):
(1) reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Security or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the Securities;
(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest on any Security;
(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(5) make payments on any Security payable in currency other than that stated in the Securities;
(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Securities to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the Securities (other than as permitted in clause (7) below);
(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security;
(8) impair the right of a Holder of Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the Securities;
(9) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Security Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or
41
(10) make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of any other series.
A consent to any amendment or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder of the Securities given in connection with a tender of such Holder’s Securities will not be rendered invalid by such tender. After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Holders of each Security affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders of each Security affected thereby, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver under this Section 9.2.
Section 9.3 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as then in effect.
Section 9.4 Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers. A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall be in writing and bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective with respect to a series of Securities, it shall bind every Holder of Securities of such series.
For purposes of this Indenture, the written consent of the Holder of a Global Security shall be deemed to include any consent delivered by an Agent Member by electronic means in accordance with the Automated Tender Offer Procedures system or other applicable procedures of, and pursuant to authorization by, DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving, making or taking of (i) any notice permit to Section 6.1(4) or otherwise of any Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 6.2, (iii) any request to institute proceedings pursuant to Section 6.6(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 6.5 in each case with respect to such series. If a record date is so fixed, then notwithstanding the second preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall become valid or effective more than 180 days after such record date.
42
Section 9.5 Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment.
Section 9.6 Trustee To Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity and/or security satisfactory to it and to receive, and (subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, that such amendment is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and that such amendment complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.3).
ARTICLE X
SECURITIES GUARANTEE
Section 10.1 Securities Guarantee. Securities of any series that are to be guaranteed by the Securities Guarantees of any Guarantors shall be guaranteed by such Guarantors as shall be established pursuant to Section 2.1 as Guarantors with respect to the Securities of such series; provided that, prior to the authentication and delivery upon original issuance of Securities of any series that are to be guaranteed by a Person, the Company, the Trustee and such Person shall have entered into a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.1(12) hereof whereby such Person shall have executed a Securities Guarantee under this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities as to which such Person has been so established pursuant to Section 2.1 as a Guarantor thereof and shall have made each of the covenants and agreements of a Guarantor hereunder with respect to each such series.
Securities of any series that are to be guaranteed by the Securities Guarantees of any Guarantors shall be guaranteed in accordance with the terms of such Securities Guarantees as established pursuant to Section 2.1 with respect to such series of Securities and such Securities Guarantees thereof and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 for such series of Securities and such Securities Guarantees thereof) in accordance with this Article X. Notwithstanding any provision of this Article X to the contrary, the provisions of this Article X relating to any Guarantor shall (i) be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 2.1, as entitled to the benefits of the related Securities Guarantee of such Guarantor with respect to such series and (ii) so be applicable, and inure to the benefit of, the Securities of such series except to the extent otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of such series.
Any Guarantor shall fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, jointly and severally with any other Guarantor, to each Holder of the Securities and the Trustee the full and punctual payment when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of the principal of, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities and all other monetary Obligations of the Company under this Indenture. Any Guarantor shall further agree (to the extent permitted by law) that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound under this Article X notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation.
43
Any Guarantor shall waive presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Company of any of the Obligations and also shall waive notice of protest for nonpayment. Any Guarantor shall waive notice of any default under the Securities or the Obligations. The obligations of any Guarantor shall not be affected by (a) the failure of any Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Company or any other Person under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any thereof; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (d) the release of any Security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Obligations of any of them; (e) the failure of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy against any other Guarantor; or (f) any change in the ownership of the Company.
Any Guarantor shall further agree that its Security Guarantee constitutes a Guarantee of payment when due (and not a Guarantee of collection) and shall waive any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder to any Security held for payment of the Obligations.
Except as expressly set forth in Article VIII and Section 10.3, the obligations of each Guarantor shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than payment of the Obligations in full), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of the Trustee or any Holder to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of such Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.
Each Guarantor shall further agree that its Security Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.
In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay any of the Obligations when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, each Guarantor shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid amount of such Obligations then due and owing and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Obligations then due and owing (but only to the extent not prohibited by law) and except as provided in Section 10.3.
Each Guarantor shall further agree that, as between such Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Obligations Guaranteed may be accelerated as provided in this Indenture for the purposes of its Security Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations Guaranteed and (y) in the event of any such declaration of acceleration of such Obligations, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purposes of the Security Guarantee.
44
Each Guarantor also shall agree to pay any and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Trustee or the Holders in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.1.
Section 10.2 Execution and Delivery of Securities Guarantees. The Securities Guarantee of any Guarantor with respect to Securities of any series as to which such Guarantor has been established as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be fully evidenced by such Guarantor’s execution and delivery of a supplemental indenture hereto. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, there shall be no requirement that any Security having the benefit of a Securities Guarantee have endorsed thereon or attached thereto such Securities Guarantee or a notation of such Securities Guarantee. The delivery of any Security of a series entitled to the benefits of a Securities Guarantee under this Article X or otherwise established pursuant hereto by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of such Securities Guarantee on behalf of each Guarantor.
Section 10.3 Limitation on Liability; Termination, Release and Discharge.
(a) The obligations of any Guarantor will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Security Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Security Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance, unlawful financial assistance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law.
(b) The Security Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, without the consent of the Holders, and no further action by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee shall be required for such release and discharge (unless the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing that no release and discharge shall occur as a result thereof):
(1) (i) prior to the Separation, upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of such Guarantor (other than KDP Parent) to a person or entity other than KDP Parent or any of KDP Parent’s Subsidiaries in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture and (ii) following the Separation, upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of such Guarantor to a Person other than the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture;
(2) in the case of the Parent Guarantor, if applicable, upon any merger or consolidation of the Parent Guarantor with the Company in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture;
(3) upon Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as provided in Article VIII or upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as provided in Article XI;
(4) with respect to the Securities Guarantee of JDE Peet’s only (to the extent the JDE Peet’s Guarantee Trigger Date has occurred and is applicable), immediately upon such time as (i) no more than $1,000 million in aggregate principal amount of Capital Markets Indebtedness issued by JDE Peet’s remains outstanding and (ii) after giving effect to such release and any other releases effected prior to or substantially concurrently therewith, JDE Peet’s would not be required to guarantee any series of Securities pursuant to the Indenture; or
45
(5) with respect to the Securities Guarantees of KDP Parent and the KDP Guarantors only, if applicable, immediately upon the occurrence of the Separation.
(c) Any Guarantor not released from its obligations under its Security Guarantee shall remain liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Securities and for the other obligations of any Guarantor as provided in this Article X.
Section 10.4 Limitation of Guarantors’ Liability. Any Guarantor, and by its acceptance thereof each Holder, shall confirm that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee by such Guarantor pursuant to its Security Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and each Guarantor shall irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under its Security Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Security Guarantee or pursuant to Section 10.5 hereof, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Security Guarantee not constituting such a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer. This Section 10.4 is for the benefit of the creditors of each Guarantor.
Section 10.5 Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Guarantors, the Guarantors agree that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under its Security Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor will be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor (if any) in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by that Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities or any other Guarantor’s obligations with respect to its Security Guarantee.
Section 10.6 Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 10.3 in connection with any release and discharge of a Guarantor, no Guarantor may consolidate or combine with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving person) or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to another Person whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor, unless the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, combination or merger or the transferee Person (in each case if other than a Guarantor or the Company) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of such Security Guarantee and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, such successor Person shall become a Guarantor (and succeed to and be substituted for the predecessor to the extent of any release and discharge of such predecessor pursuant to Section 10.3).
(b) Notwithstanding clause (a) above, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation, combination or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Guarantor, or shall prevent any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the assets of a Guarantor to the Company or another Guarantor.
46
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, the consummation of the Separation, and any action taken by any of KDP Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries that is required in connection with or incidental to the Separation, shall not be deemed, individually or in the aggregate, to be a sale, assignment, conveyance, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or any Guarantor to any person or persons.
ARTICLE XI
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 11.1 Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Securities of any series issued hereunder (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities and as otherwise specified hereunder), when:
(1) either:
(a) all Securities of such series that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Securities that have been replaced or paid and Securities of such series for whose payment money has been deposited with the Trustee in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(b) all Securities of such series that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the date of maturity or redemption;
(2) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such series has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(3) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it hereunder with respect to such series;
(4) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee hereunder to apply the deposited money toward the payment of such Securities at fixed maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be; and
(5) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which state that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such series have been satisfied.
47
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the provision required by the TIA shall control. Any Guarantor in addition to performing its obligations under its Security Guarantee shall perform such other obligations as may be imposed upon it with respect to this Indenture under the TIA.
Section 12.2 Notices. Any notice or communication shall be in writing and delivered in person, by telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:
if to the Company:
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
Attention: Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel
if to the Trustee:
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services – Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
provided that for purposes of presentment or surrender of Securities for transfer or payment or exchange, such office is located at:
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
111 Fillmore Avenue
St. Paul 55107
Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services – Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
All notices and communications shall be deemed made, given, furnished or filed with or to the Trustee upon its receipt of such notice or communication.
The Company, any Guarantors or the Trustee by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication mailed to a registered Holder shall be mailed to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar, or otherwise delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary (or, if a Security is held by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, delivered in accordance with the customary procedures of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively), and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed. The Registrar shall provide the Company with address information with respect to the Holders as promptly as practicable following the Company’s request therefor. Any notice or communication shall also be mailed to any Person described in TIA § 3.13(c), to the extent required by the TIA.
48
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
Section 12.3 Communication by Holders with other Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 12.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(1) an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.5 hereof) 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
(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.5 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company or any Guarantor may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, and may state that it is so based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers of the Company or such Guarantor stating that the information with respect to such factual matters known to the Company or such Guarantor, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
Section 12.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (except for the Certificate specified in Section 3.5) shall include:
(1) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
49
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, 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
(4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.
Section 12.6 When Securities Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of any series have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.
Section 12.7 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by, or a meeting of, Holders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.
Section 12.8 Legal Holidays. A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions are authorized or required to be closed in New York, New York. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.
Section 12.9 GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.
Section 12.10 No Recourse Against Others. No director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Securities, this Indenture or the Security Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities.
Section 12.11 Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
Section 12.12 Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.
50
Section 12.13 Severability. 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 12.14 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary or any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture or the Security Guarantees.
Section 12.15 Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 12.16 Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, epidemics, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, governmental action or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstance.
Section 12.17 Electronic Signatures. This Indenture and any certificate, agreement or other document to be signed in connection with this Indenture and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be valid, binding and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) an original manual signature, (ii) a faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature or (iii) in the case of this Indenture and any certificate, agreement or other document to be signed in connection with this Indenture and the transactions contemplated hereby, any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (collectively, “Signature Law”). Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. For avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the Uniform Commercial Code or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Trustee pursuant to reasonable procedures approved by the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, all notices, approvals, consents, requests and any communications hereunder or with respect to the Securities must be in writing (provided that any communication sent to the Trustee hereunder must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by DocuSign or Adobe (or such other digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Trustee by the authorized representative), in English. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
51
Section 12.18 U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
52
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Anthony DiSilvestro | |
| Name: Anthony DiSilvestro | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, | ||
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: | /s/ James Byrnes | |
| Name: James Byrnes | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
Exhibit 4.2
Execution Version
This FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “First Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of March 26, 2026, among MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or the “Issuer”), KEURIG DR PEPPER INC., a Delaware corporation (“KDP Parent”), the Guarantors listed in Schedule I (the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and, together with KDP Parent, the “Guarantors”), U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as registrar, transfer agent and trustee (in such capacities, the “Registrar”, “Transfer Agent” or “Trustee”) and U.S. BANK EUROPE DAC, UK BRANCH, as paying agent (the “Paying Agent”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture” and, together with this First Supplemental Indenture, and as such may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance by the Company from time to time of its debt securities to be issued in one or more series;
WHEREAS, Sections 2.1 and 9.1 of the Base Indenture provide, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of Holders, enter into indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture to provide for specific terms applicable to any series of notes;
WHEREAS, Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture provides, among other things, that there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate of the Company or in a Company Order, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series whether Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Securities Guarantee of any Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture, the identity of any such Guarantors and any terms of such Securities Guarantee with respect to the Securities of the series in addition to those set forth in Article X of the Base Indenture, or any exceptions to or changes to those set forth in Article X of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, Section 10.1 of the Base Indenture provides that prior to the authentication and delivery upon original issuance of Securities of any series that are to be guaranteed by a Person, the Company, the Trustee and such Person shall have entered into a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.1(12) of the Base Indenture whereby such Person shall have executed a Securities Guarantee under the Base Indenture with respect to any series of Securities as to which such Person has been so established pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture as a Guarantor thereof;
WHEREAS, the Company intends by this First Supplemental Indenture to create and provide for the issuance of four new separate series of debt securities to be designated as the “3.495% Senior Notes due 2028” (the “2028 Notes”), the “3.881% Senior Notes due 2030” (the “2030 Notes”), the “4.224% Senior Notes due 2032” (the “2032 Notes”) and the “4.728% Senior Notes due 2035” (the “2035 Notes” and, collectively with the 2028 Notes, the 2030 Notes and the 2032 Notes, the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, the Company intends by this First Supplemental Indenture to provide that each series of the Notes will be entitled to the benefits of the Securities Guarantee of the Guarantors;
WHEREAS, the Guarantors intend by this First Supplemental Indenture to execute a Securities Guarantee with respect to each series of the Notes;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.1(10) and (12) of the Base Indenture, the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture to amend or supplement the Base Indenture, without the consent of any Holder of Notes; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, issued upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth hereinafter and in the Base Indenture and delivered as provided in the Base Indenture against payment therefor, valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company and the Guarantors according to their terms, and all actions required to be taken by the Company and the Guarantors under the Base Indenture to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal agreement of the Company and the Guarantors, have been done;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01 Definitions.
(a) All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined below shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Base Indenture.
(b) The following are definitions used in this First Supplemental Indenture, and to the extent that a term is defined both herein and in the Base Indenture, the definition in this First Supplemental Indenture shall govern with respect to the Notes.
“Agency Agreement” means that certain Agency Agreement by and among the Company, the Paying Agent, the Trustee, the Transfer Agent and the Registrar dated as of the date hereof, as may be amended, restated and/or modified from time to time.
“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at any time of determination, the present value at that time of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction. Such present value will be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that if such sale and leaseback transaction results in a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of Attributable Debt represented thereby will be determined in accordance with the definition of “Capital Lease
2
Obligation.” For the avoidance of doubt, such amount of net rental payments under any such lease for any such period shall be the aggregate amount of the rent payable by the lessee with respect to such period after excluding amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs, services, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges and contingent rents (such as those based on sales).
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
“Authority” means The International Stock Exchange Authority Limited.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority.
“Bail-In Legislation” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and in relation to any other state, any analogous law or regulation from time to time which requires contractual recognition of any Write-down and Conversion Powers contained in that law or regulation.
“Business Day” means a weekday (1) which is not a day when banking institutions in the place of payment are authorized or required by law or regulation to be closed and (2) on which the Trans-European Automated Real Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System (i.e., the T2 System), or any successor or replacement for that system, is open.
“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at any time of determination, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP after the application of Accounting Standard Codification Topic 842 shall not constitute Capital Lease Obligations for the purposes of the Indenture (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification Topic 842 to be treated as balance sheet liabilities in any financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.04.
“Capital Markets Indebtedness” means capital markets debt securities issued in a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or a “Rule 144A” and/or “Regulation S” offering similar to, and including, the JDE Peet’s Notes.
“Capital Stock” means: (1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; (2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and (4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
3
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) resulting in any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company or other Voting Stock into which the Voting Stock of the Company is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares or (2) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in a transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and the assets of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to one or more Persons (other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control if (a) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of a holding company and (b)(i) immediately following that transaction, the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of the holding company are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (ii) immediately following that transaction no Person is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the holding company. Prior to the Separation, references to the Company in this definition refer to KDP Parent and, after the Separation, references to the Company in this definition refer to the Issuer. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything in the Indenture to the contrary, the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and the Separation, and any actions taken by any of KDP Parent, the Issuer or any of their respective subsidiaries that is required in connection with or incidental to the JDE Peet’s Acquisition or the Separation shall not be deemed a Change of Control.
“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.
“Coffee Business” means, collectively, (A) (i) the “U.S. Coffee” operating segment of KDP Parent excluding the sales related to the distribution of ready-to-drink La Colombe coffee beverages and (ii) that portion of the “International” operating segment of KDP Parent consisting of sales in Canada from the manufacture and distribution of finished goods relating to single serve brewers, K-Cup pods, AltaRounds pressed coffee and other coffee products and (B) after the consummation of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition, the business of JDE Peet’s and its Subsidiaries.
“Common Depositary” means any Person acting as the common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, which initially shall be U.S. Bank Europe DAC, until a successor Common Depositary, if any, shall have become such, and thereafter, “Common Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Common Depositary under the Indenture.
“Comparable Government Bond” means, with respect to the Notes to be redeemed prior to the applicable Par Call Date, in relation to any Comparable Government Bond Rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by the Company, a bond that is a direct obligation of the Federal Republic of Germany (a “German government bond”) whose maturity is closest to the Par Call Date of the Notes to be redeemed, or if such independent investment bank in its discretion determines that such similar bond is not in issue, such other German government bond as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, German government bonds selected by the Company, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate.
4
“Comparable Government Bond Rate” means the yield to maturity, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, with 0.0005 being rounded upwards), on the third business day prior to the date fixed for redemption, of the Comparable Government Bond on the basis of the middle market price of the Comparable Government Bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such business day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by the Company, and calculated in accordance with generally accepted market practice at such time. The term “independent investment bank” means an independent investment banking institution of international standing appointed by the Company from time to time.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, the total assets reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of such Person for which consolidated financial statements have been prepared, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Corporate Trust Office”, for purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture, means, with respect to the corporate trust office of (1) the Paying Agent, currently located at 125 Old Broad Street, Fifth Floor, London, EC2N 1AR, United Kingdom or such other address as to which the Paying Agent may give written notice to the Company, and (2) the Trustee, currently located at (i) for purposes of surrender, transfer or exchange of any Security, Global Corporate Trust Services EP-MN-WS3C, Attention: Corporate Trust Administrator for Maple Parent Holding Corp., 60 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul MN 55107, and (ii) for all other purposes, at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 11.03 or such other address as to which the Trustee may give written notice to the Company.
“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note containing, if required, the appropriate Restricted Notes Legend set forth in Section 2.08(e).
“EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
“EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
“Exchange” means The International Stock Exchange.
“Exchange Notes” means, with respect to any series or tranche of Notes, a series or tranche of senior notes issued by the Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors that then guarantee the Notes under the Indenture, containing terms substantially identical in all material respects to such series or tranche of the Notes (except that the Exchange Notes will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate due to a Registration Default) and to be offered to Holders of Notes of such series or tranche in exchange for Notes of such series or tranche pursuant to the Exchange Offer for such series or tranche.
5
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company and the Guarantors of Exchange Notes for the applicable series or tranche of Notes.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Fitch” means Fitch, Inc.
“Funded Debt” means Indebtedness which by its terms matures at or is extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to date more than 12 months after the date of the creation or incurrence of such Indebtedness.
“Global Notes Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.08(e)(i).
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent: (1) in respect of borrowed money; (2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements with respect thereto); (3) in respect of banker’s acceptances, bank guarantees, surety bonds or similar instruments; (4) representing Capital Lease Obligations; or (5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed, except any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor incurred in the ordinary course of business; if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the notes thereto) of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.
In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all of the following items, whether or not any such items would appear as a liability on a balance sheet of the specified Person in accordance with GAAP: (1) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person); and (2) to the extent not otherwise included, any guarantee by the specified Person of Indebtedness of any other Person.
“Interest Payment Date” means March 26 of each year, commencing on March 26, 2027.
“Interest Rate Rating Agency” means Moody’s, S&P or any Substitute Rating Agency.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.
6
“JDE Peet’s” means JDE Peet’s N.V., a public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) under Dutch law, with legal seat (statutaire zetel) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 73160377 (or its successor).
“JDE Peet’s Guarantee Trigger Date” means the 30th day after the first day on which all of the following have occurred: (i) the JDE Peet’s Acquisition has been consummated, (ii) the shares issued by JDE Peet’s listed on Euronext Amsterdam have been delisted in accordance with Euronext Amsterdam N.V.’s announcement on its delisting policy (2004-041), (iii) JDE Peet’s has been converted into a private limited liability company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) and (iv) JDE Peet’s has received, solely to the extent required, from each relevant Works Council, any of the following: (x) unconditional (or conditional, if all conditions have been fulfilled) positive or neutral advice related to JDE Peet’s decision to provide a Securities Guarantee under the Indenture, (y) the waiver of such advice right in accordance with applicable law or (z) a confirmation that such relevant Works Council agrees in writing that no advice is required under applicable laws and regulations or any covenant or undertaking with the relevant Works Council.
“JDE Peet’s Notes” means, collectively, JDE Peet’s outstanding unsecured, unsubordinated notes (i) denominated in euros in the following series: Floating Rate Note due 2027, 0.625% Notes due 2028, 0.500% Notes due 2029, 4.125% Notes due 2030, 1.125% Notes due 2033 and 4.500% Notes due 2034; and (ii) denominated in U.S. dollars in the following series: 1.375% Notes due 2027 and 2.250% Notes due 2031.
“KDP Guarantors” means Guarantors that are Subsidiaries of KDP Parent but not Subsidiaries of the Company.
“Lien” means any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statute) of any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an operating lease shall not be deemed to constitute a Lien.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
“Par Call Date” means February 26, 2030 (in the case of the 2030 Notes), February 26, 2032 (in the case of the 2032 Notes) and December 26, 2034 (in the case of the 2035 Notes).
“Permitted Encumbrances” means: (1) Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or governmental charges that are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith; (2) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, landlords’ and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 60 days (or if more than 60 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Liens) or are being
7
contested in good faith; (3) (i) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and (ii) pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (4) Liens arising out of pledges or deposits to secure the performance of bids, tender, insurance, trade or other contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, indemnity, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations), in each case in the ordinary course of business; (5) judgment liens for the payment of money (i) not in excess of $75,000,000 in the aggregate (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance) or (ii) in respect of judgments that the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company is in good faith prosecuting an appeal or other proceeding for review or Liens incurred by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company for the purpose of obtaining a stay or discharge in the course of any litigation or other proceeding to which the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company is a party; (6) easements, restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances and minor title defects on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any payment obligations and do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (7) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) secure any Indebtedness; (8) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business; (9) Liens (i) of a collection bank on the items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of law encumbering securities, deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set off) and which are customary in the banking industry (including any Lien or right of set-off in favor of Dutch banks arising from their general banking conditions (algemene bankvoorwaarden) or similar standard documentation); (10) any interest or title of a lessor under leases entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and financing statements with respect to a lessor’s right in and to personal property leased to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ business; (11) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; (12) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Permitted Investments and reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes; (13) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off: (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other financial institutions not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with
8
customers of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business; (14) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement; (15) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are located; (16) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto; (17) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any governmental authority to control or regulate the use of any real property that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (18) Liens securing indebtedness outstanding or incurred pursuant to credit facilities outstanding on the issue date; (19) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit or banker’s acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods; (20) Liens in connection with the sale or transfer of the common stock in a Subsidiary and customary rights and restrictions contained in agreements relating to such sale or transfer, in each case, pending the completion thereof; (21) Liens arising by virtue of Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings (or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating leases entered into by the Company in the ordinary course of business; (22) Liens on cash, cash equivalents or marketable securities of the Company or any Subsidiary securing obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary under swap agreements not incurred for speculative purposes; and (23) any Liens, guarantees or joint and several responsibility established or arising in the context of (i) (the establishment) of any fiscal unity (fiscale eenheid) or other tax group or (ii) any declaration of joint and several liability used for the purpose of section 2:403 of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek) (and any residual liability under such declaration arising pursuant to section 2:404(2) of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek)), or any equivalent arrangement under any other applicable law.
Prior to the Separation, KDP Parent shall be deemed to be the “Company” for all purposes under this definition. Following the Separation, the Issuer shall be deemed to be the “Company” for all purposes under this definition.
“Permitted Investments” means: (1) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof; (2) investments in commercial paper maturing within 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof; (3) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000; (4) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (1) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (3) above; and (5) money market funds that (a) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (b) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (c) have portfolio assets of at least $1,000,000,000.
9
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Principal Property” means any manufacturing, processing or bottling plant, warehouse or distribution center (including the land upon which it is situated), owned and operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that the book value of such property is an amount greater than 1% of Consolidated Total Assets of the Company.
“Qualified Institutional Buyer” or “QIB” has the meaning specified in Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rating Agencies” means (a) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (b) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) selected by the Company as a replacement Rating Agency for a former Rating Agency.
“Rating Event” means the rating on the applicable series of Notes is lowered by each of the Rating Agencies and such Notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies on any day within the 60-day period (which 60-day period will be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) after the earlier of (a) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (b) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control; provided that a Rating Event will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if each Rating Agency making the reduction in rating does not publicly announce or confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at the Company’s request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Rating Event). If any Rating Agency that provided a rating of a series of Notes on the day immediately prior to the beginning of such 60-day period (or extension thereof) is not providing a rating of such series of Notes at the end of such 60- day period (or extension thereof) for any reason, such 60-day period (or extension thereof) shall be extended an additional 30 days and, if the Company has not selected a replacement Rating Agency on or before the end of such 30-day period, then such Rating Agency shall be deemed to have lowered its rating of such series of Notes at the end of such 30-day period to be below an Investment Grade Rating.
“Registration Default” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2026, among the Company, KDP Parent, the Guarantors and the representatives named therein, relating to the Notes.
10
“Regular Record Date” means (a) the immediately preceding business day of Euroclear and Clearstream for so long as the applicable series of Notes are represented by Global Notes or (b) on the immediately preceding March 11 if such Notes are not represented by Global Notes.
“Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Regulation S Notes” means all Notes offered and sold to a non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in reliance on Regulation S.
“Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.
“Restricted Notes Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.08(e)(ii).
“Restricted Period” means, with respect to any Notes, the period that is 40 days after the later of (i) the original issue date of the Notes and (ii) the date when the Notes or any predecessor of the Notes are first offered to Persons other than distributors (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S.
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A Notes” means all Notes offered and sold to purchasers reasonably believed to be QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings.
“Separation” means the proposed separation of all or substantially all of the Coffee Business through (x) a contribution, directly or indirectly, of the applicable assets and liabilities of such business and/or through a contribution, directly or indirectly, of the applicable legal entities comprising such business to the Company (or a Subsidiary of the Company), in each case to the extent such assets, liabilities or entities are not already held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, and (y) the distribution of outstanding equity securities of the Company (or a direct or indirect parent of the Company) to the holders of common stock of KDP Parent as of a record date to be determined by KDP Parent, in each case of the foregoing, in a transaction qualifying under Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code, together with any transactions related thereto or contemplated thereby.
“Substitute Rating Agency” means a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) selected by the Company as a replacement Interest Rate Rating Agency for any Interest Rate Rating Agency.
“Transfer Restricted Note” means any Note that contains or is required to contain a Restricted Notes Legend.
11
“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) in relation to any Bail-In Legislation described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule from time to time, the powers described as such in relation to that Bail-In Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule; and (b) any powers under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, transfer or dilute shares issued by a Person that is a bank or investment firm or other financial institution or affiliate of a bank, investment firm or other financial institution, to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of such a Person or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that Person or any other Person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers; and any similar or analogous powers under that Bail-In Legislation.
Section 1.02 Other Definitions.
| Term |
Defined in Section | |
| “2028 Notes” |
Recitals | |
| “2028 Maturity Date” |
2.04(b) | |
| “2030 Notes” |
Recitals | |
| “2030 Maturity Date” |
2.05(b) | |
| “2032 Notes” |
Recitals | |
| “2032 Maturity Date” |
2.06(b) | |
| “2035 Notes” |
Recitals | |
| “2035 Maturity Date” |
2.07(b) | |
| “Additional Amounts” |
9.01(b) | |
| “Additional Interest” |
8.02 | |
| “Agent Members” |
2.03(c)(ii) | |
| “Agent Parties” |
10.02 | |
| “Base Indenture” |
Recitals | |
| “CBOI” |
10.01(a) | |
| “Change in Tax Law” |
9.02 | |
| “Change of Control Offer” |
5.01(b) | |
| “Change of Control Payment” |
5.01(a) | |
| “Change of Control Payment Date” |
5.01(b)(ii) | |
| “Euroclear” |
2.03(a) | |
| “FCA” |
10.01(a) | |
| “Global Notes” |
2.03(b) | |
| “Indenture” |
Recitals | |
| “Interest Rate Adjustment Table” |
8.01(a) | |
| “JDE Peet’s Acquisition” |
4.01(f) | |
| “market exchange rate” |
2.04(k) | |
| “Merger Protocol” |
4.01(f) |
12
| “New Parent Guarantor” |
6.04(d) | |
| “PRA” |
10.01(a) | |
| “Regulation S Global Note” |
2.03(b) | |
| “Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction” |
9.01(a) | |
| “Rule 144A Global Note” |
2.03(b) | |
| “Special Mandatory Redemption Date” |
4.01(f) | |
| “Special Mandatory Redemption Event” |
4.01(f) | |
| “Special Mandatory Redemption Price” |
4.01(f) | |
| “surviving parent entity” |
6.05(a)(i) | |
| “Taxes” |
9.01(a) |
Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
The Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of the Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms have the following meanings:
“indenture securities” means the Notes.
“indenture security holder” means a Holder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this First Supplemental Indenture.
“indenture trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and the Guarantors and any other obligor on the indenture securities.
All other Trust Indenture Act terms used in this First Supplemental Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
ARTICLE II
APPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND CREATION, FORMS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF NOTES
Section 2.01 Application of this First Supplemental Indenture.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this First Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture, including the covenants set forth herein, are expressly and solely for the benefit of the holders of the Notes. The Notes constitute four separate series of Securities as provided in Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture.
13
Section 2.02 Creation of the Notes; Payments in Euro.
(a) In accordance with Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture, the Company hereby creates each of the 2028 Notes, the 2030 Notes, the 2032 Notes and the 2035 Notes as a separate series of its Securities issued pursuant to the Indenture. The 2028 Notes shall be issued initially in an aggregate principal amount of €600,000,000. The 2030 Notes shall be issued initially in an aggregate principal amount of €800,000,000. The 2032 Notes shall be issued initially in an aggregate principal amount of €800,000,000. The 2035 Notes shall be issued initially in an aggregate principal amount of €800,000,000. Principal and interest on each series of Notes, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase of the Notes, shall be payable in euro, subject to Section 2.02(b) below.
(b) If, on or after the date of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Euro is unavailable to the Company due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond its control or if the Euro is no longer being used by the then-member states of the European Monetary Union that have adopted the Euro as their currency or for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the international banking community, then all payments in respect of the Notes will be made in U.S. Dollars until the Euro is again available to the Company or so used. In such circumstances, the amount payable on any date in Euro will be converted into U.S. Dollars at the market exchange rate as of the close of business on the second Business Day prior to the relevant payment date or, if the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has not mandated a rate of conversion, on the basis of the most recently available market exchange rate for Euro, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion. The term “market exchange rate” means the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of euro as certified for customs purposes (or, if not so certified, as otherwise determined) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Any payment in respect of the Notes so made in U.S. Dollars will not constitute an Event of Default under the Notes or the Indenture. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent for the Notes shall have any responsibility for any calculation or conversion in connection with the foregoing.
Section 2.03 Form of the Notes.
(a) The Notes shall each be issued in the form of a Global Note, duly executed by the Company and, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticated by the Trustee, which shall be deposited with the Common Depositary for, and in respect of interests held through, Euroclear as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream. The 2028 Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, the 2030 Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, the 2032 Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto and the 2035 Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto. So long as the Common Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a Global Note, the Common Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, shall be considered the sole owner or Holder of the Notes represented by such Global Note for all purposes under the Indenture. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Note shall be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effective only through, records maintained by the Common Depositary (with respect to beneficial interests of participants) or by participants or Persons that hold interests through participants (with respect to beneficial interests of beneficial owners).
14
(b) The Notes shall be resold initially only (A) to Persons reasonably believed to be QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act or (B) outside the United States, to Persons other than “U.S. persons” as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act in compliance with Regulation S. Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, purchasers reasonably believed to be QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S, and otherwise, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein. Notes initially resold pursuant to Rule 144A shall be initially issued in the form of one or more permanent global securities in fully registered form (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”), and Notes initially resold pursuant to Regulation S shall be initially issued in the form of one or more permanent global securities in fully registered form (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Note”), in each case without interest coupons and with the Global Notes Legend and the applicable Restricted Notes Legend set forth in Section 2.08(e)(ii) hereof. Such global securities shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with, and registered in the name of, the Common Depositary for the accounts of Euroclear or Clearstream, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture. The Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes”. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Common Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter provided.
(c) This Section 2.03(c) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Common Depositary.
(i) The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order and in accordance with this Section 2.03(c), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (A) shall be registered in the name of the Common Depositary or its nominee and (B) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Common Depositary or pursuant to the instructions of the Common Depositary.
(ii) Members of, or participants in, Euroclear or Clearstream (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Common Depositary or under such Global Note, and the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat Euroclear and Clearstream as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by Euroclear and Clearstream or impair, as between Euroclear and Clearstream and their respective Agent Members, the operation of customary practices thereof governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.
(d) Except as provided in Section 2.08 or 2.09, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.
(e) The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are expressly made, a part of this First Supplemental Indenture, and to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and agree to be bound thereby. If there is any conflict between the terms of the Notes and this First Supplemental Indenture, the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture shall govern.
15
(f) The Notes may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at the offices of the Registrar.
Section 2.04 Terms and Conditions of the 2028 Notes.
The 2028 Notes shall be governed by all the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture. In particular, the following provisions shall be terms of the 2028 Notes:
(a) Title and Conditions of the 2028 Notes. The title of the 2028 Notes shall be as specified in the recitals; and the aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Notes shall be as specified in Section 2.02 of this Article II, except for 2028 Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, Notes pursuant to Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.13, 2.16, 5.7 or 9.5 of the Base Indenture.
(b) Stated Maturity. The 2028 Notes shall mature, and the principal of the 2028 Notes shall be due and payable in Euro to the Holders thereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on March 26, 2028 (the “2028 Maturity Date”).
(c) Payment of Principal and Interest. The 2028 Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 3.495% per annum, from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or provided for until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum. Interest with respect to the Notes will be computed on the basis of (i) the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and (ii) the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes (or from and including the original issue date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the applicable series of Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled Interest Payment Date. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association. Interest on the 2028 Notes shall be payable annually in arrears in Euro on each Interest Payment Date. Payments of interest shall be made to the Person in whose name a 2028 Note (or predecessor 2028 Note) is registered (which shall initially be the nominee of the Common Depositary) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date. The rights of Holders of beneficial interests of Notes to receive the payments of interest on such Notes are subject to the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream.
(d) Registration and Form. The 2028 Notes shall be issuable as a Global Note as provided in Section 2.03(b) of this Article II. The form of the 2028 Notes shall be as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. The 2028 Notes shall be issued and may be transferred only in minimum denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof in book-entry form only. All payments of principal, redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the 2028 Notes shall be made by the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds in Euro to the Paying Agent who will in turn make such payments to Euroclear and Clearstream for onward distribution to their account holders.
16
(e) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The provisions for legal defeasance in Section 8.2 of the Base Indenture, and the provisions for covenant defeasance in Section 8.3 of the Base Indenture, shall be applicable to the 2028 Notes.
(f) Further Issuance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Base Indenture, the Company may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders, create and issue further securities having the same ranking and interest rate, maturity and other terms as the 2028 Notes, except for the issue date, and, in some cases the public offering price and the first interest payment date. Additional 2028 Notes issued in this manner, and any Exchange Notes issued with respect to such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, shall be consolidated and shall form a single series with the previously outstanding 2028 Notes, provided that, if the additional 2028 Notes are not fungible with the 2028 Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional 2028 Notes will have a separate Common Code number and ISIN number. No such additional 2028 Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2028 Notes.
(g) Redemption. The 2028 Notes are subject to redemption by the Company in whole or in part in the manner described herein.
(h) Guarantees. The payment of the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2028 Notes, whether at the 2028 Maturity Date, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, is fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors as provided in Article VII of this First Supplemental Indenture.
(i) Ranking. The 2028 Notes and the Securities Guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and are equal in right of payment with all unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively.
(j) Sinking Fund. The 2028 Notes are not entitled to any sinking fund.
(k) Payment in Euro. Principal and interest on the 2028 Notes, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase of the 2028 Notes, shall be payable in euro, subject to Section 2.02(b) of this First Supplemental Indenture.
(l) Other Terms and Conditions. The 2028 Notes shall have such other terms and conditions as provided in the form thereof attached as Exhibit A hereto.
Section 2.05 Terms and Conditions of the 2030 Notes.
The 2030 Notes shall be governed by all the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture. In particular, the following provisions shall be terms of the 2030 Notes:
17
(a) Title and Conditions of the 2030 Notes. The title of the 2030 Notes shall be as specified in the recitals; and the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Notes shall be as specified in Section 2.02 of this Article II, except for 2030 Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, Notes pursuant to Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.13, 2.16, 5.7 or 9.5 of the Base Indenture.
(b) Stated Maturity. The 2030 Notes shall mature, and the principal of the 2030 Notes shall be due and payable in Euro to the Holders thereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on March 26, 2030 (the “2030 Maturity Date”).
(c) Payment of Principal and Interest. The 2030 Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 3.881% per annum, from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or provided for until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum. Interest with respect to the Notes will be computed on the basis of (i) the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and (ii) the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes (or from and including the original issue date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the applicable series of Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled Interest Payment Date. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association. Interest on the 2030 Notes shall be payable annually in arrears in Euro on each Interest Payment Date. Payments of interest shall be made to the Person in whose name a 2030 Note (or predecessor 2030 Note) is registered (which shall initially be the nominee of the Common Depositary) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date. The rights of Holders of beneficial interests of Notes to receive the payments of interest on such Notes are subject to the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream.
(d) Registration and Form. The 2030 Notes shall be issuable as a Global Note as provided in Section 2.03(b) of this Article II. The form of the 2030 Notes shall be as set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto. The 2030 Notes shall be issued and may be transferred only in minimum denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof in book-entry form only. All payments of principal, redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the 2030 Notes shall be made by the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds in Euro to the Paying Agent who will in turn make such payments to Euroclear and Clearstream for onward distribution to their account holders.
(e) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The provisions for legal defeasance in Section 8.2 of the Base Indenture, and the provisions for covenant defeasance in Section 8.3 of the Base Indenture, shall be applicable to the 2030 Notes.
(f) Further Issuance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Base Indenture, the Company may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders, create and issue further securities having the same ranking and interest rate, maturity and other terms as the 2030 Notes, except for the issue date, and, in some cases the public offering price and the first interest payment date. Additional 2030 Notes
18
issued in this manner, and any Exchange Notes issued with respect to such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, shall be consolidated and shall form a single series with the previously outstanding 2030 Notes, provided that, if the additional 2030 Notes are not fungible with the 2030 Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional 2030 Notes will have a separate Common Code number and ISIN number. No such additional 2030 Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2030 Notes.
(g) Redemption. The 2030 Notes are subject to redemption by the Company in whole or in part in the manner described herein.
(h) Guarantees. The payment of the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2030 Notes, whether at the 2030 Maturity Date, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, is fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors as provided in Article VII of this First Supplemental Indenture.
(i) Ranking. The 2030 Notes and the Securities Guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and are equal in right of payment with all unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively.
(j) Sinking Fund. The 2030 Notes are not entitled to any sinking fund.
(k) Payment in Euro. Principal and interest on the 2030 Notes, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase of the 2030 Notes, shall be payable in euro, subject to Section 2.02(b) of this First Supplemental Indenture.
(l) Other Terms and Conditions. The 2030 Notes shall have such other terms and conditions as provided in the form thereof attached as Exhibit B hereto.
Section 2.06 Terms and Conditions of the 2032 Notes.
The 2032 Notes shall be governed by all the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture. In particular, the following provisions shall be terms of the 2032 Notes:
(a) Title and Conditions of the 2032 Notes. The title of the 2032 Notes shall be as specified in the recitals; and the aggregate principal amount of the 2032 Notes shall be as specified in Section 2.02 of this Article II, except for 2032 Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, Notes pursuant to Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.13, 2.16, 5.7 or 9.5 of the Base Indenture.
(b) Stated Maturity. The 2032 Notes shall mature, and the principal of the 2032 Notes shall be due and payable in Euro to the Holders thereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on March 26, 2032 (the “2032 Maturity Date”).
19
(c) Payment of Principal and Interest. The 2032 Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 4.224% per annum, from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or provided for until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum. Interest with respect to the Notes will be computed on the basis of (i) the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and (ii) the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes (or from and including the original issue date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the applicable series of Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled Interest Payment Date. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association. Interest on the 2032 Notes shall be payable annually in arrears in Euro on each Interest Payment Date. Payments of interest shall be made to the Person in whose name a 2032 Note (or predecessor 2032 Note) is registered (which shall initially be the nominee of the Common Depositary) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date. The rights of Holders of beneficial interests of Notes to receive the payments of interest on such Notes are subject to the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream.
(d) Registration and Form. The 2032 Notes shall be issuable as a Global Note as provided in Section 2.03(b) of this Article II. The form of the 2032 Notes shall be as set forth in Exhibit C attached hereto. The 2032 Notes shall be issued and may be transferred only in minimum denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof in book-entry form only. All payments of principal, redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the 2032 Notes shall be made by the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds in Euro to the Paying Agent who will in turn make such payments to Euroclear and Clearstream for onward distribution to their account holders.
(e) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The provisions for legal defeasance in Section 8.2 of the Base Indenture, and the provisions for covenant defeasance in Section 8.3 of the Base Indenture, shall be applicable to the 2032 Notes.
(f) Further Issuance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Base Indenture, the Company may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders, create and issue further securities having the same ranking and interest rate, maturity and other terms as the 2032 Notes, except for the issue date, and, in some cases the public offering price and the first interest payment date. Additional 2032 Notes issued in this manner, and any Exchange Notes issued with respect to such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, shall be consolidated and shall form a single series with the previously outstanding 2032 Notes, provided that, if the additional 2032 Notes are not fungible with the 2032 Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional 2032 Notes will have a separate Common Code number and ISIN number. No such additional 2032 Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2032 Notes.
(g) Redemption. The 2032 Notes are subject to redemption by the Company in whole or in part in the manner described herein.
20
(h) Guarantees. The payment of the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2032 Notes, whether at the 2032 Maturity Date, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, is fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors as provided in Article VII of this First Supplemental Indenture.
(i) Ranking. The 2032 Notes and the Securities Guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and are equal in right of payment with all unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively.
(j) Sinking Fund. The 2032 Notes are not entitled to any sinking fund.
(k) Payment in Euro. Principal and interest on the 2032 Notes, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase of the 2032 Notes, shall be payable in euro, subject to Section 2.02(b) of this First Supplemental Indenture.
(l) Other Terms and Conditions. The 2032 Notes shall have such other terms and conditions as provided in the form thereof attached as Exhibit C hereto.
Section 2.07 Terms and Conditions of the 2035 Notes.
The 2035 Notes shall be governed by all the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture. In particular, the following provisions shall be terms of the 2035 Notes:
(a) Title and Conditions of the 2035 Notes. The title of the 2035 Notes shall be as specified in the recitals; and the aggregate principal amount of the 2035 Notes shall be as specified in Section 2.02 of this Article II, except for 2035 Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, Notes pursuant to Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.13, 2.16, 5.7 or 9.5 of the Base Indenture.
(b) Stated Maturity. The 2035 Notes shall mature, and the principal of the 2035 Notes shall be due and payable in Euro to the Holders thereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on March 26, 2035 (the “2035 Maturity Date”).
(c) Payment of Principal and Interest. The 2035 Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 4.728% per annum, from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or provided for until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum. Interest with respect to the Notes will be computed on the basis of (i) the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and (ii) the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes (or from and including the original issue date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the applicable series of Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled Interest Payment Date. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association. Interest on the 2035 Notes shall be
21
payable annually in arrears in Euro on each Interest Payment Date. Payments of interest shall be made to the Person in whose name a 2035 Note (or predecessor 2035 Note) is registered (which shall initially be the nominee of the Common Depositary) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date. The rights of Holders of beneficial interests of Notes to receive the payments of interest on such Notes are subject to the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream.
(d) Registration and Form. The 2035 Notes shall be issuable as a Global Note as provided in Section 2.03(b) of this Article II. The form of the 2035 Notes shall be as set forth in Exhibit D attached hereto. The 2035 Notes shall be issued and may be transferred only in minimum denominations of €100,000 and integral multiples of €1,000 in excess thereof in book-entry form only. All payments of principal, redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the 2035 Notes shall be made by the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds in Euro to the Paying Agent who will in turn make such payments to Euroclear and Clearstream for onward distribution to their account holders.
(e) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The provisions for legal defeasance in Section 8.2 of the Base Indenture, and the provisions for covenant defeasance in Section 8.3 of the Base Indenture, shall be applicable to the 2035 Notes.
(f) Further Issuance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Base Indenture, the Company may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders, create and issue further securities having the same ranking and interest rate, maturity and other terms as the 2035 Notes, except for the issue date, and, in some cases the public offering price and the first interest payment date. Additional 2035 Notes issued in this manner, and any Exchange Notes issued with respect to such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, shall be consolidated and shall form a single series with the previously outstanding 2035 Notes, provided that, if the additional 2035 Notes are not fungible with the 2035 Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional 2035 Notes will have a separate Common Code number and ISIN number. No such additional 2035 Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2035 Notes.
(g) Redemption. The 2035 Notes are subject to redemption by the Company in whole or in part in the manner described herein.
(h) Guarantees. The payment of the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2035 Notes, whether at the 2035 Maturity Date, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, is fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors as provided in Article VII of this First Supplemental Indenture.
(i) Ranking. The 2035 Notes and the Securities Guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and are equal in right of payment with all unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively.
22
(j) Sinking Fund. The 2035 Notes are not entitled to any sinking fund.
(k) Payment in Euro. Principal and interest on the 2035 Notes, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase of the 2035 Notes, shall be payable in euro, subject to Section 2.02(b) of this First Supplemental Indenture.
(l) Other Terms and Conditions. The 2035 Notes shall have such other terms and conditions as provided in the form thereof attached as Exhibit D hereto.
Section 2.08 Special Transfer Restrictions
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes. When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request:
(i) to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or (ii) to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:
(1) (A) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and
(B) are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable: (x) if such Definitive Notes are being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or (y) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred to the Company, a certification to that effect (in each case in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Note); or
(2) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act or in reliance upon another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (i) a certification to that effect (in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Note) and (ii) if the Company or Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 2.08(e)(ii).
(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note. A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, together with:
23
(i) certification (in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Note) that such Definitive Note is being transferred (A) to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A or (B) to a non-U.S. Person outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S and in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act; and (ii) written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Common Depositary to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, such instructions to contain information regarding the Common Depositary account to be credited with such increase, then the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Common Depositary to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and Applicable Procedures, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Global Note to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled. If no Global Notes are then outstanding and the Global Note has not been previously exchanged for Definitive Notes pursuant to Section 2.09, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon receipt of a Company Order, a new Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.
(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the applicable clearing systems, in accordance with this First Supplemental Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the Applicable Procedures therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver a written or electronic order given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the participant account of Euroclear or Clearstream to be credited with a beneficial interest in such Global Note or another Global Note and such account shall be credited in accordance with such order with a beneficial interest in the applicable Global Note and the account of the Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.
(ii) Transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through a Regulation S Global Note of the same series, whether before or after the expiration of the Restricted Period, shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and only upon receipt by the Trustee and/or the Transfer Agent of a written certification (in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Note) from the transferor to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S or (if available) Rule 144 under the Securities Act and, if such transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the interest transferred shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream.
(iii) Beneficial interests in Regulation S Global Notes may be exchanged for interests in Rule 144A Global Notes of the same series in accordance with the procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream and if (1) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of Notes in compliance with Rule 144A and (2) the transferor of the beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note first delivers to the Trustee and/or the Transfer Agent a written certificate (in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Note) to the effect that the beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note is being transferred to a Person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions.
24
(iv) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.
(v) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.09), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.
(vi) In the event that a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes pursuant to Section 2.09 prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144, Rule 144A, Regulation S or such other applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.
(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Regulation S Global Notes.
(i) Prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, interests in a Regulation S Global Note may only be held through Euroclear or Clearstream. During the Restricted Period, beneficial ownership interests in a Regulation S Global Note may only be sold, pledged or transferred through Euroclear or Clearstream in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and only (a) to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (b) pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act, (c) for so long as such security is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A, to a Person whom the selling Holder reasonably believes is a QIB that purchases for its own account or for the account of a QIB to whom notice is given that the resale, pledge or transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. Persons that occur outside the United States (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act), or (e) pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States, subject to the Company’s and the Trustee’s right prior to any such offer, sale or transfer pursuant to clause (d) or (e) to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them. Prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through a Rule 144A Global Note shall be made only in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A of the Securities Act and upon receipt by the Trustee and/or the Transfer Agent of a written certification (in the form on the reverse side of the Initial Note).
25
(ii) Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period, beneficial ownership interests in a Regulation S Global Note shall be transferable in accordance with applicable law and the other terms of the Indenture.
(e) Legends.
(i) Each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes (and all Notes that are Global Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) will contain a legend substantially to the following effect (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only):
(1) UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF EUROCLEAR BANK, S.A./N.V., AS OPERATOR OF THE EUROCLEAR SYSTEM (“EUROCLEAR”) OR CLEARSTREAM BANKING, S.A. (“CLEARSTREAM,” AND TOGETHER WITH EUROCLEAR, “EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF AN AUTHORIZED NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO SUCH AUTHORIZED NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, THE AUTHORIZED NOMINEE OF THE COMMON DEPOSITARY, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM, TO NOMINEES OF EUROCLEAR/CLEARSTREAM OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
26
(ii) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (d), (e), (f) or (g), each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes and the Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) will contain a legend substantially to the following effect (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only):
(1) THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER REPRESENTS THAT (1) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, OR (2) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT). NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED NOTES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR][IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED
27
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.
(iii) Each Note evidencing a Global Note offered and sold to a QIB pursuant to Rule 144A will contain a legend substantially to the following effect:
(1) EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.
(iv) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note).
(v) After a transfer of any Notes during the period of the effectiveness of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Notes Legend on such Notes shall cease to apply and the requirements that any such Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply.
(vi) Upon the consummation of an Exchange Offer with respect to the Notes pursuant to which Holders of such Notes are offered Exchange Notes in exchange for their Notes, all requirements pertaining to Notes that Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply, and Exchange Notes in global form without the Restricted Notes Legend will be deposited with the Common Depositary and the Notes cancelled.
(vii) Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Restricted Period of any Note acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Note bear the Restricted Notes Legend shall cease to apply, and the requirements requiring any such Note be issued in global form shall continue to apply.
28
(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by the Common Depositary to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee and the Registrar (if it is then the Common Depositary for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee, the Registrar or the Common Depositary, to reflect such reduction.
(g) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(h) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under the Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(i) No Obligation of the Trustee.
(i) Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, Agent Member or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of Euroclear and Clearstream or its nominee or of any Agent Member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any Agent Member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than Euroclear and Clearstream) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be Euroclear, Clearstream or the Common Depositary). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Common Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream. Each of the Trustee and the Paying Agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by Euroclear and Clearstream with respect to its Agent Members and any beneficial owners.
(ii) Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall have any obligation or duty to investigate, monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this First Supplemental Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
29
Section 2.09 Definitive Notes.
(a) A Global Note deposited with the Common Depositary pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.08 hereof and if (w) the Common Depositary notifies the Company at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Common Depositary for the series of Notes of which such Global Note is a part and, in each case, a successor Common Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, (x) the Company has been notified that both Clearstream and Euroclear have been closed for business for a continuous period of fourteen (14) days (other than by reason of holiday, statutory or otherwise) or have announced an intention permanently to cease business or have in fact done so and no successor clearing system is available, (y) the Company, at its option, executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that such Global Note shall be so exchangeable or (z) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Notes of which such Global Note is a part.
(b) Upon receipt of a Company Order, any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.09 shall be surrendered by the Common Depositary to the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.09 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in minimum denominations of €100,000 principal amount or any integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof, in book-entry form only, and registered in such names as the Common Depositary shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in the Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.08(e) hereof, contain the applicable Restricted Notes Legend set forth in Section 2.08(e)(ii) hereof.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.09(b) hereof, the registered Holder of a Global Note shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under the Indenture or the Notes.
(d) In the event of the occurrence of one of the events specified in Section 2.09(a) hereof, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.
(e) By its acceptance of any Note containing any legend in Section 2.08(e), each Holder of such Note acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in the Indenture and in such legend in Section 2.08(e) and agrees that it shall transfer such Note only as provided in the Indenture.
(f) The Registrar shall retain for a period of two years copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.08 or this Section 2.09. The Company shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable notice to the Registrar.
30
Section 2.10 Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent. The Trustee shall serve as the Registrar and Transfer Agent for the Notes. U.S. Bank Europe DAC, UK Branch, shall serve as the Paying Agent for the Notes. If and for so long as the Notes are listed on the Official List of the Exchange and if and to the extent that the rules of the Authority so require, the Company will notify the Authority of any change of Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar.
ARTICLE III
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
Section 3.01 Optional Redemption. Prior to the maturity date, in the case of the 2028 Notes and the applicable Par Call Date for the 2030 Notes, 2032 Notes and 2035 Notes, the Company may redeem any series of the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
(i) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming such series of Notes matured on the maturity date, in the case of the 2028 Notes, and on the applicable Par Call Date for the 2030 Notes, 2032 Notes and 2035 Notes) on an annual basis (ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA)) at the Comparable Government Bond Rate plus 20 basis points in the case of the 2028 Notes, plus 25 basis points in the case of the 2030 Notes, plus 25 basis points in the case of the 2032 Notes and plus 30 basis points in the case of the 2035 Notes less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and
(ii) 100% of the principal amount of the applicable Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the applicable Par Call Date for a series of Notes (other than the 2028 Notes), the Company may redeem the 2030 Notes, 2032 Notes and 2035 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such series of Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent will have any obligation to calculate or verify the calculation of the amount of the redemption price.
31
Section 3.02 Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem the Notes of any series pursuant to this Article III, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of such series of Notes to be redeemed.
The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this Section 3.02 upon not later than the earlier of 45 days before the redemption date or the date on which notice is given to the Holders (unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period). Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein and in the Base Indenture.
Section 3.03 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.
If fewer than all the Notes of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least three Business Days before the notice of redemption is to be sent to Holders (unless the Trustee agrees to a shorter period of time), an Officer’s Certificate requesting the Trustee select the Notes of such series to be redeemed. The Trustee shall, subject to applicable law, select the Notes of such series to be redeemed pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of €100,000 or less will be redeemed in part unless otherwise required by law. If any Note of any series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note of such series will state the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of such Note will be issued in the name of the holder of such Note upon surrender for cancellation to the Trustee and the Registrar of the original Note. For so long as the Notes of a series are held by Clearstream, Euroclear or the Common Depositary, the redemption of the Notes of such series shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear.
The Trustee shall make the selection of Notes to be redeemed from outstanding Notes of such series not previously called for redemption. Provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture that apply to the Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of the Notes called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of the Notes or portions of the Notes to be redeemed.
Section 3.04 Notice of Redemption.
At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date of any series of Notes, the Company shall send a notice of redemption by first-class mail or by electronic transmission to each Holder of such series of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address; provided, that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to the redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture. If and for so long as the Notes are listed on the Official List of the Exchange and if and to the extent the rules of the Authority so require, the Company will notify the Authority of any such notice to the holders of the Notes and, in connection with any redemption of the Notes, the Company will notify the Authority of any change in the principal amount of Notes outstanding.
32
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including the series, issue date, interest rate and maturity date) and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date;
(c) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(d) that the Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(e) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed;
(f) if the Notes are to be redeemed in part, upon surrender of such Notes, the Holder will receive, without charge, a new Note for the principal amount remaining unredeemed;
(g) that, unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption;
(h) any conditions applicable to a redemption;
(i) the CUSIP number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed;
(j) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and
(k) that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption may be delayed until such time as any or all of the conditions stated in the notice shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion), or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all of the conditions stated in the notice shall not have been satisfied or waived by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed.
At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least three Business Days before the notice of redemption is to be sent to Holders (unless the Trustee agrees to a shorter period), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information required by this Section 3.04.
In connection with any redemption of Notes described in this Section 3.04, any such redemption and/or notice of redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including the completion of any related refinancing or a Change of Control. In addition, if such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed.
33
Section 3.05 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is sent, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions stated therein, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, the Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest, if any, to the redemption date; provided, however, that installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on such Interest Payment Date to the registered Holders as of the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.
Section 3.06 Deposit of Redemption Price.
Prior to 12:00 p.m., London time, on the applicable redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.07 Notes Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate for the Holder (at the Company’s expense), a new Note of such series equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Notes surrendered.
ARTICLE IV
SPECIAL MANDATORY REDEMPTION
Section 4.01 Special Mandatory Redemption.
(a) If a Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem all of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of each series of Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price applicable to such series of Notes.
(b) The Company will cause a notice of Special Mandatory Redemption, in the form of the corresponding Annex attached hereto, to be electronically delivered or mailed to the Trustee and electronically delivered or mailed to each Holder of record of the Notes to be redeemed no later than the fifth Business Day following the Special Mandatory Redemption Event, which shall provide for the redemption of the Notes of each series on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.
34
(c) Upon the deposit of funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price of all Notes to be redeemed on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date with the Paying Agent by no later than 12:00 p.m., London time, on such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Notes shall cease to bear interest, and all rights and obligations under the Notes shall terminate.
(d) The notice of a Special Mandatory Redemption Event shall state:
(i) the Special Mandatory Redemption Date;
(ii) the Special Mandatory Redemption Price;
(iii) that on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Special Mandatory Redemption Price shall become due and payable; and
(iv) that unless the Company defaults in payment of the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, the Notes shall cease to bear interest on and after the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.
(e) The Trustee shall have no responsibility for any calculation or determination in respect of the Special Mandatory Redemption Event or the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, or any component thereof, and shall be entitled to receive, and fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate from the Company that states that the occurrence of such Special Mandatory Redemption Event and such Special Mandatory Redemption Price.
(f) For the purposes of this Section, the terms below are defined as follows:
“JDE Peet’s Acquisition” means the acquisition by KDP Parent (or one of its Subsidiaries) of JDE Peet’s pursuant to the Merger Protocol including the public offer (openbaar bod) for all issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of JDE Peet’s referred to therein.
“Merger Protocol” means the merger protocol, dated August 24, 2025, between KDP Parent and JDE Peet’s, relating to the tender offer to acquire all of the issued ordinary shares of JDE Peet’s, for a cash offer price of €31.85 per share.
“Special Mandatory Redemption Date” means the date that is no later than 10 Business Days following any Special Mandatory Redemption Event.
35
“Special Mandatory Redemption Event” means the earliest to occur of: (i) the JDE Peet’s Acquisition not occurring on or prior to February 24, 2027, (ii) KDP Parent notifies the Trustee in writing that the Merger Protocol has terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the consummation of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition or (iii) KDP Parent notifies the Trustee in writing and publicly announces that KDP Parent will not pursue consummation of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition.
“Special Mandatory Redemption Price” means the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of such Notes to, but not including, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).
(g) If funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price of the Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date are deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by no later than 12:00 p.m., London time, on such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, then, on and after such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, such Notes shall cease to bear interest.
ARTICLE V
CHANGE OF CONTROL
Section 5.01 Change of Control.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event with respect to a series of Notes, unless such Notes have been called for redemption pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof, with such notice of redemption delivered, in accordance with the applicable procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, on or before 30 days after such Change of Control Triggering Event, each Holder of such Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of €1,000) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).
(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any proposed Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the proposed Change of Control, the Company shall send, or cause to be sent, a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder, in accordance with the applicable procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and specifying:
(i) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 5.01 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;
36
(ii) the Change of Control Payment and the purchase date, which shall be a Business Day no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);
(iii) the CUSIP numbers for the Notes;
(iv) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;
(v) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;
(vi) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;
(vii) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election referred to in clause (vi) if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased;
(viii) that Holders whose Notes of any series are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes of such series equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion will be equal to a minimum of €100,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof; and
(ix) if the notice is sent prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, (A) a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change in Control, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change in Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer is made and (B) the consummation of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and the Separation, and any actions taken by any of KDP Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries that is required in connection with or incidental to the JDE Peet’s Acquisition or the Separation, shall be expressly permitted by the Indenture and the Notes of each series, and shall not require KDP Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries to take any action that might have otherwise been required under the Indenture or the Notes of any series.
(c) The Company shall cause the Change of Control Offer to remain open for at least 20 Business Days or such longer period as is required by applicable law. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations (and the rules of any exchange on which the Notes are then listed) thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 5.01, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 5.01 by virtue of such conflict.
37
(d) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:
(i) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and
(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.
(e) Upon receipt of the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, the Paying Agent will promptly send to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and, upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee will promptly authenticate and send (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note of the same series equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Note will be equal to a minimum of €100,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of €1,000 in excess thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
(f) The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 5.01 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. In addition, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.01, if an Event of Default exists under the Indenture (which is unrelated to the repurchase provisions of this Section 5.01), including Events of Default arising with respect to other series of Securities, the Company shall not be required to repurchase the Notes.
(g) If and for so long as the Notes are listed on the Official List of the Exchange and if and to the extent the rules of the Authority so require, the Company will notify the Authority of any such notice to the holders of the Notes and, in connection with any repurchase of the Notes, the Company will notify the Authority of any change in the principal amount of Notes outstanding.
38
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
The covenants set forth in this Article V shall be applicable to the Company in addition to the covenants in Article III of the Base Indenture, which shall in all respects be applicable in respect of the Notes. Prior to the Separation, KDP Parent shall be deemed the Company for all purposes under Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 and 6.04. Following the Separation, the Issuer shall be deemed the Company for all purposes under Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 and 6.04.
Section 6.01 Limitation on Secured Indebtedness.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur, issue, assume, or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on any Principal Property or on any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company owning any Principal Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, without effectively providing that the outstanding Notes and the Securities Guarantees (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created which is not subordinate to the Notes or the Securities Guarantees) shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such secured Indebtedness so long as such secured Indebtedness shall be so secured. The foregoing restrictions do not apply to:
(a) Permitted Encumbrances;
(b) Liens on any asset or property existing at the date of this First Supplemental Indenture, provided that,
(i) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than the proceeds or products of the property or asset originally subject to such Liens), and
(ii) such Liens shall secure only those obligations which they secure on the date of this First Supplemental Indenture and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(c) Liens on any asset or property of any corporation or other Person existing at the time such corporation or other Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, provided that,
(i) such Liens were in existence prior to such corporation or other Person becoming an obligor under the Indenture, or becoming a Subsidiary of the Company or such merger or consolidation and shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than the proceeds or products of the property or asset originally subject to such Liens), and
39
(ii) such Liens shall secure only those obligations which they secure on the date that such corporation or other Person becomes an obligor under the Notes, a Subsidiary of the Company or the date of such merger or consolidation, and
(iii) extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(d) Liens securing Indebtedness of:
(i) a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company, the Issuer (if the Issuer is not the Company) or a Guarantor,
(ii) the Company to a Guarantor or the Issuer (if the Issuer is not the Company), or
(iii) the Company, the Issuer (if the Issuer is not the Company) or a Guarantor to the Company, the Issuer (if the Issuer is not the Company) or another Guarantor;
(e) Liens on any property or asset to secure the payment of all or any part of the Capital Lease Obligations or purchase price of such property or asset upon the acquisition or lease of such property or asset by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or to secure any Indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 12 months after, the later of the date of acquisition or lease of such property or asset and the date such property or asset is placed in service, for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof or Capital Lease Obligations with respect thereto, or Liens to secure any Indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing the cost to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company of construction, alteration or improvement to such acquired property or asset;
(f) Liens securing industrial revenue bonds, pollution control bonds or other similar tax-exempt bonds;
(g) any other Liens incidental to construction or maintenance of real property of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which were not incurred in connection with borrowing money or obtaining advances or credits or the acquisition of property or assets and in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of any property or assets or which are being contested in good faith by the Company or such Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable;
(h) Liens relating to accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which have been sold, assigned or otherwise transferred to another Person in a transaction classified as a sale of accounts receivable in accordance with GAAP (to the extent the sale by the Company or the applicable Subsidiary is deemed to give rise to a lien in favor of the purchaser thereof in such accounts); or
(i) any extension, renewal or replacement (including successive extensions, renewals or replacements), as a whole or in part, of any of the Liens enumerated in clauses (a) through (h) above; provided, however, that:
40
(i) such extension, renewal or replacement Liens are limited to all or part of the same property or asset that secured the Liens extended, renewed, or replaced (plus improvements on such property or asset), and
(ii) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens at such time is not increased.
Section 6.02 Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.
The Company shall not directly or indirectly, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly to, engage in the sale or transfer of any Principal Property to a Person and the taking back by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of a lease of such Principal Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, unless:
(a) such transaction was entered into prior to date of this First Supplemental Indenture;
(b) the Person purchasing the Principal Property and transferring it back to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the Company, the Issuer (if not the Company) or a Subsidiary of the Company;
(c) such transaction involves a lease for not more than three years;
(d) such transaction occurs within 12 months from the date of acquisition of the subject Principal Property or the date of the completion of construction or commencement of full operations of such Principal Property, whichever is later;
(e) the Company or such Subsidiary under Sections 6.01(a) through (i) of this First Supplemental Indenture may incur Attributable Debt secured by a Lien with respect to such sale and leaseback transaction without equally and ratably securing the Notes; or
(f) the Company or such Subsidiary applies an amount equal to the net proceeds from the sale of such Principal Property to the purchase of other property or assets used or useful in its business or to the retirement of Funded Debt within 12 months before or after the effective date of any such sale and leaseback transaction; provided that, in lieu of applying such amount to the retirement of Funded Debt, the Company or such Subsidiary may deliver any of the Notes in equal principal amount to the Trustee and the Registrar for cancellation, such Notes to be credited to the amount of net proceeds from the sale of such property or assets at the cost of acquisition of such Notes to the Company or such Subsidiary.
Section 6.03 Exceptions.
(a) Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in Section 6.01 of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Company and its Subsidiaries will be permitted to incur, issue, assume or guarantee Indebtedness secured by a Lien on any Principal Property or on any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company owning any Principal Property which would otherwise be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6.01 of this First Supplemental Indenture without equally and ratably securing the Notes and the Securities Guarantees, if as of
41
the time of such incurrence, issuance, assumption or guarantee, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness secured by Liens on any Principal Property or on any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company owning any Principal Property (not including Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted under clauses (a) through (i) of Section 6.01), together (without duplication) with the aggregate amount of Attributable Debt outstanding in respect of sale and leaseback transactions entered into pursuant Section 6.03(b), does not at the time exceed 15% of Consolidated Total Assets of the Company calculated as of the time of such incurrence, issuance, assumption or guarantee of secured Indebtedness.
(b) Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in Section 6.02 of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Company and its Subsidiaries may enter into any sale and leaseback transaction which would otherwise be prohibited by Section 6.02, if as of the time of entering into such sale and leaseback transaction, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt with respect to sale and leaseback transactions (not including Attributable Debt with respect to sale and leaseback transactions permitted under clauses (a) through (f) of Section 6.02), together (without duplication) with the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness secured by Liens on any Principal Property or on any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company owning any Principal Property outstanding pursuant to Section 6.03(a), does not at the time exceed 15% of Consolidated Total Assets of the Company calculated as of the time of entry into such sale and leaseback transaction.
Section 6.04 Reports.
(a) The Company will provide the Trustee with copies of its annual report and the information, documents and other reports which the Company files with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, within 15 days after the Company files such annual report, documents and other reports with the SEC. In addition, the Company will comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The requirement for the Company to provide such reports, documents and information pursuant to this Section 6.04 may be satisfied by filing of such reports, documents and information via the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor electronic filing system) or posting such reports, documents and information on its website, in each case within the time periods specified herein.
(c) Delivery of such reports, information and documents pursuant to this Section 6.04 to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt thereof will not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s or any other person’s compliance with any of the covenants under the Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee will not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s or any other person’s compliance with any of the covenants described herein and in the Base Indenture or to determine whether such reports, information or documents have been filed via the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor electronic filing system) or posted on any website or other online data system or to participate in any conference calls.
42
(d) If, in connection with the Separation, the Company is contributed to or otherwise becomes a wholly-owned Subsidiary of another Person, such Person guarantees the Notes and such Person files reports with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (such Person, “New Parent Guarantor”), then for so long as the New Parent Guarantor is a guarantor of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture, New Parent Guarantor shall be deemed the Company for all purposes of this Section 6.04.
(e) In addition, unless it is then subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(d) or 15 of the Exchange Act, the Company, KDP Parent or the New Parent Guarantor, as applicable, will, upon request, furnish to any prospective purchaser of the Notes or beneficial owner of the Notes in connection with any sale thereof the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act, so long as any Notes remain outstanding and constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act.
Section 6.05 Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets of KDP Parent.
(a) Prior to the Separation, KDP Parent will not consolidate or combine with or merge with or into or, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, convey, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person or Persons in a single transaction or through a series of transactions, unless:
(i) KDP Parent shall be the successor or continuing person or, if KDP Parent is not the successor or continuing person, the resulting, surviving or transferee person (the “surviving parent entity”) is a company organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that expressly assumes all of KDP Parent’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee;
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and
(iii) KDP Parent or the surviving parent entity will have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that the transaction or series of transactions and a supplemental indenture, if any, complies with the Indenture.
(b) If, prior to the Separation, any consolidation or merger or any sale, assignment, conveyance, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of KDP Parent’s assets occurs in accordance with the Indenture, the surviving parent entity will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of KDP Parent under the Indenture with the same effect as if such surviving parent entity had been named as KDP Parent. KDP Parent will (except in the case of a lease) be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and any debt securities issued thereunder.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in the Indenture to the contrary, KDP Parent may merge or consolidate into or with the Company or any other Guarantor.
43
(d) Notwithstanding anything in the Indenture to the contrary, the consummation of the Separation, and any action taken by any of KDP Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries that is required in connection with or incidental to the Separation, shall not be deemed, individually or in the aggregate, to be a sale, assignment, conveyance, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of KDP Parent or the Company to any Person or Persons.
ARTICLE VII
AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND; SECURITIES GUARANTEE
Section 7.01 Agreements to be Bound. Each Guarantor hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Guarantor and as such shall have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture. The Guarantors agree to be bound by all of the provisions of the Indenture applicable to a Guarantor and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
Section 7.02 Guarantees. Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees, jointly and severally with each other Guarantor, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Maturity, by redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the other guaranteed obligations of the Company set forth in Article X of the Base Indenture. The terms of each Securities Guarantee are more fully set forth in Article X of the Base Indenture and this Article VII, and each Guarantor agrees to be bound by such terms.
Section 7.03 Release and Discharge. Notwithstanding Section 10.3(b) of the Base Indenture, the Securities Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, without the consent of the Holders, and no further action by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee shall be required for such release and discharge (unless the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing that no release and discharge shall occur as a result thereof):
(a) (i) prior to the Separation, upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of such Guarantor (other than KDP Parent) to a person or entity other than KDP Parent or any of KDP Parent’s Subsidiaries in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture and (ii) following the Separation, upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of such Guarantor to a Person other than the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture;
(b) in the case of the Parent Guarantor, if applicable, upon any merger or consolidation of the Parent Guarantor with the Company in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture;
44
(c) upon the Company’s exercise of its legal defeasance option under Section 8.2 of the Base Indenture in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture;
(d) with respect to the Securities Guarantee of JDE Peet’s only (to the extent the JDE Peet’s Guarantee Trigger Date has occurred), immediately upon such time as (i) no more than $1,000 million in aggregate principal amount of Capital Markets Indebtedness issued by JDE Peet’s remains outstanding and (ii) after giving effect to such release and any other releases effected prior to or substantially concurrently therewith, JDE Peet’s would not be required to guarantee any series of Notes pursuant to Section 7.04 hereof; or
(e) with respect to the Securities Guarantees of KDP Parent and the KDP Guarantors only, immediately upon the occurrence of the Separation.
Section 7.04 Future Guarantors.
(a) Prior to the occurrence of the Separation, KDP Parent shall cause any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company) that guarantee, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness of KDP Parent to, within 30 days of incurrence of such guarantee, execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplement to the Indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will guarantee payment of the Notes of each series on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in the Indenture. Thereafter, such Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of the Indenture until such Securities Guarantee is released in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
(b) From the occurrence of the Separation, the Company shall cause any Subsidiary of the Company that guarantees, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness of the Company to, within 30 days of incurrence of such guarantee, execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplement to the Indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will guarantee payment of the Notes of each series on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in the Indenture. Thereafter, such Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of the Indenture until such Securities Guarantee is released in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
(c) No later than the JDE Peet’s Guarantee Trigger Date, the Company shall cause JDE Peet’s to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplement to the Indenture pursuant to which JDE Peet’s will guarantee payment of the Notes on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in the Indenture. Thereafter, JDE Peet’s shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of the Indenture until such Securities Guarantee is released in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
45
ARTICLE VIII
INTEREST RATE ADJUSTMENTS
Section 8.01 Interest Rate Adjustments Based on Rating Events.
(a) Subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 8.01, if the rating of a series of Notes from one or both of Moody’s or S&P (or, if applicable, any Substitute Rating Agency) is decreased to a rating set forth in the immediately following table (the “Interest Rate Adjustment Table”), the interest rate of such series of Notes will increase from the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance by an amount equal to the percentage set forth opposite such rating:
| Moody’s Rating* |
S&P Rating* |
Percentage | ||
| Ba1 | BB+ | 0.25% | ||
| Ba2 | BB | 0.50% | ||
| Ba3 | BB- | 0.75% | ||
| B1 or below | B+ or below | 1.00% |
| * | Including the equivalent ratings of any Substitute Rating Agency. |
(b) Each adjustment required by any decrease or increase in a rating set forth in the Interest Rate Adjustment Table, whether occasioned by the action of Moody’s or S&P (or, in either case, any Substitute Rating Agency), shall be made independent of any and all other adjustments.
(c) No adjustment in the interest rate on any series of Notes shall be made solely as a result of an Interest Rate Rating Agency ceasing to provide a rating on such series of Notes. If at any time fewer than two Interest Rate Rating Agencies provide a rating on any series of Notes for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a rating on such series of Notes from a Substitute Rating Agency, in which case, for purposes of determining any increase or decrease in the per annum interest rate on such series of Notes pursuant to the Interest Rate Adjustment Table, (1) such Substitute Rating Agency will be substituted for the last Interest Rate Rating Agency to provide a rating on such series of Notes but which has since ceased to provide such rating, (2) the relative ratings scale used by such Substitute Rating Agency to assign ratings to senior unsecured debt will be determined in good faith by an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company and, for purposes of determining the applicable ratings included in the table above with respect to such Substitute Rating Agency, such ratings shall be deemed to be the equivalent ratings used by Moody’s or S&P, as applicable, in such table, and (3) any increase or decrease in the interest rate on such series of Notes as a result of an upgrade or downgrade by such Substitute Rating Agency will be determined by reference to the appropriate percentage, if any, set forth opposite the deemed equivalent rating from such Substitute Rating Agency in the Interest Rate Adjustment Table (taking into account the provisions of clause (2) of this Section 8.01(c)) (plus any applicable percentage resulting from a decreased or subsequently increased rating by the other Interest Rate Rating Agency).
(d) For so long as (a) only one Interest Rate Rating Agency provides a rating on any series of Notes, any increase or decrease in the interest rate on such series of Notes necessitated by a decrease or increase in the applicable rating by that Interest Rate Rating Agency shall be twice the applicable percentage set forth in the Interest Rate Adjustment Table and (b) no Interest Rate Rating Agency provides a rating on any series of Notes, the interest rate on such series of Notes will increase to, or remain at, as the case may be, 2.00% above the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance.
46
(e) In no event shall (x) the interest rate for any series of Notes be reduced to below the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance or (y) the total increase in the interest rate on such series of Notes exceed 2.00% above the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance pursuant to this Section 8.01.
(f) If Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate any series of Notes or make a rating of such series of Notes publicly available for reasons within the Company’s control, the Company will not be entitled to obtain a rating from a Substitute Rating Agency and the increase or decrease in the per annum interest rate on such series of Notes shall be determined in the manner described in this Section 8.01 as if either only one or no Interest Rate Rating Agency provides a rating on such series of Notes, as the case may be.
(g) If at any time the interest rate on any series of Notes has been adjusted upward and any Interest Rate Rating Agency subsequently increases its rating of such series of Notes, the interest rate on such series of Notes will be decreased such that the interest rate on such series of Notes equals the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance plus the applicable percentages set forth opposite the ratings in effect immediately following the increase in the Interest Rate Adjustment Table; provided that if Moody’s (or any Substitute Rating Agency) subsequently increases its rating on such series of Notes to “Baa3” or higher (or its equivalent, in the case of any Substitute Rating Agency) and if S&P (or any Substitute Rating Agency) subsequently increases its rating on such series of Notes to “BBB-” or higher (or its equivalent, in the case of any Substitute Rating Agency), the per annum interest rate on such series of Notes will be decreased to the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance.
(h) Any interest rate increase or decrease described above will take effect from the first day of the first interest payment period following the interest payment period during which a rating change occurs that requires an adjustment in the interest rate. As such, interest will not accrue at such increased or decreased rate until the next interest payment date following the date on which a rating change occurs.
(i) If any Interest Rate Rating Agency changes its rating of any series of Notes more than once during any particular interest period, the last such change by such agency to occur will control in the event of a conflict for purposes of any interest rate increase or decrease with respect to such series of Notes pursuant to this Section 8.01.
(j) The interest rate on any series of Notes shall permanently cease to be subject to any adjustment pursuant to this Section 8.01 (notwithstanding any subsequent decrease in the ratings by any Interest Rate Rating Agency) if such series of Notes become rated “Baa1” or higher (or its equivalent, in the case of any Substitute Rating Agency) by Moody’s (or any Substitute Rating Agency) and “BBB+” or higher (or its equivalent, in the case of any Substitute Rating Agency) by S&P (or any Substitute Rating Agency), or one of those ratings if rated by only one Interest Rate Rating Agency, with a stable or positive outlook.
47
(k) If the interest rate payable on any series of Notes is increased pursuant to this Section 8.01 or the following Section 8.02, the term “interest”, as used with respect to such series of Notes, shall be deemed to include any such additional interest pursuant to this Section 8.01 or “Additional Interest” payable as a consequence of a “Registration Default,” in each case as defined in, and in accordance with, the Registration Rights Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires.
(l) The Company is solely responsible for calculating any adjustment of the interest rate. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing and the Paying Agent upon becoming aware of any change to the interest rate. In the case of Global Notes, any change to the interest rate shall be made in accordance with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall have any duty to calculate or verify the interest rate or to determine whether the interest rate should be adjusted or the amount of any such adjustment. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall have any obligation to independently determine or verify if an event has occurred or notify the Holders of any event dependent upon the rating of the Notes, or if the rating on the Notes has been changed, suspended or withdrawn by any Interest Rate Rating Agency.
Section 8.02 Registration Default.
(a) If a Registration Default occurs with respect to the Notes of a particular series that are registrable securities (as that term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), then additional interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Notes of such series that are registrable securities at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period beginning on the day immediately following such Registration Default (which rate will be increased by an additional 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 90-day period that such additional interest continues to accrue, provided that the rate at which such additional interest accrues may in no event exceed 1.00% per annum) (the “Additional Interest”). The Additional Interest will cease to accrue when the Registration Default is cured in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement. The foregoing amounts shall not increase, even if more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Holder of Notes who is not entitled to the benefits of the shelf registration statement shall not be entitled to any increase in the interest rate borne by the Notes as a result of a registration default that pertains to the shelf registration statement. Any amounts of Additional Interest due will be payable in cash on the same original interest payment dates as interest on the Notes is payable. For the avoidance of doubt, no Additional Interest shall be required to be paid unless such Additional Interest is required to be paid under the Registration Rights Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS; TAX REDEMPTION; SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 9.01 Payment of Additional Amounts.
(a) All payments of principal and interest by or on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor in respect of the Notes or in respect of any Securities Guarantees shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges of whatsoever nature imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States or any other jurisdiction from or through which payments are made (the “Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction”) (collectively, “Taxes”), unless such withholding or deduction is required by law.
48
(b) In the event such withholding or deduction of Taxes is required by law, subject to the limitations described below, the Company shall pay to the Holder or beneficial owner of any Note such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary in order that every net payment by the Company or any paying agent of principal of or interest on the Notes (including upon redemption), after deduction or withholding for or on account of such Taxes, will not be less than the amount provided for in such Note to be then due and payable before deduction or withholding for or on account of such Taxes.
(c) The Company’s obligation to pay Additional Amounts shall not apply to:
(i) any Taxes which would not have been so imposed but for:
(1) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder or beneficial owner (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder or other equity owner of, or a person having a power over, such holder or beneficial owner, if such Holder or beneficial owner is an estate, a trust, a limited liability company, a partnership, a corporation or other entity) and the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, including, without limitation, such holder or beneficial owner (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or other equity owner or person having such a power) being or having been a citizen or resident or treated as a resident of the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or being or having been present in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or having had a permanent establishment in the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, except, in each case, for any connection arising from the acquisition, ownership or disposition of Notes, the receipt of payments thereunder, or under any Securities Guarantees, or the enforcement of rights in respect of any Notes or any Securities Guarantees;
(2) the failure of such Holder or beneficial owner to comply with any requirement under Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction’s tax laws and regulations to establish entitlement to a relief or exemption from such Taxes (including, but not limited to, the requirement to provide Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E, Form W-8ECI, or any subsequent versions thereof or successor thereto) but only to the extent the Holder or beneficial owner is legally entitled to provide any required certification or documentation; or
(3) such Holder’s or beneficial owner’s present or former status as a personal holding company or a foreign personal holding company with respect to the United States, as a controlled foreign corporation with respect to the United States, as a passive foreign investment company with respect to the United States, as a foreign tax exempt organization with respect to the United States or as a corporation which accumulates earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;
49
(ii) any United States Taxes imposed by reason of the Holder or beneficial owner:
(1) owning or having owned, directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the Company’s stock,
(2) being a bank receiving interest described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, or
(3) being a controlled foreign corporation with respect to the United States that is related to the Company by stock ownership;
(iii) any Taxes which would not have been so imposed but for the presentation by the Holder or beneficial owner of such Note for payment on a date more than 10 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment of the Note is duly provided for and notice is given to Holders, whichever occurs later, except to the extent that the Holder or beneficial owner would have been entitled to such additional amounts on presenting such Note on any date during such 10-day period;
(iv) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property, wealth, interest equalization or similar Taxes;
(v) any Taxes which are payable otherwise than by withholding from payment of principal of or interest on such Note;
(vi) any Taxes which are payable by a Holder that is not the beneficial owner of the Note, or a portion of the Note, or that is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or other similar entity, but only to the extent that a beneficial owner, a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or member of such partnership, limited liability company or similar entity would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had such beneficial owner, settlor, beneficiary or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment;
(vii) any Taxes required to be withheld from any payment of principal of or interest on any Note by any paying agent to whom such Note was presented for payment by the holder or beneficial owner of such Note, if such holder or beneficial owner would have been able to avoid such withholding by presenting the Note to any other paying agent;
(viii) any Taxes imposed under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (or any amended or successor provisions that are substantively comparable) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof;
(ix) any Taxes imposed, withheld or deducted from the Dutch Withholding Tax Act 2021 (Wet bronbelasting 2021);
50
(x) in the case of a holder that is a U.S. Person (as defined in the Code), any Taxes imposed by the United States or a political subdivision thereof; or
(xi) any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix) and (x).
(d) For purposes of this Article IX, the acquisition, ownership, enforcement or holding of or the receipt of any payment with respect to a Note will not constitute a connection (1) between the Holder or beneficial owner and the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction or (2) between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder or other equity owner of, or a person having a power over, such Holder or beneficial owner if such Holder or beneficial owner is an estate, a trust, a limited liability company, a partnership, a corporation or other entity and the Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction.
(e) Any reference in the Indenture or in the Notes to principal or interest shall be deemed to refer also to Additional Amounts which may be payable under the provisions of this Article IX.
(f) Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent (except where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is acting as Paying Agent) will have any obligation to calculate or verify the calculation of Additional Amounts.
(g) Except as specifically provided in the Indenture or the Notes, the Company shall not be required to make any payment with respect to any tax, duty, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States.
Section 9.02 Redemption for Changes in Taxes.
(a) If the Company has or will become obliged to pay Additional Amounts as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of any Relevant Taxing Jurisdiction, or any change in official position regarding the application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after March 12, 2026 (the “Change in Tax Law”), and the Company determines that such obligation cannot be avoided by the use of reasonable measures then available to the Company, the Company may, at its option, at any time, having given not less than 10 nor more than 90 days’ prior written notice to Holders, redeem, in whole, but not in part, the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes being redeemed to, but not including, the redemption date, provided that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company would be obliged to pay such Additional Amounts if a payment in respect to the Notes were due on such date.
(b) Prior to the transmission or publication of any notice of redemption pursuant to this Section 9.02, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by an Officer of the Company stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to its right to so redeem the Notes has occurred.
51
(c) This Section 9.02 will apply, mutatis mutandis, to any successor of the Company (or any Guarantor) with respect to a Change in Tax Law occurring after the time such Person becomes successor to the Company (or any Guarantor).
Section 9.03 Satisfaction and Discharge.
Solely as it relates to the Notes issued under this First Supplemental Indenture, Section 11.1 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
“Section 11.1 Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Securities of any series issued hereunder (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities and as otherwise specified hereunder), when:
(a) either:
(i) all Securities of such series that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Securities that have been replaced or paid and Securities of such series for whose payment money has been deposited with the Trustee in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee and the Registrar for cancellation; or
(ii) all Securities of such series that have not been delivered to the Trustee and the Registrar for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust or the Paying Agent solely for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series, cash in euros, non-callable European Government Securities, or a combination of cash in euros and non-callable European Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not delivered to the Trustee and the Registrar for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the date of maturity or redemption;
(b) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such series has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(c) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it hereunder with respect to such series;
(d) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee hereunder to apply or cause to be applied the deposited money toward the payment of such Securities at fixed maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be; and
52
(e) the Company has delivered to the Trustee and the Paying Agent an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which state that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such series have been satisfied.”
ARTICLE X
PAYING AGENT MATTERS
Section 10.01 BRRD and Other Regulatory Matters.
(a) The Paying Agent is authorized and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (“CBOI”). It is additionally authorized by the UK Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”) and its activities in the UK are subject to limited regulation by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) and the PRA.
(b) In connection with the worldwide effort against the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, the Paying Agent may be required under various national laws and regulations to which they are subject to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account with it. For a non-individual person such as a business entity, a charity, a trust or other legal entity the Paying Agent shall be entitled to ask for documentation to verify such entity’s formation and legal existence as well as financial statements, licenses, identification and authorization documents from individuals claiming authority to represent the entity or other relevant documentation.
(c) The parties to this First Supplemental Indenture acknowledge and agree that the obligations of the Paying Agent under this First Supplemental Indenture are limited by and subject to compliance by them with EU and US Federal anti-money laundering statutes and regulations. If the Paying Agent or any of their directors know or suspect that a payment is the proceeds of criminal conduct, such person is required to report such information pursuant to the applicable authorities and such report shall not be treated as a breach by such person of any confidentiality covenant or other restriction imposed on such person under this First Supplemental Indenture, by law or otherwise on the disclosure of information. The Paying Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against all losses suffered by them that may arise as a result of the agents being prevented from fulfilling their obligations hereunder due to the extent doing so would not be consistent with applicable statutory anti-money laundering requirements.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this First Supplemental Indenture or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of the Paying Agent arising under this First Supplemental Indenture or any such other document, to the extent such liability is unsecured or not otherwise exempted, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of a Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
53
(i) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by a Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto; and
(ii) the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(1) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(2) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such party, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this First Supplemental Indenture or any other agreement; or
(3) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the write-down and conversion powers of any Resolution Authority.
Section 10.02 Agency Agreement. To the extent any provision under this First Supplemental Indenture conflicts with the express provisions of the Agency Agreement with respect to the rights, privileges, indemnities, duties or obligations of the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar or any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors or representatives (collectively, the “Agent Parties”), the provisions of the Agency Agreement shall govern and be controlling. The Agent Parties shall be obliged to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth herein, the Agency Agreement and in the Notes, and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this First Supplemental Indenture, the Notes against the Agent Parties or the Agency Agreement. In acting hereunder, each of the Paying Agent, the Registrar and the Transfer Agent shall be entitled to all of the rights, privileges, protections, indemnities, immunities and benefits afforded to the Paying Agent, Registrar, or Transfer Agent, as applicable, under the Indenture and the Agency Agreement, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, as if set forth herein in full.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01 Ratification of Indenture.
This First Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplement to the Base Indenture, and as supplemented and modified hereby, the Base Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.
54
Section 11.02 Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this First Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision that is required or deemed to be included in this First Supplemental Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the required or deemed provision shall control.
Section 11.03 Notices.
All notices and other communications shall be given as provided in the Base Indenture; provided that notices to a Guarantor shall be given to such Guarantor in care of the Company; provided further that any notice or communication mailed to the Company, the Paying Agent or the Trustee shall be addressed as follows:
if to the Company:
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
Attention: Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel
if to the Trustee:
U.S. Bank Trust Company National Association
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
if to the Paying Agent:
U.S. Bank Europe DAC, UK Branch
125 Old Broad Street, Fifth Floor
London
EC2N 1AR
United Kingdom
Section 11.04 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.
THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS, THE PAYING AGENT AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE SECURITIES GUARANTEES AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
55
Section 11.05 Successors.
All agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind their successors. All agreements of the Paying Agent and the Trustee (in each of its capacities) in this First Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.
Section 11.06 Multiple Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this First Supplemental Indenture.
Section 11.07 Headings.
The headings of the Articles and Sections of this First Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 11.08 Trustee and Paying Agent Not Responsible for Recitals.
The recitals contained herein shall be taken as statements of the Company and the Guarantors, and neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent makes any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture, except that the Trustee and the Paying Agent each represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture and perform its obligations hereunder. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee (in any of its capacities hereunder) or the Paying Agent by reason of this First Supplemental Indenture. In acting hereunder and with respect to the Notes, each of the Company, the Guarantors, the Paying Agent and the Trustee acknowledges and agrees that all of the rights, privileges, protections, indemnities, immunities and benefits afforded to the Trustee under the Indenture, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are deemed to be incorporated herein, and shall be enforceable by the Paying Agent hereunder and the Trustee hereunder, in each of its capacities hereunder, as if set forth herein in full.
Section 11.09 Force Majeure.
In no event shall the Trustee or the Paying Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, (i) any act or provision of present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, (ii) labor disputes, strikes or work stoppages, (iii) accidents, (iv) acts of war or terrorism, (v) civil or military disturbances or unrest, (vi) nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, (vii) epidemics or pandemics, (viii) disease, (ix) national emergency, (x) interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or
56
computer (software and hardware) services, (xi) communications system failure, (xii) malware or ransomware, (xiii) the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire, telex or other communication or wire facility or (xiv) unavailability of any securities clearing system; it being understood that the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall undertake commercially reasonable efforts to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 11.10 Damages.
In no event shall the Trustee or the Paying Agent be liable to any Person for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, lost profits), even if the Trustee or the Paying Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
Section 11.11 U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
The parties acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
Section 11.12 Electronic Signatures.
This First Supplemental Indenture and any certificate, agreement or other document to be signed in connection with this First Supplemental Indenture and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) an original manual signature, (ii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or (iii) in the case of this First Supplemental Indenture and any certificate, agreement or other document to be signed in connection with this First Supplemental Indenture and the transactions contemplated hereby, any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (collectively, “Signature Law”). Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. For avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the Uniform Commercial Code or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings. For the avoidance of doubt, all notices, approvals, consents, requests and any communications hereunder or with respect to the Notes must be in writing (provided that any communication sent to Trustee or the Paying Agent hereunder must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by DocuSign or Adobe (or such other digital signature provider as specified in writing to Trustee or
57
the Paying Agent (as applicable) by the authorized representative)), in English. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to Trustee or the Paying Agent, including without limitation the risk of Trustee or the Paying Agent acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
[Signature page follows]
58
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
| KDP PARENT: | ||
| KEURIG DR PEPPER INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
[Signature Page to the First Supplemental Indenture]
| GUARANTORS: | ||
| 234DP AVIATION, LLC | ||
| A & W CONCENTRATE COMPANY | ||
| BAI BRANDS LLC | ||
| BEVERAGES DELAWARE INC. | ||
| DP BEVERAGES INC. | ||
| DPS AMERICAS BEVERAGES, LLC | ||
| DPS BEVERAGES, INC. | ||
| DPS HOLDINGS INC. | ||
| DR PEPPER/SEVEN-UP BEVERAGE SALES COMPANY | ||
| DR PEPPER/SEVEN UP MANUFACTURING COMPANY | ||
| DR PEPPER/SEVEN UP, INC. | ||
| MOTT’S DELAWARE LLC | ||
| MOTT’S LLP | ||
| NANTUCKET ALLSERVE, LLC | ||
| SNAPPLE BEVERAGE CORP. | ||
| SPLASH TRANSPORT, INC. | ||
| THE AMERICAN BOTTLING COMPANY | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
[Signature Page to the First Supplemental Indenture]
| TRUSTEE, REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT: | ||
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee, Registrar and Transfer Agent | ||
| By: | /s/ James Byrnes | |
| Name: James Byrnes | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
| PAYING AGENT: | ||
| U.S. BANK EUROPE DAC, UK BRANCH, as Paying Agent | ||
| By: | /s/ Shobita Choudhury | |
| Name: Shobita Choudhury | ||
| Title: Authorised Signatory | ||
[Signature Page to the First Supplemental Indenture]
SCHEDULE I
LIST OF GUARANTORS
| 234DP Aviation, LLC |
| A & W Concentrate Company |
| Bai Brands LLC |
| Beverages Delaware Inc. |
| DP Beverages Inc. |
| DPS Americas Beverages, LLC |
| DPS Beverages, Inc. |
| DPS Holdings Inc. |
| Dr Pepper/Seven-Up Beverage Sales Company |
| Dr Pepper/Seven Up Manufacturing Company |
| Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. |
| Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. |
| Mott’s Delaware LLC |
| Mott’s LLP |
| Nantucket Allserve LLC |
| Snapple Beverage Corp. |
| Splash Transport, Inc. |
| The American Bottling Company |
Schedule I-1
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE DUE 2028
[Insert Global Notes Legend, if applicable]
[Insert Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable]
CUSIP NO. [56530K AE6][U5649L AE6]
ISIN NO. [XS3320664637][XS3320664470]
COMMON CODE [332066463][332066447]
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
3.495% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2028
€__________ No.: [A][S]-__
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to USB Nominees (UK) Limited, or its registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________ EURO or such other Principal Amount as shall be set forth on Schedule I hereto on March 26, 2028 and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 3.495% per annum from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on March 26 of each year, commencing March 26, 2027 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest rate on the Notes is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Indenture. The Company may be obligated to pay Additional Amounts in the circumstances specified in the First Supplemental Indenture.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered (a) on the immediately preceding business day of Euroclear and Clearstream for so long as the 2028 Notes are represented by Global Notes or (b) on the immediately preceding March 11 if the 2028 Notes are not represented by Global Notes, as the case may be (each, a “Regular Record Date”), immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and either may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to the Indenture (initially the Corporate Trust Office), in Euro as at the time of payment
A-1
is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Payments of principal and interest at maturity will be made against presentation of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office (or such other office as may be established pursuant to the Indenture), by wire transfer.
Principal and interest on the Notes, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase of the Notes, shall be payable in Euro, subject to the substitution of the U.S. dollar as the currency for all payments in respect of such Notes following the occurrence of certain events beyond the Company’s control as described in the Indenture.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse side hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an authenticating agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[Signature Pages Follow]
A-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed in its name by the manual or facsimile signature of two of its Officers.
Date: March 26, 2026
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Anthony DiSilvestro | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
A-3
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: March 26, 2026
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Officer | ||
A-4
(Reverse of Note)
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
3.495% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2028
1. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company designated as its 3.495% Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”) limited in aggregate principal amount to €__________ issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture), and the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as so supplemented and as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors named therein, the Trustee, Registrar and Transfer Agent and the Paying Agent. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof and interest thereon (including post-default interest), will constitute unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s current and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
2. The Notes are subject to redemption at any time and from time to time prior to the maturity date, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| (i) | (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the maturity date) on an annual basis (ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA)) at the Comparable Government Bond Rate plus 20 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and |
| (ii) | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
“Comparable Government Bond” means, with respect to the Notes to be redeemed prior to the maturity date, in relation to any Comparable Government Bond Rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by the Company, a bond that is a direct obligation of the Federal Republic of Germany (a “German government bond”) whose maturity is closest to the maturity date of the Notes to be redeemed, or if such independent investment bank in its discretion determines that such similar bond is not in issue, such other German government bond as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, German government bonds selected by the Company, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate.
A-5
“Comparable Government Bond Rate” means the yield to maturity, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, with 0.0005 being rounded upwards), on the third business day prior to the date fixed for redemption, of the Comparable Government Bond on the basis of the middle market price of the Comparable Government Bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such business day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by the Company, and calculated in accordance with generally accepted market practice at such time. The term “independent investment bank” means an independent investment banking institution of international standing appointed by the Company from time to time.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Notice of any redemption will be first-class mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. If and for so long as the Notes are listed on the Official List of the Exchange and if and to the extent the rules of the Authority so require, the Company will notify the Authority of any such notice to the holders of the Notes and, in connection with any redemption of the Notes, the Company will notify the Authority of any change in the principal amount of Notes outstanding. Any notice to Holders of Notes of a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 2 hereof will include, among other things set forth in the Indenture, the redemption date, the redemption price, the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date, and conditions applicable to redemption and the name and address of the Paying Agent.
In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of €100,000 or less will be redeemed in part unless otherwise required by law. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation to the Trustee and the Registrar of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by the Common Depositary, the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
3. If a Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem the outstanding Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price. The Company may redeem all, but not part, of the Notes upon the occurrence of specified tax events as described in the First Supplemental Indenture.
A-6
4. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless all Notes have been called for redemption pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Note, each Holder of the Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of €1,000) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase. “Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event, as such terms are defined in the Indenture. The Change of Control Offer will be made in accordance with the terms specified in the Indenture.
5. The payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors, if any, on the terms set forth in the Indenture.
6. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
7. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
8. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
9. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, and duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
10. The Notes are issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of €100,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of €1,000 in book-entry form only. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes in authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
A-7
11. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Paying Agent and/or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
12. Prior to the due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
13. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of (i) the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and (ii) the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes (or from and including the original issue date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the applicable series of Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled Interest Payment Date or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the succeeding Business Day and Holders will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment as a result of such delay. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association. The rights of Holders of beneficial interests of Notes to receive the payments of interest on such Notes are subject to the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream.
14. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Securities Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be effective to waive or release liabilities under the federal securities laws.
16. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
17. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUT (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
18. Each Holder of this Note covenants and agrees by such Holder’s acceptance thereof to comply with and be bound by the foregoing provisions.
19. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
A-8
20. All capitalized terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
A-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ___________________________________ attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: __________________________
Signature: ____________________________
| NOTICE: | THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. |
Signature Guarantee:
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A-10
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is [one year]1 [40 days]2 after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
| (1) | ☐ to the Company; or |
| (2) | ☐ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or |
| (3) | ☐ inside the United States to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or |
| (4) | ☐ to a non-United States person outside the United States in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
| (5) | ☐ pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirement of the Securities Act. |
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
|
| ||
| Signature |
| 1 | Rule 144A notes only |
| 2 | Regulation S notes only |
A-11
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH
TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]3
[Date]
Attention:
Re: Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”)
3.495% Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale or other transfer of €__________________ aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
| (1) | the offer of the Notes was not made to a Person in the United States; |
| (2) | either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any Person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any Person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States; |
| (3) | no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable; |
| (4) | the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and |
| (5) | we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes. |
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| [Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signature | ||
| 3 | Regulation S notes only |
A-12
[FORM OF EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE]4
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Transfer Agent
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
| Re: | Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) |
3.495% Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”) and the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, as issuer, the guarantors named therein, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, registrar and transfer agent and U.S. Bank Europe DAC, UK Branch, as paying agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Notes or an interest in the Notes, in the principal amount of €__________ in such Notes or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that in connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Regulation S Global Note for a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Notes or interest in the Notes are being transferred to a Person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company and are dated ______________________.
| [Insert Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Dated: ______________________
| 4 | Regulation S notes only |
A-13
Schedule I
SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES
The following increases or decreases in Principal Amount of this Global Security have been made:
| Date of Exchange |
Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Amount of Increase in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Principal Amount of this Global Security following such Decrease or Increase |
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Trustee or Common Depositary | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
A-14
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE DUE 2030
[Insert Global Notes Legend, if applicable]
[Insert Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable]
CUSIP NO. [56530K AF3][U5649L AF3]
ISIN NO. [XS3320664983][XS3320664710]
COMMON CODE [332066498][332066471]
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
3.881% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2030
€__________ No.: [A][S]-__
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to USB Nominees (UK) Limited, or its registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________ EURO or such other Principal Amount as shall be set forth on Schedule I hereto on March 26, 2030 and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 3.881% per annum from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on March 26 of each year, commencing March 26, 2027 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest rate on the Notes is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Indenture. The Company may be obligated to pay Additional Amounts in the circumstances specified in the First Supplemental Indenture.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered (a) on the immediately preceding business day of Euroclear and Clearstream for so long as the 2030 Notes are represented by Global Notes or (b) on the immediately preceding March 11 if the 2030 Notes are not represented by Global Notes, as the case may be (each, a “Regular Record Date”), immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and either may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to the Indenture (initially the Corporate Trust Office), in Euro as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Payments of principal and interest at maturity will be made against presentation of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office (or such other office as may be established pursuant to the Indenture), by wire transfer.
B-1
Principal and interest on the Notes, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase of the Notes, shall be payable in Euro, subject to the substitution of the U.S. dollar as the currency for all payments in respect of such Notes following the occurrence of certain events beyond the Company’s control as described in the Indenture.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse side hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an authenticating agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[Signature Pages Follow]
B-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed in its name by the manual or facsimile signature of two of its Officers.
Date: March 26, 2026
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Anthony DiSilvestro | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
B-3
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: March 26, 2026
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Officer | ||
B-4
(Reverse of Note)
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
3.881% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2030
1. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company designated as its 3.881% Senior Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”) limited in aggregate principal amount to €__________ issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture), and the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as so supplemented and as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors named therein, the Trustee, Registrar and Transfer Agent and the Paying Agent. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof and interest thereon (including post-default interest), will constitute unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s current and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
2. The Notes are subject to redemption at any time and from time to time prior to the Par Call Date, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| (i) | (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on an annual basis (ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA)) at the Comparable Government Bond Rate plus 25 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and |
| (ii) | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
“Par Call Date” means February 26, 2030.
B-5
“Comparable Government Bond” means, with respect to the Notes to be redeemed prior to the applicable Par Call Date, in relation to any Comparable Government Bond Rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by the Company, a bond that is a direct obligation of the Federal Republic of Germany (a “German government bond”) whose maturity is closest to the Par Call Date of the Notes to be redeemed, or if such independent investment bank in its discretion determines that such similar bond is not in issue, such other German government bond as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, German government bonds selected by the Company, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate.
“Comparable Government Bond Rate” means the yield to maturity, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, with 0.0005 being rounded upwards), on the third business day prior to the date fixed for redemption, of the Comparable Government Bond on the basis of the middle market price of the Comparable Government Bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such business day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by the Company, and calculated in accordance with generally accepted market practice at such time. The term “independent investment bank” means an independent investment banking institution of international standing appointed by the Company from time to time.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Notice of any redemption will be first-class mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. If and for so long as the Notes are listed on the Official List of the Exchange and if and to the extent the rules of the Authority so require, the Company will notify the Authority of any such notice to the holders of the Notes and, in connection with any redemption of the Notes, the Company will notify the Authority of any change in the principal amount of Notes outstanding. Any notice to Holders of Notes of a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 2 hereof will include, among other things set forth in the Indenture, the redemption date, the redemption price, the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date, and conditions applicable to redemption and the name and address of the Paying Agent.
In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of €100,000 or less will be redeemed in part unless otherwise required by law. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation to the Trustee and the Registrar of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by the Common Depositary, the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
B-6
3. If a Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem the outstanding Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price. The Company may redeem all, but not part, of the Notes upon the occurrence of specified tax events as described in the First Supplemental Indenture.
4. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless all Notes have been called for redemption pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Note, each Holder of the Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of €1,000) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase. “Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event, as such terms are defined in the Indenture. The Change of Control Offer will be made in accordance with the terms specified in the Indenture.
5. The payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors, if any, on the terms set forth in the Indenture.
6. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
7. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
8. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
9. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, and duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
B-7
10. The Notes are issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of €100,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of €1,000 in book-entry form only. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes in authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
11. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Paying Agent and/or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
12. Prior to the due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
13. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of (i) the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and (ii) the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes (or from and including the original issue date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the applicable series of Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled Interest Payment Date or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the succeeding Business Day and Holders will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment as a result of such delay. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association. The rights of Holders of beneficial interests of Notes to receive the payments of interest on such Notes are subject to the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream.
14. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Securities Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be effective to waive or release liabilities under the federal securities laws.
16. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
17. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUT (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
B-8
18. Each Holder of this Note covenants and agrees by such Holder’s acceptance thereof to comply with and be bound by the foregoing provisions.
19. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. All capitalized terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
B-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ___________________________________ attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: __________________________
Signature: ____________________________
| NOTICE: | THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. |
Signature Guarantee:
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
B-10
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is [one year]5 [40 days]6 after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
| (1) | ☐ to the Company; or |
| (2) | ☐ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or |
| (3) | ☐ inside the United States to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or |
| (4) | ☐ to a non-United States person outside the United States in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
| (5) | ☐ pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirement of the Securities Act. |
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Signature |
| 5 | Rule 144A notes only |
| 6 | Regulation S notes only |
B-11
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH
TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]7
[Date]
Attention:
Re: Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”)
3.881% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale or other transfer of €__________________ aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
| (1) | the offer of the Notes was not made to a Person in the United States; |
| (2) | either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any Person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any Person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States; |
| (3) | no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable; |
| (4) | the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and |
| (5) | we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes. |
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| [Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signature | ||
| 7 | Regulation S notes only |
B-12
[FORM OF EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE]8
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Transfer Agent
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
| Re: | Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) |
3.881% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”) and the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, as issuer, the guarantors named therein, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, registrar and transfer agent and U.S. Bank Europe DAC, UK Branch, as paying agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Notes or an interest in the Notes, in the principal amount of €__________ in such Notes or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that in connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Regulation S Global Note for a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Notes or interest in the Notes are being transferred to a Person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company and are dated ______________________.
| [Insert Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Dated: ______________________
| 8 | Regulation S notes only |
B-13
Schedule I
SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES
The following increases or decreases in Principal Amount of this Global Security have been made:
| Date of Exchange |
Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Amount of Increase in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Principal Amount of this Global Security following such Decrease or Increase |
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Trustee or Common Depositary | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
B-14
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE DUE 2032
[Insert Global Notes Legend, if applicable]
[Insert Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable]
CUSIP NO. [56530K AG1][U5649L AG1]
ISIN NO. [XS3320665287][XS3320665014]
COMMON CODE [332066528][332066501]
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
4.224% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2032
€__________ No.: [A][S]-__
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to USB Nominees (UK) Limited, or its registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________ EURO or such other Principal Amount as shall be set forth on Schedule I hereto on March 26, 2032 and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 4.224% per annum from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on March 26 of each year, commencing March 26, 2027 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest rate on the Notes is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Indenture. The Company may be obligated to pay Additional Amounts in the circumstances specified in the First Supplemental Indenture.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered (a) on the immediately preceding business day of Euroclear and Clearstream for so long as the 2032 Notes are represented by Global Notes or (b) on the immediately preceding March 11 if the 2032 Notes are not represented by Global Notes, as the case may be (each, a “Regular Record Date”), immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and either may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to the Indenture (initially the Corporate Trust Office), in Euro as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Payments of principal and interest at maturity will be made against presentation of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office (or such other office as may be established pursuant to the Indenture), by wire transfer.
C-1
Principal and interest on the Notes, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase of the Notes, shall be payable in Euro, subject to the substitution of the U.S. dollar as the currency for all payments in respect of such Notes following the occurrence of certain events beyond the Company’s control as described in the Indenture.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse side hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an authenticating agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[Signature Pages Follow]
C-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed in its name by the manual or facsimile signature of two of its Officers.
Date: March 26, 2026
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Anthony DiSilvestro | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
C-3
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: March 26, 2026
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Officer | ||
C-4
(Reverse of Note)
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
4.224% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2032
1. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company designated as its 4.224% Senior Notes due 2032 (the “Notes”) limited in aggregate principal amount to €__________ issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture), and the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as so supplemented and as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors named therein, the Trustee, Registrar and Transfer Agent and the Paying Agent. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof and interest thereon (including post-default interest), will constitute unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s current and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
2. The Notes are subject to redemption at any time and from time to time prior to the Par Call Date, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| (i) | (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on an annual basis (ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA)) at the Comparable Government Bond Rate plus 25 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and |
| (ii) | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
“Par Call Date” means February 26, 2032.
C-5
“Comparable Government Bond” means, with respect to the Notes to be redeemed prior to the applicable Par Call Date, in relation to any Comparable Government Bond Rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by the Company, a bond that is a direct obligation of the Federal Republic of Germany (a “German government bond”) whose maturity is closest to the Par Call Date of the Notes to be redeemed, or if such independent investment bank in its discretion determines that such similar bond is not in issue, such other German government bond as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, German government bonds selected by the Company, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate.
“Comparable Government Bond Rate” means the yield to maturity, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, with 0.0005 being rounded upwards), on the third business day prior to the date fixed for redemption, of the Comparable Government Bond on the basis of the middle market price of the Comparable Government Bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such business day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by the Company, and calculated in accordance with generally accepted market practice at such time. The term “independent investment bank” means an independent investment banking institution of international standing appointed by the Company from time to time.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Notice of any redemption will be first-class mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. If and for so long as the Notes are listed on the Official List of the Exchange and if and to the extent the rules of the Authority so require, the Company will notify the Authority of any such notice to the holders of the Notes and, in connection with any redemption of the Notes, the Company will notify the Authority of any change in the principal amount of Notes outstanding. Any notice to Holders of Notes of a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 2 hereof will include, among other things set forth in the Indenture, the redemption date, the redemption price, the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date, and conditions applicable to redemption and the name and address of the Paying Agent.
In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of €100,000 or less will be redeemed in part unless otherwise required by law. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation to the Trustee and the Registrar of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by the Common Depositary, the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
C-6
3. If a Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem the outstanding Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price. The Company may redeem all, but not part, of the Notes upon the occurrence of specified tax events as described in the First Supplemental Indenture.
4. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless all Notes have been called for redemption pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Note, each Holder of the Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of €1,000) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase. “Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event, as such terms are defined in the Indenture. The Change of Control Offer will be made in accordance with the terms specified in the Indenture.
5. The payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors, if any, on the terms set forth in the Indenture.
6. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
7. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
8. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
9. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, and duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
C-7
10. The Notes are issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of €100,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of €1,000 in book-entry form only. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes in authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
11. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Paying Agent and/or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
12. Prior to the due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
13. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of (i) the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and (ii) the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes (or from and including the original issue date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the applicable series of Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled Interest Payment Date or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the succeeding Business Day and Holders will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment as a result of such delay. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association. The rights of Holders of beneficial interests of Notes to receive the payments of interest on such Notes are subject to the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream.
14. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Securities Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be effective to waive or release liabilities under the federal securities laws.
16. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
17. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUT (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
C-8
18. Each Holder of this Note covenants and agrees by such Holder’s acceptance thereof to comply with and be bound by the foregoing provisions.
19. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. All capitalized terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
C-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ___________________________________ attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: __________________________
Signature: ____________________________
| NOTICE: | THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. |
Signature Guarantee:
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
C-10
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is [one year]9 [40 days]10 after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
| (1) | ☐ to the Company; or |
| (2) | ☐ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or |
| (3) | ☐ inside the United States to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or |
| (4) | ☐ to a non-United States person outside the United States in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
| (5) | ☐ pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirement of the Securities Act. |
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Signature |
| 9 | Rule 144A notes only |
| 10 | Regulation S notes only |
C-11
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH
TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]11
[Date]
Attention:
Re: Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”)
4.224% Notes due 2032 (the “Notes”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale or other transfer of €__________________ aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
| (1) | the offer of the Notes was not made to a Person in the United States; |
| (2) | either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any Person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any Person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States; |
| (3) | no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable; |
| (4) | the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and |
| (5) | we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes. |
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| [Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signature | ||
| 11 | Regulation S notes only |
C-12
[FORM OF EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE]12
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Transfer Agent
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
| Re: | Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) |
4.224% Notes due 2032 (the “Notes”)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”) and the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, as issuer, the guarantors named therein, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, registrar and transfer agent and U.S. Bank Europe DAC, UK Branch, as paying agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Notes or an interest in the Notes, in the principal amount of €__________ in such Notes or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that in connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Regulation S Global Note for a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Notes or interest in the Notes are being transferred to a Person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company and are dated ______________________.
| [Insert Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Dated: ______________________
| 12 | Regulation S notes only |
C-13
Schedule I
SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES
The following increases or decreases in Principal Amount of this Global Security have been made:
| Date of Exchange |
Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Amount of Increase in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Principal |
Signature of | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
C-14
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE DUE 2035
[Insert Global Notes Legend, if applicable]
[Insert Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable]
CUSIP NO. [56530K AH9][U5649L AH9]
ISIN NO. [XS3320665527][XS3320665444]
COMMON CODE [332066552][332066544]
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
4.728% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2035
€__________ No.: [A][S]-__
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to USB Nominees (UK) Limited, or its registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________ EURO or such other Principal Amount as shall be set forth on Schedule I hereto on March 26, 2035 and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 4.728% per annum from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on March 26 of each year, commencing March 26, 2027 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest rate on the Notes is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Indenture. The Company may be obligated to pay Additional Amounts in the circumstances specified in the First Supplemental Indenture.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered (a) on the immediately preceding business day of Euroclear and Clearstream for so long as the 2035 Notes are represented by Global Notes or (b) on the immediately preceding March 11 if the 2035 Notes are not represented by Global Notes, as the case may be (each, a “Regular Record Date”), immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and either may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to the Indenture (initially the Corporate Trust Office), in Euro as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Payments of principal and interest at maturity will be made against presentation of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office (or such other office as may be established pursuant to the Indenture), by wire transfer.
D-1
Principal and interest on the Notes, including payments made upon any redemption or repurchase of the Notes, shall be payable in Euro, subject to the substitution of the U.S. dollar as the currency for all payments in respect of such Notes following the occurrence of certain events beyond the Company’s control as described in the Indenture.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse side hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an authenticating agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[Signature Pages Follow]
D-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed in its name by the manual or facsimile signature of two of its Officers.
Date: March 26, 2026
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Anthony DiSilvestro | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
D-3
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: March 26, 2026
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Officer | ||
D-4
(Reverse of Note)
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
4.728% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2035
1. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company designated as its 4.728% Senior Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”) limited in aggregate principal amount to €__________ issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture), and the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as so supplemented and as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors named therein, the Trustee, Registrar and Transfer Agent and the Paying Agent. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof and interest thereon (including post-default interest), will constitute unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s current and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
2. The Notes are subject to redemption at any time and from time to time prior to the Par Call Date, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| (i) | (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on an annual basis (ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA)) at the Comparable Government Bond Rate plus 30 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and |
| (ii) | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
“Par Call Date” means December 26, 2034.
D-5
“Comparable Government Bond” means, with respect to the Notes to be redeemed prior to the applicable Par Call Date, in relation to any Comparable Government Bond Rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by the Company, a bond that is a direct obligation of the Federal Republic of Germany (a “German government bond”) whose maturity is closest to the Par Call Date of the Notes to be redeemed, or if such independent investment bank in its discretion determines that such similar bond is not in issue, such other German government bond as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, German government bonds selected by the Company, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate.
“Comparable Government Bond Rate” means the yield to maturity, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, with 0.0005 being rounded upwards), on the third business day prior to the date fixed for redemption, of the Comparable Government Bond on the basis of the middle market price of the Comparable Government Bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such business day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by the Company, and calculated in accordance with generally accepted market practice at such time. The term “independent investment bank” means an independent investment banking institution of international standing appointed by the Company from time to time.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Notice of any redemption will be first-class mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. If and for so long as the Notes are listed on the Official List of the Exchange and if and to the extent the rules of the Authority so require, the Company will notify the Authority of any such notice to the holders of the Notes and, in connection with any redemption of the Notes, the Company will notify the Authority of any change in the principal amount of Notes outstanding. Any notice to Holders of Notes of a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 2 hereof will include, among other things set forth in the Indenture, the redemption date, the redemption price, the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date, and conditions applicable to redemption and the name and address of the Paying Agent.
In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of €100,000 or less will be redeemed in part unless otherwise required by law. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation to the Trustee and the Registrar of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by the Common Depositary, the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
D-6
3. If a Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem the outstanding Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price. The Company may redeem all, but not part, of the Notes upon the occurrence of specified tax events as described in the First Supplemental Indenture.
4. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless all Notes have been called for redemption pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Note, each Holder of the Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of €1,000) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase. “Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event, as such terms are defined in the Indenture. The Change of Control Offer will be made in accordance with the terms specified in the Indenture.
5. The payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors, if any, on the terms set forth in the Indenture.
6. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
7. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
8. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
9. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, and duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
D-7
10. The Notes are issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of €100,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of €1,000 in book-entry form only. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes in authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
11. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Paying Agent and/or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
12. Prior to the due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
13. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of (i) the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and (ii) the actual number of days from and including the last date on which interest was paid on the Notes (or from and including the original issue date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the applicable series of Notes), to but excluding the next scheduled Interest Payment Date or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the succeeding Business Day and Holders will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment as a result of such delay. This payment convention is referred to as ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA) as defined in the rulebook of the International Capital Market Association. The rights of Holders of beneficial interests of Notes to receive the payments of interest on such Notes are subject to the applicable procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream.
14. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Securities Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be effective to waive or release liabilities under the federal securities laws.
16. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
17. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUT (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
D-8
18. Each Holder of this Note covenants and agrees by such Holder’s acceptance thereof to comply with and be bound by the foregoing provisions.
19. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. All capitalized terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
D-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ___________________________________ attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: __________________________
Signature: ____________________________
| NOTICE: | THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. |
Signature Guarantee:
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
D-10
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is [one year]13 [40 days]14 after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
| (1) | ☐ to the Company; or |
| (2) | ☐ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or |
| (3) | ☐ inside the United States to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or |
| (4) | ☐ to a non-United States person outside the United States in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
| (5) | ☐ pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirement of the Securities Act. |
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
|
| ||
| Signature |
| 13 | Rule 144A notes only |
| 14 | Regulation S notes only |
D-11
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH
TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]15
[Date]
Attention:
Re: Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”)
4.728% Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale or other transfer of €__________________ aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
| (1) | the offer of the Notes was not made to a Person in the United States; |
| (2) | either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any Person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any Person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States; |
| (3) | no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable; |
| (4) | the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and |
| (5) | we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes. |
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| [Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signature | ||
| 15 | Regulation S notes only |
D-12
[FORM OF EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE]16
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Transfer Agent
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
| Re: | Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) |
4.728% Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”) and the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, as issuer, the guarantors named therein, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, registrar and transfer agent and U.S. Bank Europe DAC, UK Branch, as paying agent. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Notes or an interest in the Notes, in the principal amount of €__________ in such Notes or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that in connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Regulation S Global Note for a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Notes or interest in the Notes are being transferred to a Person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company and are dated ______________________.
| [Insert Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Dated: ______________________
| 16 | Regulation S notes only |
D-13
Schedule I
SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES
The following increases or decreases in Principal Amount of this Global Security have been made:
| Date of Exchange |
Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Amount of Increase in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Principal Amount of this Global Security following such Decrease or Increase |
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Trustee or Common Depositary | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
D-14
ANNEX
FORM OF NOTICE OF SPECIAL MANDATORY REDEMPTION
NOTICE OF FULL SPECIAL MANDATORY REDEMPTION
TO THE HOLDERS OF
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
[•]% NOTES DUE 20[•]
(CUSIP No. [•]/ Reg S: [•])17
(ISIN No. [•]/ Reg S: [•])18
(Common Code: [•]/ Reg S: [•])19
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”) to the Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture” and as supplemented or amended from time to time, including by the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”), shall redeem all of its outstanding [•]% Notes due [•], 20[•] (the “Notes”) on [ ], 20[•] (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”) pursuant to Section 4.01 of the First Supplemental Indenture. The Redemption Price for each Note will be €1,010 per €1,000 principal amount thereof (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Price”), plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon from the [[Issue Date][insert most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid]] to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date. Capitalized terms used herein (but otherwise not defined herein) shall have such meanings as set forth in the Indenture.
| 17 | Rule 144A notes: 3.495% Senior Notes due 2028: 56530K AE6; 3.881% Senior Notes due 2030: 56530K AF3; 4.224% Senior Notes due 2032: 56530K AG1; 4.728% Senior Notes due 2035: 56530K AH9 |
Regulation S notes: 3.495% Senior Notes due 2028: U5649L AE6; 3.881% Senior Notes due 2030: U5649L AF3; 4.224% Senior Notes due 2032: U5649L AG1; 4.728% Senior Notes due 2035: U5649L AH9
| 18 | Rule 144A notes: 3.495% Senior Notes due 2028: XS3320664637; 3.881% Senior Notes due 2030: XS3320664983; 4.224% Senior Notes due 2032: XS3320665287; 4.728% Senior Notes due 2035: XS3320665527 |
Regulation S notes: 3.495% Senior Notes due 2028: XS3320664470; 3.881% Senior Notes due 2030: XS3320664710; 4.224% Senior Notes due 2032: XS3320665014; 4.728% Senior Notes due 2035: XS3320665444
| 19 | Rule 144A notes: 3.495% Senior Notes due 2028: 332066463; 3.881% Senior Notes due 2030: 332066498; 4.224% Senior Notes due 2032: 332066528; 4.728% Senior Notes due 2035: 332066552 |
Regulation S notes: 3.495% Senior Notes due 2028: 332066447; 3.881% Senior Notes due 2030: 332066471; 4.224% Senior Notes due 2032: 332066501; 4.728% Senior Notes due 2035: 332066544
1
The Indenture provides that upon the deposit of funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price of all Notes to be redeemed on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date with the Paying Agent by no later than 12:00 p.m., London time, on such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Notes shall cease to bear interest, and all rights and obligations under the Notes shall terminate.
In order to receive the redemption payment, the Notes called for redemption must be surrendered for payment at the following location of the Trustee and Paying Agent. Notes to be redeemed must be surrendered for payment: (a) in book-entry form by transferring the Notes to be redeemed to the Trustee and the Paying Agent in accordance with Applicable Procedures; or (b) by delivering the Notes to be redeemed to the Trustee at:
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
111 East Fillmore Ave EP-MN-WS2N
St. Paul, MN 55107
Attention: GCT Bondholder Services
Phone Inquiries: 1-800-934-6802
The method of delivery of the Notes is at the election and risk of the Holder. If delivered by mail, certified or registered mail, properly insured, is recommended. Direct inquiries related to procedures to redeem the Notes should be directed to the Trustee by telephone at 1-800-934-6802.
No representation is being made as to the correctness of the CUSIP numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in this notice. Holders should rely only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
For Holders of Notes who have not established an exemption, payments made upon the redemption of the Notes may be subject to U.S. federal withholding of 24% of the payments to be made, as and to the extent required by the provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. To establish an exemption from such withholding, Holders of Notes should submit a properly executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or applicable Form W-8) when surrendering their Notes for payment.
Date: [ ], 20[ ]
By: MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
2
Exhibit 4.3
Execution Version
This SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Second Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of March 26, 2026, among MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or the “Issuer”), KEURIG DR PEPPER INC., a Delaware corporation (“KDP Parent”), the Guarantors listed in Schedule I (the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and, together with KDP Parent, the “Guarantors”), and U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture” and, together with this Second Supplemental Indenture, and as such may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance by the Company from time to time of its debt securities to be issued in one or more series;
WHEREAS, Sections 2.1 and 9.1 of the Base Indenture provide, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of Holders, enter into indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture to provide for specific terms applicable to any series of notes;
WHEREAS, Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture provides, among other things, that there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate of the Company or in a Company Order, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series whether Securities of the series are entitled to the benefits of any Securities Guarantee of any Guarantor pursuant to the Indenture, the identity of any such Guarantors and any terms of such Securities Guarantee with respect to the Securities of the series in addition to those set forth in Article X of the Base Indenture, or any exceptions to or changes to those set forth in Article X of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, Section 10.1 of the Base Indenture provides that prior to the authentication and delivery upon original issuance of Securities of any series that are to be guaranteed by a Person, the Company, the Trustee and such Person shall have entered into a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.1(12) of the Base Indenture whereby such Person shall have executed a Securities Guarantee under the Base Indenture with respect to any series of Securities as to which such Person has been so established pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture as a Guarantor thereof;
WHEREAS, the Company intends by this Second Supplemental Indenture to create and provide for the issuance of four new separate series of debt securities to be designated as the “4.750% Senior Notes due 2029” (the “2029 Notes”), the “5.050% Senior Notes due 2031” (the “2031 Notes”), the “5.700% Senior Notes due 2036” (the “2036 Notes”) and the “6.625% Senior Notes due 2056” (the “2056 Notes” and, collectively with the 2029 Notes, the 2031 Notes and the 2036 Notes, the “Notes”);
WHEREAS, the Company intends by this Second Supplemental Indenture to provide that each series of the Notes will be entitled to the benefits of the Securities Guarantee of the Guarantors;
WHEREAS, the Guarantors intend by this Second Supplemental Indenture to execute a Securities Guarantee with respect to each series of the Notes;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.1(10) and (12) of the Base Indenture, the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Second Supplemental Indenture to amend or supplement the Base Indenture, without the consent of any Holder of Notes; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, issued upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth hereinafter and in the Base Indenture and delivered as provided in the Base Indenture against payment therefor, valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company and the Guarantors according to their terms, and all actions required to be taken by the Company and the Guarantors under the Base Indenture to make this Second Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal agreement of the Company and the Guarantors, have been done;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01 Definitions.
(a) All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined below shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Base Indenture.
(b) The following are definitions used in this Second Supplemental Indenture, and to the extent that a term is defined both herein and in the Base Indenture, the definition in this Second Supplemental Indenture shall govern with respect to the Notes.
“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at any time of determination, the present value at that time of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction. Such present value will be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that if such sale and leaseback transaction results in a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of Attributable Debt represented thereby will be determined in accordance with the definition of “Capital Lease Obligation.” For the avoidance of doubt, such amount of net rental payments under any such lease for any such period shall be the aggregate amount of the rent payable by the lessee with respect to such period after excluding amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs, services, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates and similar charges and contingent rents (such as those based on sales).
2
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at any time of determination, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP after the application of Accounting Standard Codification Topic 842 shall not constitute Capital Lease Obligations for the purposes of the Indenture (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification Topic 842 to be treated as balance sheet liabilities in any financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.04.
“Capital Markets Indebtedness” means capital markets debt securities issued in a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or a “Rule 144A” and/or “Regulation S” offering similar to, and including, the JDE Peet’s Notes.
“Capital Stock” means: (1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; (2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock; (3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and (4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) resulting in any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries) becoming the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the Company or other Voting Stock into which the Voting Stock of the Company is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares or (2) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in a transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and the assets of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to one or more Persons (other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be considered to be a Change of Control if (a) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of a holding company and (b)(i) immediately following that transaction, the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of the holding company are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (ii) immediately following that transaction no Person is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the holding company. Prior to the Separation, references to the Company in this definition refer to KDP
3
Parent and, after the Separation, references to the Company in this definition refer to the Issuer. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything in the Indenture to the contrary, the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and the Separation, and any actions taken by any of KDP Parent, the Issuer or any of their respective subsidiaries that is required in connection with or incidental to the JDE Peet’s Acquisition or the Separation shall not be deemed a Change of Control.
“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.
“Coffee Business” means, collectively, (A) (i) the “U.S. Coffee” operating segment of KDP Parent excluding the sales related to the distribution of ready-to-drink La Colombe coffee beverages and (ii) that portion of the “International” operating segment of KDP Parent consisting of sales in Canada from the manufacture and distribution of finished goods relating to single serve brewers, K-Cup pods, AltaRounds pressed coffee and other coffee products and (B) after the consummation of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition, the business of JDE Peet’s and its Subsidiaries.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, the total assets reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of such Person for which consolidated financial statements have been prepared, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note containing, if required, the appropriate Restricted Notes Legend set forth in Section 2.08(e).
“Exchange Notes” means, with respect to any series or tranche of Notes, a series or tranche of senior notes issued by the Company and guaranteed by the Guarantors that then guarantee the Notes under the Indenture, containing terms substantially identical in all material respects to such series or tranche of the Notes (except that the Exchange Notes will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate due to a Registration Default) and to be offered to Holders of Notes of such series or tranche in exchange for Notes of such series or tranche pursuant to the Exchange Offer for such series or tranche.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Company and the Guarantors of Exchange Notes for the applicable series or tranche of Notes.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Fitch” means Fitch, Inc.
“Funded Debt” means Indebtedness which by its terms matures at or is extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to date more than 12 months after the date of the creation or incurrence of such Indebtedness.
4
“Global Notes Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.08(e)(i).
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent: (1) in respect of borrowed money; (2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements with respect thereto); (3) in respect of banker’s acceptances, bank guarantees, surety bonds or similar instruments; (4) representing Capital Lease Obligations; or (5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such services are completed, except any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor incurred in the ordinary course of business; if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the notes thereto) of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.
In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all of the following items, whether or not any such items would appear as a liability on a balance sheet of the specified Person in accordance with GAAP: (1) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person); and (2) to the extent not otherwise included, any guarantee by the specified Person of Indebtedness of any other Person.
“Interest Payment Date” means March 26 and September 26 of each year, commencing on September 26, 2026.
“Interest Rate Rating Agency” means Moody’s, S&P or any Substitute Rating Agency.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.
“JDE Peet’s” means JDE Peet’s N.V., a public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) under Dutch law, with legal seat (statutaire zetel) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 73160377 (or its successor).
“JDE Peet’s Guarantee Trigger Date” means the 30th day after the first day on which all of the following have occurred: (i) the JDE Peet’s Acquisition has been consummated, (ii) the shares issued by JDE Peet’s listed on Euronext Amsterdam have been delisted in accordance with Euronext Amsterdam N.V.’s announcement on its delisting policy (2004-041), (iii) JDE Peet’s has been converted into a private limited liability company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) and (iv) JDE Peet’s has received, solely to the extent required, from each relevant Works Council, any of the following: (x) unconditional (or conditional, if all conditions have been fulfilled) positive or neutral advice related to JDE Peet’s decision to provide a Securities Guarantee under the Indenture, (y) the waiver of such advice right in accordance with applicable law or (z) a confirmation that such relevant Works Council agrees in writing that no advice is required under applicable laws and regulations or any covenant or undertaking with the relevant Works Council.
5
“JDE Peet’s Notes” means, collectively, JDE Peet’s outstanding unsecured, unsubordinated notes (i) denominated in euros in the following series: Floating Rate Note due 2027, 0.625% Notes due 2028, 0.500% Notes due 2029, 4.125% Notes due 2030, 1.125% Notes due 2033 and 4.500% Notes due 2034; and (ii) denominated in U.S. dollars in the following series: 1.375% Notes due 2027 and 2.250% Notes due 2031.
“KDP Guarantors” means Guarantors that are Subsidiaries of KDP Parent but not Subsidiaries of the Company.
“Lien” means any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statute) of any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an operating lease shall not be deemed to constitute a Lien.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
“Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by DTC), or any successor Person thereto and will initially be the Trustee.
“Par Call Date” means February 26, 2029 (in the case of the 2029 Notes), February 26, 2031 (in the case of the 2031 Notes), December 26, 2035 (in the case of the 2036 Notes), and September 26, 2055 (in the case of the 2056 Notes).
“Permitted Encumbrances” means: (1) Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or governmental charges that are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith; (2) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, landlords’ and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 60 days (or if more than 60 days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Liens) or are being contested in good faith; (3) (i) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations and (ii) pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (4) Liens arising out of pledges or deposits to secure the performance of bids, tender, insurance, trade or other contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, indemnity, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature (including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations), in each case in the ordinary course of business; (5) judgment liens for the payment of money (i) not in excess of $75,000,000 in the aggregate (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance) or (ii) in respect of
6
judgments that the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company is in good faith prosecuting an appeal or other proceeding for review or Liens incurred by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company for the purpose of obtaining a stay or discharge in the course of any litigation or other proceeding to which the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company is a party; (6) easements, restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances and minor title defects on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any payment obligations and do not, in the aggregate, materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (7) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (i) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) secure any Indebtedness; (8) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business; (9) Liens (i) of a collection bank on the items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of law encumbering securities, deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set off) and which are customary in the banking industry (including any Lien or right of set-off in favor of Dutch banks arising from their general banking conditions (algemene bankvoorwaarden) or similar standard documentation); (10) any interest or title of a lessor under leases entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and financing statements with respect to a lessor’s right in and to personal property leased to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ business; (11) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; (12) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Permitted Investments and reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes; (13) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off: (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other financial institutions not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business; (14) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Company or any Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement; (15) ground leases in respect of real property on which facilities owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are located; (16) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto; (17) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any governmental authority to control or regulate the use of any real property that does not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (18) Liens securing indebtedness outstanding or incurred pursuant to credit facilities outstanding on the issue date; (19) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and the proceeds thereof securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit or banker’s acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the
7
purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or goods; (20) Liens in connection with the sale or transfer of the common stock in a Subsidiary and customary rights and restrictions contained in agreements relating to such sale or transfer, in each case, pending the completion thereof; (21) Liens arising by virtue of Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings (or similar filings under applicable law) regarding operating leases entered into by the Company in the ordinary course of business; (22) Liens on cash, cash equivalents or marketable securities of the Company or any Subsidiary securing obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary under swap agreements not incurred for speculative purposes; and (23) any Liens, guarantees or joint and several responsibility established or arising in the context of (i) (the establishment) of any fiscal unity (fiscale eenheid) or other tax group or (ii) any declaration of joint and several liability used for the purpose of section 2:403 of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek) (and any residual liability under such declaration arising pursuant to section 2:404(2) of the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek)), or any equivalent arrangement under any other applicable law.
Prior to the Separation, KDP Parent shall be deemed to be the “Company” for all purposes under this definition. Following the Separation, the Issuer shall be deemed to be the “Company” for all purposes under this definition.
“Permitted Investments” means: (1) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof; (2) investments in commercial paper maturing within 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof; (3) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000; (4) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (1) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (3) above; and (5) money market funds that (a) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (b) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (c) have portfolio assets of at least $1,000,000,000.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Principal Property” means any manufacturing, processing or bottling plant, warehouse or distribution center (including the land upon which it is situated), owned and operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that the book value of such property is an amount greater than 1% of Consolidated Total Assets of the Company.
“Qualified Institutional Buyer” or “QIB” has the meaning specified in Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
8
“Rating Agencies” means (a) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (b) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) selected by the Company as a replacement Rating Agency for a former Rating Agency.
“Rating Event” means the rating on the applicable series of Notes is lowered by each of the Rating Agencies and such Notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the Rating Agencies on any day within the 60-day period (which 60-day period will be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies) after the earlier of (a) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (b) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control; provided that a Rating Event will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if each Rating Agency making the reduction in rating does not publicly announce or confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at the Company’s request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Rating Event). If any Rating Agency that provided a rating of a series of Notes on the day immediately prior to the beginning of such 60-day period (or extension thereof) is not providing a rating of such series of Notes at the end of such 60- day period (or extension thereof) for any reason, such 60-day period (or extension thereof) shall be extended an additional 30 days and, if the Company has not selected a replacement Rating Agency on or before the end of such 30-day period, then such Rating Agency shall be deemed to have lowered its rating of such series of Notes at the end of such 30-day period to be below an Investment Grade Rating.
“Registration Default” has the meaning ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2026, among the Company, KDP Parent, the Guarantors and the representatives named therein, relating to the Notes.
“Regular Record Date” means March 11 or September 11 (whether or not such date is a Business Day), immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date.
“Regulation S” means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Regulation S Notes” means all Notes offered and sold to a non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in reliance on Regulation S.
“Restricted Notes Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.08(e)(ii).
“Restricted Period” means, with respect to any Notes, the period that is 40 days after the later of (i) the original issue date of the Notes and (ii) the date when the Notes or any predecessor of the Notes are first offered to Persons other than distributors (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S.
9
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A Notes” means all Notes offered and sold to purchasers reasonably believed to be QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings.
“Separation” means the proposed separation of all or substantially all of the Coffee Business through (x) a contribution, directly or indirectly, of the applicable assets and liabilities of such business and/or through a contribution, directly or indirectly, of the applicable legal entities comprising such business to the Company (or a Subsidiary of the Company), in each case to the extent such assets, liabilities or entities are not already held by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, and (y) the distribution of outstanding equity securities of the Company (or a direct or indirect parent of the Company) to the holders of common stock of KDP Parent as of a record date to be determined by KDP Parent, in each case of the foregoing, in a transaction qualifying under Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code, together with any transactions related thereto or contemplated thereby.
“Substitute Rating Agency” means a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) selected by the Company as a replacement Interest Rate Rating Agency for any Interest Rate Rating Agency.
“Transfer Restricted Note” means any Note that contains or is required to contain a Restricted Notes Legend.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the applicable Par Call Date (as applicable, the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the applicable Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
10
If on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the applicable Par Call Date. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the applicable Par Call Date, but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the applicable Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the applicable Par Call Date, and one with a maturity date following the applicable Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the applicable Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the applicable Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in U.S. government securities.
“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.
Section 1.02 Other Definitions.
| Term |
Defined in Section | |
| “2029 Notes” | Recitals | |
| “2029 Maturity Date” | 2.04(b) | |
| “2031 Notes” | Recitals | |
| “2031 Maturity Date” | 2.05(b) | |
| “2036 Notes” | Recitals | |
| “2036 Maturity Date” | 2.06(b) | |
| “2056 Notes” | Recitals | |
| “2056 Maturity Date” | 2.07(b) | |
| “Additional Interest” | 8.02 | |
| “Agent Members” | 2.03(c)(ii) |
11
| “Base Indenture” | Recitals | |
| “Change of Control Offer” | 5.01(b) | |
| “Change of Control Payment” | 5.01(a) | |
| “Change of Control Payment Date” | 5.01(b)(ii) | |
| “Global Notes” | 2.03(b) | |
| “Indenture” | Recitals | |
| “Interest Rate Adjustment Table” | 8.01(a) | |
| “JDE Peet’s Acquisition” | 4.01(f) | |
| “Merger Protocol” | 4.01(f) | |
| “New Parent Guarantor” | 6.04(d) | |
| “Regulation S Global Note” | 2.03(b) | |
| “Rule 144A Global Note” | 2.03(b) | |
| “Special Mandatory Redemption Date” | 4.01(f) | |
| “Special Mandatory Redemption Event” | 4.01(f) | |
| “Special Mandatory Redemption Price” | 4.01(f) | |
| “surviving parent entity” | 6.05(a)(i) |
Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
The Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of the Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms have the following meanings:
“indenture securities” means the Notes.
“indenture security holder” means a Holder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Second Supplemental Indenture.
“indenture trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and the Guarantors and any other obligor on the indenture securities.
All other Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Second Supplemental Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
12
ARTICLE II
APPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND CREATION, FORMS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF NOTES
Section 2.01 Application of this Second Supplemental Indenture.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Second Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Second Supplemental Indenture, including the covenants set forth herein, are expressly and solely for the benefit of the holders of the Notes. The Notes constitute four separate series of Securities as provided in Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture.
Section 2.02 Creation of the Notes. In accordance with Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture, the Company hereby creates each of the 2029 Notes, the 2031 Notes, the 2036 Notes and the 2056 Notes as a separate series of its Securities issued pursuant to the Indenture. The 2029 Notes shall be issued initially in an aggregate principal amount of $550,000,000. The 2031 Notes shall be issued initially in an aggregate principal amount of $600,000,000. The 2036 Notes shall be issued initially in an aggregate principal amount of $700,000,000. The 2056 Notes shall be issued initially in an aggregate principal amount of $700,000,000.
Section 2.03 Form of the Notes.
(a) The Notes shall each be issued in the form of a Global Note, duly executed by the Company and, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticated by the Trustee, which shall be deposited with the Trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of “Cede & Co.,” as the nominee of DTC. The 2029 Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, the 2031 Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, the 2036 Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto and the 2056 Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto. So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a Global Note, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, shall be considered the sole owner or Holder of the Notes represented by such Global Note for all purposes under the Indenture. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Note shall be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effective only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to beneficial interests of participants) or by participants or Persons that hold interests through participants (with respect to beneficial interests of beneficial owners).
(b) The Notes shall be resold initially only (A) to Persons reasonably believed to be QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act or (B) outside the United States, to Persons other than “U.S. persons” as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act in compliance with Regulation S. Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, purchasers reasonably believed to be QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S, and otherwise, subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein. Notes initially resold pursuant to Rule 144A shall be initially issued in the form of one or more permanent global securities in fully registered form (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”), and Notes initially resold pursuant to Regulation S shall be initially issued in the form of one or more permanent global securities in fully registered form (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Note”), in each case without interest coupons and with the Global Notes Legend and the applicable Restricted Notes Legend set forth in Section 2.08(e)(ii) hereof. Such global securities shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Notes Custodian and registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture. The Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes”. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and DTC or its nominee as hereinafter provided.
13
(c) This Section 2.03(c) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of DTC.
(i) The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order and in accordance with this Section 2.03(c), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (A) shall be registered in the name of DTC and (B) shall be delivered by the Trustee to DTC or pursuant to DTC’s instructions or held by the Trustee as Notes Custodian for DTC.
(ii) Members of, or participants in, DTC (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by DTC (or by the Trustee as the Notes Custodian for DTC) or under such Global Note, and the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat DTC as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or impair, as between DTC and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of DTC governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.
(d) Except as provided in Section 2.08 or 2.09, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.
(e) The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are expressly made, a part of this Second Supplemental Indenture, and to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Second Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and agree to be bound thereby. If there is any conflict between the terms of the Notes and this Second Supplemental Indenture, the terms of this Second Supplemental Indenture shall govern.
(f) The Notes may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at the offices of the Registrar.
Section 2.04 Terms and Conditions of the 2029 Notes.
The 2029 Notes shall be governed by all the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Second Supplemental Indenture. In particular, the following provisions shall be terms of the 2029 Notes:
(a) Title and Conditions of the 2029 Notes. The title of the 2029 Notes shall be as specified in the recitals; and the aggregate principal amount of the 2029 Notes shall be as specified in Section 2.02 of this Article II, except for 2029 Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, Notes pursuant to Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.13, 2.16, 5.7 or 9.5 of the Base Indenture.
(b) Stated Maturity. The 2029 Notes shall mature, and the principal of the 2029 Notes shall be due and payable in U.S. Dollars to the Holders thereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on March 26, 2029 (the “2029 Maturity Date”).
14
(c) Payment of Principal and Interest. The 2029 Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 4.750% per annum, from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or provided for until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. Interest on the 2029 Notes shall be payable semi-annually in arrears in U.S. Dollars on each Interest Payment Date. Payments of interest shall be made to the Person in whose name a 2029 Note (or predecessor 2029 Note) is registered (which shall initially be the Depositary) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date.
(d) Registration and Form. The 2029 Notes shall be issuable as a Global Note as provided in Section 2.03(b) of this Article II. The form of the 2029 Notes shall be as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. The 2029 Notes shall be issued and may be transferred only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof in book-entry form only. All payments of principal, redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the 2029 Notes shall be made by the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds in U.S. Dollars to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Notes representing such 2029 Notes.
(e) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The provisions for legal defeasance in Section 8.2 of the Base Indenture, and the provisions for covenant defeasance in Section 8.3 of the Base Indenture, shall be applicable to the 2029 Notes.
(f) Further Issuance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Base Indenture, the Company may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders, create and issue further securities having the same ranking and interest rate, maturity and other terms as the 2029 Notes, except for the issue date, and, in some cases the public offering price and the first interest payment date. Additional 2029 Notes issued in this manner, and any Exchange Notes issued with respect to such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, shall be consolidated and shall form a single series with the previously outstanding 2029 Notes, provided that, if the additional 2029 Notes are not fungible with the 2029 Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional 2029 Notes will have a separate CUSIP and ISIN number. No such additional 2029 Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2029 Notes.
(g) Redemption. The 2029 Notes are subject to redemption by the Company in whole or in part in the manner described herein.
(h) Guarantees. The payment of the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2029 Notes, whether at the 2029 Maturity Date, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, is fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors as provided in Article VII of this Second Supplemental Indenture.
(i) Ranking. The 2029 Notes and the Securities Guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and are equal in right of payment with all unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively.
15
(j) Sinking Fund. The 2029 Notes are not entitled to any sinking fund.
(k) Other Terms and Conditions. The 2029 Notes shall have such other terms and conditions as provided in the form thereof attached as Exhibit A hereto.
Section 2.05 Terms and Conditions of the 2031 Notes.
The 2031 Notes shall be governed by all the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Second Supplemental Indenture. In particular, the following provisions shall be terms of the 2031 Notes:
(a) Title and Conditions of the 2031 Notes. The title of the 2031 Notes shall be as specified in the recitals; and the aggregate principal amount of the 2031 Notes shall be as specified in Section 2.02 of this Article II, except for 2031 Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, Notes pursuant to Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.13, 2.16, 5.7 or 9.5 of the Base Indenture.
(b) Stated Maturity. The 2031 Notes shall mature, and the principal of the 2031 Notes shall be due and payable in U.S. Dollars to the Holders thereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on March 26, 2031 (the “2031 Maturity Date”).
(c) Payment of Principal and Interest. The 2031 Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 5.050% per annum, from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or provided for until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. Interest on the 2031 Notes shall be payable semi-annually in arrears in U.S. Dollars on each Interest Payment Date. Payments of interest shall be made to the Person in whose name a 2031 Note (or predecessor 2031 Note) is registered (which shall initially be the Depositary) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date.
(d) Registration and Form. The 2031 Notes shall be issuable as a Global Note as provided in Section 2.03(b) of this Article II. The form of the 2031 Notes shall be as set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto. The 2031 Notes shall be issued and may be transferred only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof in book-entry form only. All payments of principal, redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the 2031 Notes shall be made by the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds in U.S. Dollars to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Notes representing such 2031 Notes.
(e) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The provisions for legal defeasance in Section 8.2 of the Base Indenture, and the provisions for covenant defeasance in Section 8.3 of the Base Indenture, shall be applicable to the 2031 Notes.
16
(f) Further Issuance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Base Indenture, the Company may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders, create and issue further securities having the same ranking and interest rate, maturity and other terms as the 2031 Notes, except for the issue date, and, in some cases the public offering price and the first interest payment date. Additional 2031 Notes issued in this manner, and any Exchange Notes issued with respect to such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, shall be consolidated and shall form a single series with the previously outstanding 2031 Notes, provided that, if the additional 2031 Notes are not fungible with the 2031 Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional 2031 Notes will have a separate CUSIP and ISIN number. No such additional 2031 Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2031 Notes.
(g) Redemption. The 2031 Notes are subject to redemption by the Company in whole or in part in the manner described herein.
(h) Guarantees. The payment of the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2031 Notes, whether at the 2031 Maturity Date, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, is fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors as provided in Article VII of this Second Supplemental Indenture.
(i) Ranking. The 2031 Notes and the Securities Guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and are equal in right of payment with all unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively.
(j) Sinking Fund. The 2031 Notes are not entitled to any sinking fund.
(k) Other Terms and Conditions. The 2031 Notes shall have such other terms and conditions as provided in the form thereof attached as Exhibit B hereto.
Section 2.06 Terms and Conditions of the 2036 Notes.
The 2036 Notes shall be governed by all the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Second Supplemental Indenture. In particular, the following provisions shall be terms of the 2036 Notes:
(a) Title and Conditions of the 2036 Notes. The title of the 2036 Notes shall be as specified in the recitals; and the aggregate principal amount of the 2036 Notes shall be as specified in Section 2.02 of this Article II, except for 2036 Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, Notes pursuant to Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.13, 2.16, 5.7 or 9.5 of the Base Indenture.
(b) Stated Maturity. The 2036 Notes shall mature, and the principal of the 2036 Notes shall be due and payable in U.S. Dollars to the Holders thereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on March 26, 2036 (the “2036 Maturity Date”).
17
(c) Payment of Principal and Interest. The 2036 Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 5.700% per annum, from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or provided for until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. Interest on the 2036 Notes shall be payable semi-annually in arrears in U.S. Dollars on each Interest Payment Date. Payments of interest shall be made to the Person in whose name a 2036 Note (or predecessor 2036 Note) is registered (which shall initially be the Depositary) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date.
(d) Registration and Form. The 2036 Notes shall be issuable as a Global Note as provided in Section 2.03(b) of this Article II. The form of the 2036 Notes shall be as set forth in Exhibit C attached hereto. The 2036 Notes shall be issued and may be transferred only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof in book-entry form only. All payments of principal, redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the 2036 Notes shall be made by the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds in U.S. Dollars to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Notes representing such 2036 Notes.
(e) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The provisions for legal defeasance in Section 8.2 of the Base Indenture, and the provisions for covenant defeasance in Section 8.3 of the Base Indenture, shall be applicable to the 2036 Notes.
(f) Further Issuance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Base Indenture, the Company may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders, create and issue further securities having the same ranking and interest rate, maturity and other terms as the 2036 Notes, except for the issue date, and, in some cases the public offering price and the first interest payment date. Additional 2036 Notes issued in this manner, and any Exchange Notes issued with respect to such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, shall be consolidated and shall form a single series with the previously outstanding 2036 Notes, provided that, if the additional 2036 Notes are not fungible with the 2036 Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional 2036 Notes will have a separate CUSIP and ISIN number. No such additional 2036 Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2036 Notes.
(g) Redemption. The 2036 Notes are subject to redemption by the Company in whole or in part in the manner described herein.
(h) Guarantees. The payment of the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2036 Notes, whether at the 2036 Maturity Date, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, is fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors as provided in Article VII of this Second Supplemental Indenture.
(i) Ranking. The 2036 Notes and the Securities Guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and are equal in right of payment with all unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively.
18
(j) Sinking Fund. The 2036 Notes are not entitled to any sinking fund.
(k) Other Terms and Conditions. The 2036 Notes shall have such other terms and conditions as provided in the form thereof attached as Exhibit C hereto.
Section 2.07 Terms and Conditions of the 2056 Notes.
The 2056 Notes shall be governed by all the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Second Supplemental Indenture. In particular, the following provisions shall be terms of the 2056 Notes:
(a) Title and Conditions of the 2056 Notes. The title of the 2056 Notes shall be as specified in the recitals; and the aggregate principal amount of the 2056 Notes shall be as specified in Section 2.02 of this Article II, except for 2056 Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, Notes pursuant to Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.13, 2.16, 5.7 or 9.5 of the Base Indenture.
(b) Stated Maturity. The 2056 Notes shall mature, and the principal of the 2056 Notes shall be due and payable in U.S. Dollars to the Holders thereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on March 26, 2056 (the “2056 Maturity Date”).
(c) Payment of Principal and Interest. The 2056 Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 6.625% per annum, from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or provided for until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. Interest on the 2056 Notes shall be payable semi-annually in arrears in U.S. Dollars on each Interest Payment Date. Payments of interest shall be made to the Person in whose name a 2056 Note (or predecessor 2056 Note) is registered (which shall initially be the Depositary) at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date.
(d) Registration and Form. The 2056 Notes shall be issuable as a Global Note as provided in Section 2.03(b) of this Article II. The form of the 2056 Notes shall be as set forth in Exhibit D attached hereto. The 2056 Notes shall be issued and may be transferred only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof in book-entry form only. All payments of principal, redemption price and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of the 2056 Notes shall be made by the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds in U.S. Dollars to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Notes representing such 2056 Notes.
(e) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The provisions for legal defeasance in Section 8.2 of the Base Indenture, and the provisions for covenant defeasance in Section 8.3 of the Base Indenture, shall be applicable to the 2056 Notes.
19
(f) Further Issuance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Base Indenture, the Company may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders, create and issue further securities having the same ranking and interest rate, maturity and other terms as the 2056 Notes, except for the issue date, and, in some cases the public offering price and the first interest payment date. Additional 2056 Notes issued in this manner, and any Exchange Notes issued with respect to such series in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, shall be consolidated and shall form a single series with the previously outstanding 2056 Notes, provided that, if the additional 2056 Notes are not fungible with the 2056 Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional 2056 Notes will have a separate CUSIP and ISIN number. No such additional 2056 Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the 2056 Notes.
(g) Redemption. The 2056 Notes are subject to redemption by the Company in whole or in part in the manner described herein.
(h) Guarantees. The payment of the principal and any accrued and unpaid interest on the 2056 Notes, whether at the 2056 Maturity Date, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, is fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by the Guarantors as provided in Article VII of this Second Supplemental Indenture.
(i) Ranking. The 2056 Notes and the Securities Guarantees are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively, and are equal in right of payment with all unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors, respectively.
(j) Sinking Fund. The 2056 Notes are not entitled to any sinking fund.
(k) Other Terms and Conditions. The 2056 Notes shall have such other terms and conditions as provided in the form thereof attached as Exhibit D hereto.
Section 2.08 Special Transfer Restrictions
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes. When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request:
(i) to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or (ii) to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:
(1) (A) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and
20
(B) are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable: (x) if such Definitive Notes are being delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or (y) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred to the Company, a certification to that effect (in each case in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Note); or
(2) if such Definitive Notes are being transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act or in reliance upon another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (i) a certification to that effect (in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Note) and (ii) if the Company or Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 2.08(e)(ii).
(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note. A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, together with:
(i) certification (in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Note) that such Definitive Note is being transferred (A) to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A or (B) to a non-U.S. Person outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S and in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act; and (ii) written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Notes Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, such instructions to contain information regarding the DTC account to be credited with such increase, then the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Notes Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between DTC and the Notes Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Global Note to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled. If no Global Notes are then outstanding and the Global Note has not been previously exchanged for Definitive Notes pursuant to Section 2.09, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon receipt of a Company Order, a new Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.
(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.
(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through DTC, in accordance with this Second Supplemental Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of DTC (including, if applicable the Applicable Procedures) therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver a written or electronic order given in accordance with DTC’s procedures (including, if applicable the Applicable Procedures) containing information regarding the participant account of DTC to be credited with a beneficial interest in such Global Note or another Global Note and such account shall be credited in accordance with such order with a beneficial interest in the applicable Global Note and the account of the Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.
21
(ii) Transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through a Regulation S Global Note of the same series, whether before or after the expiration of the Restricted Period, shall be made in accordance with the procedures of DTC and only upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification (in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Note) from the transferor to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S or (if available) Rule 144 under the Securities Act and, if such transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the interest transferred shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream.
(iii) Beneficial interests in Regulation S Global Notes may be exchanged for interests in Rule 144A Global Notes of the same series in accordance with the procedures of DTC and if (1) such exchange occurs in connection with a transfer of Notes in compliance with Rule 144A and (2) the transferor of the beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Note) to the effect that the beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note is being transferred to a Person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions.
(iv) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.
(v) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Second Supplemental Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.09), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except 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 to DTC or a nominee of such successor to DTC.
(vi) In the event that a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes pursuant to Section 2.09 prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, such Notes may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Notes intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144, Rule 144A, Regulation S or such other applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.
22
(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Regulation S Global Notes.
(i) Prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, interests in a Regulation S Global Note may only be held through Euroclear or Clearstream. During the Restricted Period, beneficial ownership interests in a Regulation S Global Note may only be sold, pledged or transferred through Euroclear or Clearstream in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and only (a) to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, (b) pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act, (c) for so long as such security is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A, to a Person whom the selling Holder reasonably believes is a QIB that purchases for its own account or for the account of a QIB to whom notice is given that the resale, pledge or transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. Persons that occur outside the United States (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act), or (e) pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States, subject to the Company’s and the Trustee’s right prior to any such offer, sale or transfer pursuant to clause (d) or (e) to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them. Prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through a Rule 144A Global Note shall be made only in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A of the Securities Act and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification (in the form on the reverse side of the Initial Note).
(ii) Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period, beneficial ownership interests in a Regulation S Global Note shall be transferable in accordance with applicable law and the other terms of the Indenture.
(e) Legends.
(i) Each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes (and all Notes that are Global Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) will contain a legend substantially to the following effect (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only):
(1) UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH
23
OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.
(ii) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (d), (e), (f) or (g), each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes and the Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) will contain a legend substantially to the following effect (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only):
(1) THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER REPRESENTS THAT (1) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT, OR (2) IT IS NOT A “U.S. PERSON” AND IS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT). NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED NOTES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH NOTE, PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE
24
YEAR][IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE), ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM.
(iii) Each Note evidencing a Global Note offered and sold to a QIB pursuant to Rule 144A will contain a legend substantially to the following effect:
(1) EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.
(iv) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note).
25
(v) After a transfer of any Notes during the period of the effectiveness of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to such Notes, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Notes Legend on such Notes shall cease to apply and the requirements that any such Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply.
(vi) Upon the consummation of an Exchange Offer with respect to the Notes pursuant to which Holders of such Notes are offered Exchange Notes in exchange for their Notes, all requirements pertaining to Notes that Notes be issued in global form shall continue to apply, and Exchange Notes in global form without the Restricted Notes Legend will be deposited with the Notes Custodian and the Notes cancelled.
(vii) Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Restricted Period of any Note acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Note bear the Restricted Notes Legend shall cease to apply, and the requirements requiring any such Note be issued in global form shall continue to apply.
(f) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by DTC to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Notes Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Notes Custodian, to reflect such reduction.
(g) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(h) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Second Supplemental Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under the Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
(i) No Obligation of the Trustee.
(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, Agent Member or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC or its nominee or of any Agent Member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any Agent Member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than DTC) of any notice (including any notice of
26
redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC with respect to its Agent Members and any beneficial owners.
(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to investigate, monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Second Supplemental Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Section 2.09 Definitive Notes.
(a) A Global Note deposited with DTC or with the Trustee as Notes Custodian for DTC pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.08 hereof and if (x) DTC notifies the Company at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the series of Notes of which such Global Note is a part or at any time ceases to be a clearing agency registered as such under the Exchange Act, and, in each case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, (y) the Company, at its option, executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that such Global Note shall be so exchangeable or (z) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Notes of which such Global Note is a part and DTC notifies the Trustee of its decision to exchange any Global Note of such series for Definitive Notes registered in the names of Persons other than DTC.
(b) Upon receipt of a Company Order, any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.09 shall be surrendered by DTC to the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.09 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in minimum denominations of $2,000 principal amount or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, in book-entry form only, and registered in such names as DTC shall direct. Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in the Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.08(e) hereof, contain the applicable Restricted Notes Legend set forth in Section 2.08(e)(ii) hereof.
27
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.09(b) hereof, the registered Holder of a Global Note shall be entitled to grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under the Indenture or the Notes.
(d) In the event of the occurrence of one of the events specified in Section 2.09(a) hereof, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.
(e) By its acceptance of any Note containing any legend in Section 2.08(e), each Holder of such Note acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in the Indenture and in such legend in Section 2.08(e) and agrees that it shall transfer such Note only as provided in the Indenture.
(f) The Registrar shall retain for a period of two years copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to Section 2.08 or this Section 2.09. The Company shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable notice to the Registrar.
Section 2.10 Registrar and Paying Agent. The Trustee shall serve as the Registrar and the Paying Agent for the Notes.
ARTICLE III
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
Section 3.01 Optional Redemption. Prior to the applicable Par Call Date for such series, the Company may redeem any series of the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
(i) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming such series of Notes matured on the Par Call Date applicable to such series of Notes) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points in the case of the 2029 Notes, plus 20 basis points in the case of the 2031 Notes, plus 25 basis points in the case of the 2036 Notes and plus 30 basis points in the case of the 2056 Notes less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and
(ii) 100% of the principal amount of the applicable Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the applicable Par Call Date for a series of Notes, the Company may redeem such series of Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such series of Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
28
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
The Trustee will have no obligation to calculate or verify the calculation of the amount of the redemption price.
Section 3.02 Notices to Trustee.
If the Company elects to redeem the Notes of any series pursuant to this Article III, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of such series of Notes to be redeemed.
The Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this Section 3.02 upon not later than the earlier of 45 days before the redemption date or the date on which notice is given to the Holders (unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period). Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein and in the Base Indenture.
Section 3.03 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed.
If fewer than all the Notes of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least three Business Days before the notice of redemption is to be sent to Holders (unless the Trustee agrees to a shorter period of time), an Officer’s Certificate requesting the Trustee select the Notes of such series to be redeemed. The Trustee shall, subject to applicable law, select the Notes of such series to be redeemed pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Note of any series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note of such series will state the portion of the principal amount of such Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of such Note will be issued in the name of the holder of such Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes of a series are held by the Depositary, the redemption of the Notes of such series shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depositary.
The Trustee shall make the selection of Notes to be redeemed from outstanding Notes of such series not previously called for redemption. Provisions of this Second Supplemental Indenture that apply to the Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of the Notes called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of the Notes or portions of the Notes to be redeemed.
Section 3.04 Notice of Redemption.
At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date of any series of Notes, the Company shall send a notice of redemption by first-class mail or by electronic transmission to each Holder of such series of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address; provided, that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to the redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.
29
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including the series, issue date, interest rate and maturity date) and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date;
(c) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(d) that the Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(e) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed;
(f) if the Notes are to be redeemed in part, upon surrender of such Notes, the Holder will receive, without charge, a new Note for the principal amount remaining unredeemed;
(g) that, unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption;
(h) any conditions applicable to a redemption;
(i) the CUSIP number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed;
(j) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and
(k) that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption may be delayed until such time as any or all of the conditions stated in the notice shall be satisfied (or waived by the Company in its sole discretion), or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all of the conditions stated in the notice shall not have been satisfied or waived by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed.
At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least three Business Days before the notice of redemption is to be sent to Holders (unless the Trustee agrees to a shorter period), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information required by this Section 3.04.
In connection with any redemption of Notes described in this Section 3.04, any such redemption and/or notice of redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including the completion of any related refinancing or a Change of Control. In addition, if such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more
30
conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed.
Section 3.05 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is sent, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions stated therein, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, the Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest, if any, to the redemption date; provided, however, that installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on such Interest Payment Date to the registered Holders as of the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date according to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.
Section 3.06 Deposit of Redemption Price.
Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.07 Notes Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate for the Holder (at the Company’s expense), a new Note of such series equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Notes surrendered.
ARTICLE IV
SPECIAL MANDATORY REDEMPTION
Section 4.01 Special Mandatory Redemption.
(a) If a Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem all of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of each series of Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price applicable to such series of Notes.
(b) The Company will cause a notice of Special Mandatory Redemption, in the form of the corresponding Annex attached hereto, to be electronically delivered or mailed to the Trustee and electronically delivered or mailed to each Holder of record of the Notes to be redeemed no later than the fifth Business Day following the Special Mandatory Redemption Event, which shall provide for the redemption of the Notes of each series on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.
31
(c) Upon the deposit of funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price of all Notes to be redeemed on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date with the Paying Agent by no later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Notes shall cease to bear interest, and all rights and obligations under the Notes shall terminate.
(d) The notice of a Special Mandatory Redemption Event shall state:
(i) the Special Mandatory Redemption Date;
(ii) the Special Mandatory Redemption Price;
(iii) that on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Special Mandatory Redemption Price shall become due and payable; and
(iv) that unless the Company defaults in payment of the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, the Notes shall cease to bear interest on and after the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.
(e) The Trustee shall have no responsibility for any calculation or determination in respect of the Special Mandatory Redemption Event or the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, or any component thereof, and shall be entitled to receive, and fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate from the Company that states that the occurrence of such Special Mandatory Redemption Event and such Special Mandatory Redemption Price.
(f) For the purposes of this Section, the terms below are defined as follows:
“JDE Peet’s Acquisition” means the acquisition by KDP Parent (or one of its Subsidiaries) of JDE Peet’s pursuant to the Merger Protocol including the public offer (openbaar bod) for all issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of JDE Peet’s referred to therein.
“Merger Protocol” means the merger protocol, dated August 24, 2025, between KDP Parent and JDE Peet’s, relating to the tender offer to acquire all of the issued ordinary shares of JDE Peet’s, for a cash offer price of €31.85 per share.
“Special Mandatory Redemption Date” means the date that is no later than 10 Business Days following any Special Mandatory Redemption Event.
32
“Special Mandatory Redemption Event” means the earliest to occur of: (i) the JDE Peet’s Acquisition not occurring on or prior to February 24, 2027, (ii) KDP Parent notifies the Trustee in writing that the Merger Protocol has terminated in accordance with its terms prior to the consummation of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition or (iii) KDP Parent notifies the Trustee in writing and publicly announces that KDP Parent will not pursue consummation of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition.
“Special Mandatory Redemption Price” means the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of such Notes to, but not including, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).
(g) If funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price of the Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date are deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by no later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, then, on and after such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, such Notes shall cease to bear interest.
ARTICLE V
CHANGE OF CONTROL
Section 5.01 Change of Control.
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event with respect to a series of Notes, unless such Notes have been called for redemption pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof, with such notice of redemption delivered on or before 30 days after such Change of Control Triggering Event, each Holder of such Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of $1,000) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).
(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any proposed Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the proposed Change of Control, the Company shall send, or cause to be sent, a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and specifying:
(i) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 5.01 and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment;
33
(ii) the Change of Control Payment and the purchase date, which shall be a Business Day no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);
(iii) the CUSIP numbers for the Notes;
(iv) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;
(v) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control Payment Date;
(vi) that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date;
(vii) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election referred to in clause (vi) if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes purchased;
(viii) that Holders whose Notes of any series are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes of such series equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion will be equal to a minimum of $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; and
(ix) if the notice is sent prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, (A) a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change in Control, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change in Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time the Change of Control Offer is made and (B) the consummation of the JDE Peet’s Acquisition and the Separation, and any actions taken by any of KDP Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries that is required in connection with or incidental to the JDE Peet’s Acquisition or the Separation, shall be expressly permitted by the Indenture and the Notes of each series, and shall not require KDP Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries to take any action that might have otherwise been required under the Indenture or the Notes of any series.
(c) The Company shall cause the Change of Control Offer to remain open for at least 20 Business Days or such longer period as is required by applicable law. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 5.01, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 5.01 by virtue of such conflict.
34
(d) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:
(i) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and
(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased by the Company.
(e) Upon receipt of the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, the Paying Agent will promptly send to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee will promptly authenticate and send (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note of the same series equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Note will be equal to a minimum of $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
(f) The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 5.01 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer. In addition, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.01, if an Event of Default exists under the Indenture (which is unrelated to the repurchase provisions of this Section 5.01), including Events of Default arising with respect to other series of Securities, the Company shall not be required to repurchase the Notes.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
The covenants set forth in this Article V shall be applicable to the Company in addition to the covenants in Article III of the Base Indenture, which shall in all respects be applicable in respect of the Notes. Prior to the Separation, KDP Parent shall be deemed the Company for all purposes under Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 and 6.04. Following the Separation, the Issuer shall be deemed the Company for all purposes under Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 and 6.04.
35
Section 6.01 Limitation on Secured Indebtedness.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur, issue, assume, or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by a Lien on any Principal Property or on any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company owning any Principal Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, without effectively providing that the outstanding Notes and the Securities Guarantees (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created which is not subordinate to the Notes or the Securities Guarantees) shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such secured Indebtedness so long as such secured Indebtedness shall be so secured. The foregoing restrictions do not apply to:
(a) Permitted Encumbrances;
(b) Liens on any asset or property existing at the date of this Second Supplemental Indenture, provided that,
(i) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than the proceeds or products of the property or asset originally subject to such Liens), and
(ii) such Liens shall secure only those obligations which they secure on the date of this Second Supplemental Indenture and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(c) Liens on any asset or property of any corporation or other Person existing at the time such corporation or other Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, provided that,
(i) such Liens were in existence prior to such corporation or other Person becoming an obligor under the Indenture, or becoming a Subsidiary of the Company or such merger or consolidation and shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company (other than the proceeds or products of the property or asset originally subject to such Liens), and
(ii) such Liens shall secure only those obligations which they secure on the date that such corporation or other Person becomes an obligor under the Notes, a Subsidiary of the Company or the date of such merger or consolidation, and
(iii) extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(d) Liens securing Indebtedness of:
(i) a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company, the Issuer (if the Issuer is not the Company) or a Guarantor,
36
(ii) the Company to a Guarantor or the Issuer (if the Issuer is not the Company), or
(iii) the Company, the Issuer (if the Issuer is not the Company) or a Guarantor to the Company, the Issuer (if the Issuer is not the Company) or another Guarantor;
(e) Liens on any property or asset to secure the payment of all or any part of the Capital Lease Obligations or purchase price of such property or asset upon the acquisition or lease of such property or asset by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or to secure any Indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 12 months after, the later of the date of acquisition or lease of such property or asset and the date such property or asset is placed in service, for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof or Capital Lease Obligations with respect thereto, or Liens to secure any Indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing the cost to the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company of construction, alteration or improvement to such acquired property or asset;
(f) Liens securing industrial revenue bonds, pollution control bonds or other similar tax-exempt bonds;
(g) any other Liens incidental to construction or maintenance of real property of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which were not incurred in connection with borrowing money or obtaining advances or credits or the acquisition of property or assets and in the aggregate do not materially impair the use of any property or assets or which are being contested in good faith by the Company or such Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable;
(h) Liens relating to accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which have been sold, assigned or otherwise transferred to another Person in a transaction classified as a sale of accounts receivable in accordance with GAAP (to the extent the sale by the Company or the applicable Subsidiary is deemed to give rise to a lien in favor of the purchaser thereof in such accounts); or
(i) any extension, renewal or replacement (including successive extensions, renewals or replacements), as a whole or in part, of any of the Liens enumerated in clauses (a) through (h) above; provided, however, that:
(i) such extension, renewal or replacement Liens are limited to all or part of the same property or asset that secured the Liens extended, renewed, or replaced (plus improvements on such property or asset), and
(ii) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens at such time is not increased.
37
Section 6.02 Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.
The Company shall not directly or indirectly, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly to, engage in the sale or transfer of any Principal Property to a Person and the taking back by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of a lease of such Principal Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, unless:
(a) such transaction was entered into prior to date of this Second Supplemental Indenture;
(b) the Person purchasing the Principal Property and transferring it back to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the Company, the Issuer (if not the Company) or a Subsidiary of the Company;
(c) such transaction involves a lease for not more than three years;
(d) such transaction occurs within 12 months from the date of acquisition of the subject Principal Property or the date of the completion of construction or commencement of full operations of such Principal Property, whichever is later;
(e) the Company or such Subsidiary under Sections 6.01(a) through (i) of this Second Supplemental Indenture may incur Attributable Debt secured by a Lien with respect to such sale and leaseback transaction without equally and ratably securing the Notes; or
(f) the Company or such Subsidiary applies an amount equal to the net proceeds from the sale of such Principal Property to the purchase of other property or assets used or useful in its business or to the retirement of Funded Debt within 12 months before or after the effective date of any such sale and leaseback transaction; provided that, in lieu of applying such amount to the retirement of Funded Debt, the Company or such Subsidiary may deliver any of the Notes in equal principal amount to the Trustee for cancellation, such Notes to be credited to the amount of net proceeds from the sale of such property or assets at the cost of acquisition of such Notes to the Company or such Subsidiary.
Section 6.03 Exceptions.
(a) Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in Section 6.01 of this Second Supplemental Indenture, the Company and its Subsidiaries will be permitted to incur, issue, assume or guarantee Indebtedness secured by a Lien on any Principal Property or on any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company owning any Principal Property which would otherwise be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6.01 of this Second Supplemental Indenture without equally and ratably securing the Notes and the Securities Guarantees, if as of the time of such incurrence, issuance, assumption or guarantee, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness secured by Liens on any Principal Property or on any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company owning any Principal Property (not including Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted under clauses (a) through (i) of Section 6.01), together (without duplication) with the aggregate amount of Attributable Debt outstanding in respect of sale and leaseback transactions entered into pursuant Section 6.03(b), does not at the time exceed 15% of Consolidated Total Assets of the Company calculated as of the time of such incurrence, issuance, assumption or guarantee of secured Indebtedness.
38
(b) Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in Section 6.02 of this Second Supplemental Indenture, the Company and its Subsidiaries may enter into any sale and leaseback transaction which would otherwise be prohibited by Section 6.02, if as of the time of entering into such sale and leaseback transaction, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt with respect to sale and leaseback transactions (not including Attributable Debt with respect to sale and leaseback transactions permitted under clauses (a) through (f) of Section 6.02), together (without duplication) with the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness secured by Liens on any Principal Property or on any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company owning any Principal Property outstanding pursuant to Section 6.03(a), does not at the time exceed 15% of Consolidated Total Assets of the Company calculated as of the time of entry into such sale and leaseback transaction.
Section 6.04 Reports.
(a) The Company will provide the Trustee with copies of its annual report and the information, documents and other reports which the Company files with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, within 15 days after the Company files such annual report, documents and other reports with the SEC. In addition, the Company will comply with the other provisions of Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The requirement for the Company to provide such reports, documents and information pursuant to this Section 6.04 may be satisfied by filing of such reports, documents and information via the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor electronic filing system) or posting such reports, documents and information on its website, in each case within the time periods specified herein.
(c) Delivery of such reports, information and documents pursuant to this Section 6.04 to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt thereof will not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s or any other person’s compliance with any of the covenants under the Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee will not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s or any other person’s compliance with any of the covenants described herein and in the Base Indenture or to determine whether such reports, information or documents have been filed via the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor electronic filing system) or posted on any website or other online data system or to participate in any conference calls.
(d) If, in connection with the Separation, the Company is contributed to or otherwise becomes a wholly-owned Subsidiary of another Person, such Person guarantees the Notes and such Person files reports with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (such Person, “New Parent Guarantor”), then for so long as the New Parent Guarantor is a guarantor of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture, New Parent Guarantor shall be deemed the Company for all purposes of this Section 6.04.
39
(e) In addition, unless it is then subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(d) or 15 of the Exchange Act, the Company, KDP Parent or the New Parent Guarantor, as applicable, will, upon request, furnish to any prospective purchaser of the Notes or beneficial owner of the Notes in connection with any sale thereof the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act, so long as any Notes remain outstanding and constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act.
Section 6.05 Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets of KDP Parent.
(a) Prior to the Separation, KDP Parent will not consolidate or combine with or merge with or into or, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, convey, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person or Persons in a single transaction or through a series of transactions, unless:
(i) KDP Parent shall be the successor or continuing person or, if KDP Parent is not the successor or continuing person, the resulting, surviving or transferee person (the “surviving parent entity”) is a company organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that expressly assumes all of KDP Parent’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee;
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of transactions, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and
(iii) KDP Parent or the surviving parent entity will have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that the transaction or series of transactions and a supplemental indenture, if any, complies with the Indenture.
(b) If, prior to the Separation, any consolidation or merger or any sale, assignment, conveyance, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of KDP Parent’s assets occurs in accordance with the Indenture, the surviving parent entity will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of KDP Parent under the Indenture with the same effect as if such surviving parent entity had been named as KDP Parent. KDP Parent will (except in the case of a lease) be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and any debt securities issued thereunder.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in the Indenture to the contrary, KDP Parent may merge or consolidate into or with the Company or any other Guarantor.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in the Indenture to the contrary, the consummation of the Separation, and any action taken by any of KDP Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries that is required in connection with or incidental to the Separation, shall not be deemed, individually or in the aggregate, to be a sale, assignment, conveyance, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of KDP Parent or the Company to any Person or Persons.
40
ARTICLE VII
AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND; SECURITIES GUARANTEE
Section 7.01 Agreements to be Bound. Each Guarantor hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Guarantor and as such shall have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture. The Guarantors agree to be bound by all of the provisions of the Indenture applicable to a Guarantor and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.
Section 7.02 Guarantees. Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees, jointly and severally with each other Guarantor, to each Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Maturity, by redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the other guaranteed obligations of the Company set forth in Article X of the Base Indenture. The terms of each Securities Guarantee are more fully set forth in Article X of the Base Indenture and this Article VII, and each Guarantor agrees to be bound by such terms.
Section 7.03 Release and Discharge. Notwithstanding Section 10.3(b) of the Base Indenture, the Securities Guarantee of a Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged, without the consent of the Holders, and no further action by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee shall be required for such release and discharge (unless the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing that no release and discharge shall occur as a result thereof):
(a) (i) prior to the Separation, upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of such Guarantor (other than KDP Parent) to a person or entity other than KDP Parent or any of KDP Parent’s Subsidiaries in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture and (ii) following the Separation, upon the sale or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of such Guarantor to a Person other than the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture;
(b) in the case of the Parent Guarantor, if applicable, upon any merger or consolidation of the Parent Guarantor with the Company in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture;
(c) upon the Company’s exercise of its legal defeasance option under Section 8.2 of the Base Indenture in a manner not otherwise prohibited by the terms of the Indenture;
(d) with respect to the Securities Guarantee of JDE Peet’s only (to the extent the JDE Peet’s Guarantee Trigger Date has occurred), immediately upon such time as (i) no more than $1,000 million in aggregate principal amount of Capital Markets Indebtedness issued by JDE Peet’s remains outstanding and (ii) after giving effect to such release and any other releases effected prior to or substantially concurrently therewith, JDE Peet’s would not be required to guarantee any series of Notes pursuant to Section 7.04 hereof; or
41
(e) with respect to the Securities Guarantees of KDP Parent and the KDP Guarantors only, immediately upon the occurrence of the Separation.
Section 7.04 Future Guarantors.
(a) Prior to the occurrence of the Separation, KDP Parent shall cause any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company) that guarantee, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness of KDP Parent to, within 30 days of incurrence of such guarantee, execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplement to the Indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will guarantee payment of the Notes of each series on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in the Indenture. Thereafter, such Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of the Indenture until such Securities Guarantee is released in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
(b) From the occurrence of the Separation, the Company shall cause any Subsidiary of the Company that guarantees, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness of the Company to, within 30 days of incurrence of such guarantee, execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplement to the Indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will guarantee payment of the Notes of each series on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in the Indenture. Thereafter, such Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of the Indenture until such Securities Guarantee is released in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
(c) No later than the JDE Peet’s Guarantee Trigger Date, the Company shall cause JDE Peet’s to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplement to the Indenture pursuant to which JDE Peet’s will guarantee payment of the Notes on the same terms and conditions as those set forth in the Indenture. Thereafter, JDE Peet’s shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of the Indenture until such Securities Guarantee is released in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
ARTICLE VIII
INTEREST RATE ADJUSTMENTS
Section 8.01 Interest Rate Adjustments Based on Rating Events.
(a) Subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 8.01, if the rating of a series of Notes from one or both of Moody’s or S&P (or, if applicable, any Substitute Rating Agency) is decreased to a rating set forth in the immediately following table (the “Interest Rate Adjustment Table”), the interest rate of such series of Notes will increase from the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance by an amount equal to the percentage set forth opposite such rating:
| Moody’s Rating* |
S&P Rating* | Percentage | ||||||
| Ba1 |
BB+ | 0.25 | % | |||||
| Ba2 |
BB | 0.50 | % | |||||
| Ba3 |
BB- | 0.75 | % | |||||
| B1 or below |
B+ or below | 1.00 | % | |||||
| * | Including the equivalent ratings of any Substitute Rating Agency. |
42
(b) Each adjustment required by any decrease or increase in a rating set forth in the Interest Rate Adjustment Table, whether occasioned by the action of Moody’s or S&P (or, in either case, any Substitute Rating Agency), shall be made independent of any and all other adjustments.
(c) No adjustment in the interest rate on any series of Notes shall be made solely as a result of an Interest Rate Rating Agency ceasing to provide a rating on such series of Notes. If at any time fewer than two Interest Rate Rating Agencies provide a rating on any series of Notes for reasons beyond the Company’s control, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a rating on such series of Notes from a Substitute Rating Agency, in which case, for purposes of determining any increase or decrease in the per annum interest rate on such series of Notes pursuant to the Interest Rate Adjustment Table, (1) such Substitute Rating Agency will be substituted for the last Interest Rate Rating Agency to provide a rating on such series of Notes but which has since ceased to provide such rating, (2) the relative ratings scale used by such Substitute Rating Agency to assign ratings to senior unsecured debt will be determined in good faith by an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company and, for purposes of determining the applicable ratings included in the table above with respect to such Substitute Rating Agency, such ratings shall be deemed to be the equivalent ratings used by Moody’s or S&P, as applicable, in such table, and (3) any increase or decrease in the interest rate on such series of Notes as a result of an upgrade or downgrade by such Substitute Rating Agency will be determined by reference to the appropriate percentage, if any, set forth opposite the deemed equivalent rating from such Substitute Rating Agency in the Interest Rate Adjustment Table (taking into account the provisions of clause (2) of this Section 8.01(c)) (plus any applicable percentage resulting from a decreased or subsequently increased rating by the other Interest Rate Rating Agency).
(d) For so long as (a) only one Interest Rate Rating Agency provides a rating on any series of Notes, any increase or decrease in the interest rate on such series of Notes necessitated by a decrease or increase in the applicable rating by that Interest Rate Rating Agency shall be twice the applicable percentage set forth in the Interest Rate Adjustment Table and (b) no Interest Rate Rating Agency provides a rating on any series of Notes, the interest rate on such series of Notes will increase to, or remain at, as the case may be, 2.00% above the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance.
(e) In no event shall (x) the interest rate for any series of Notes be reduced to below the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance or (y) the total increase in the interest rate on such series of Notes exceed 2.00% above the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance pursuant to this Section 8.01.
43
(f) If Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate any series of Notes or make a rating of such series of Notes publicly available for reasons within the Company’s control, the Company will not be entitled to obtain a rating from a Substitute Rating Agency and the increase or decrease in the per annum interest rate on such series of Notes shall be determined in the manner described in this Section 8.01 as if either only one or no Interest Rate Rating Agency provides a rating on such series of Notes, as the case may be.
(g) If at any time the interest rate on any series of Notes has been adjusted upward and any Interest Rate Rating Agency subsequently increases its rating of such series of Notes, the interest rate on such series of Notes will be decreased such that the interest rate on such series of Notes equals the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance plus the applicable percentages set forth opposite the ratings in effect immediately following the increase in the Interest Rate Adjustment Table; provided that if Moody’s (or any Substitute Rating Agency) subsequently increases its rating on such series of Notes to “Baa3” or higher (or its equivalent, in the case of any Substitute Rating Agency) and if S&P (or any Substitute Rating Agency) subsequently increases its rating on such series of Notes to “BBB-” or higher (or its equivalent, in the case of any Substitute Rating Agency), the per annum interest rate on such series of Notes will be decreased to the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of their initial issuance.
(h) Any interest rate increase or decrease described above will take effect from the first day of the first interest payment period following the interest payment period during which a rating change occurs that requires an adjustment in the interest rate. As such, interest will not accrue at such increased or decreased rate until the next interest payment date following the date on which a rating change occurs.
(i) If any Interest Rate Rating Agency changes its rating of any series of Notes more than once during any particular interest period, the last such change by such agency to occur will control in the event of a conflict for purposes of any interest rate increase or decrease with respect to such series of Notes pursuant to this Section 8.01.
(j) The interest rate on any series of Notes shall permanently cease to be subject to any adjustment pursuant to this Section 8.01 (notwithstanding any subsequent decrease in the ratings by any Interest Rate Rating Agency) if such series of Notes become rated “Baa1” or higher (or its equivalent, in the case of any Substitute Rating Agency) by Moody’s (or any Substitute Rating Agency) and “BBB+” or higher (or its equivalent, in the case of any Substitute Rating Agency) by S&P (or any Substitute Rating Agency), or one of those ratings if rated by only one Interest Rate Rating Agency, with a stable or positive outlook.
(k) If the interest rate payable on any series of Notes is increased pursuant to this Section 8.01 or the following Section 8.02, the term “interest”, as used with respect to such series of Notes, shall be deemed to include any such additional interest pursuant to this Section 8.01 or “Additional Interest” payable as a consequence of a “Registration Default,” in each case as defined in, and in accordance with, the Registration Rights Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires.
44
(l) The Company is solely responsible for calculating any adjustment of the interest rate. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing upon becoming aware of any change to the interest rate pursuant to this Section 8.01 or the following Section 8.02. In the case of Global Notes, any change to the interest rate shall be made in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall have any duty to calculate or verify the interest rate or to determine whether the interest rate should be adjusted or the amount of any such adjustment. The Trustee shall have no obligation to independently determine or verify if an event has occurred or notify the Holders of any event dependent upon the rating of the Notes, or if the rating on the Notes has been changed, suspended or withdrawn by any Interest Rate Rating Agency.
Section 8.02 Registration Default.
(a) If a Registration Default occurs with respect to the Notes of a particular series that are registrable securities (as that term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), then additional interest shall accrue on the principal amount of the Notes of such series that are registrable securities at a rate of 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period beginning on the day immediately following such Registration Default (which rate will be increased by an additional 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 90-day period that such additional interest continues to accrue, provided that the rate at which such additional interest accrues may in no event exceed 1.00% per annum) (the “Additional Interest”). The Additional Interest will cease to accrue when the Registration Default is cured in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement. The foregoing amounts shall not increase, even if more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Holder of Notes who is not entitled to the benefits of the shelf registration statement shall not be entitled to any increase in the interest rate borne by the Notes as a result of a registration default that pertains to the shelf registration statement. Any amounts of Additional Interest due will be payable in cash on the same original interest payment dates as interest on the Notes is payable. For the avoidance of doubt, no Additional Interest shall be required to be paid unless such Additional Interest is required to be paid under the Registration Rights Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.01 Ratification of Indenture.
This Second Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplement to the Base Indenture, and as supplemented and modified hereby, the Base Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.
Section 9.02 Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Second Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision that is required or deemed to be included in this Second Supplemental Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the required or deemed provision shall control.
45
Section 9.03 Notices.
All notices and other communications shall be given as provided in the Base Indenture; provided that notices to a Guarantor shall be given to such Guarantor in care of the Company; provided further that any notice or communication mailed to the Company or the Trustee shall be addressed as follows:
if to the Company:
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
Attention: Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel
if to the Trustee:
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
Section 9.04 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.
THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE SECURITIES GUARANTEES AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
Section 9.05 Successors.
All agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in this Second Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind their successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Second Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.
Section 9.06 Multiple Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Second Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Second Supplemental Indenture.
46
Section 9.07 Headings.
The headings of the Articles and Sections of this Second Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 9.08 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals.
The recitals contained herein shall be taken as statements of the Company and the Guarantors, and the Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Second Supplemental Indenture, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Second Supplemental Indenture and perform its obligations hereunder. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee by reason of this Second Supplemental Indenture. In acting hereunder and with respect to the Notes, each of the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee acknowledges and agrees that all of the rights, privileges, protections, indemnities, immunities and benefits afforded to the Trustee under the Indenture, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are deemed to be incorporated herein, and shall be enforceable by the Trustee hereunder, in each of its capacities hereunder as if set forth herein in full.
Section 9.09 Force Majeure.
In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, (i) any act or provision of present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, (ii) labor disputes, strikes or work stoppages, (iii) accidents, (iv) acts of war or terrorism, (v) civil or military disturbances or unrest, (vi) nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, (vii) epidemics or pandemics, (viii) disease, (ix) national emergency, (x) interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, (xi) communications system failure, (xii) malware or ransomware, (xiii) the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire, telex or other communication or wire facility or (xiv) unavailability of any securities clearing system; it being understood that the Trustee shall undertake commercially reasonable efforts to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 9.10 Damages.
In no event shall the Trustee be liable to any Person for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
47
Section 9.11 U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
The parties acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
Section 9.12 Electronic Signatures.
This Second Supplemental Indenture and any certificate, agreement or other document to be signed in connection with this Second Supplemental Indenture and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) an original manual signature, (ii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or (iii) in the case of this Second Supplemental Indenture and any certificate, agreement or other document to be signed in connection with this Second Supplemental Indenture and the transactions contemplated hereby, any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (collectively, “Signature Law”). Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. For avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the Uniform Commercial Code or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings. For the avoidance of doubt, all notices, approvals, consents, requests and any communications hereunder or with respect to the Notes must be in writing (provided that any communication sent to Trustee hereunder must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by DocuSign or Adobe (or such other digital signature provider as specified in writing to Trustee by the authorized representative)), in English. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to Trustee, including without limitation the risk of Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
[Signature page follows]
48
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Second Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: | ||
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
| KDP PARENT: | ||
| KEURIG DR PEPPER INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
[Signature Page to the Second Supplemental Indenture]
| GUARANTORS: | ||
| 234DP AVIATION, LLC | ||
| A & W CONCENTRATE COMPANY | ||
| BAI BRANDS LLC | ||
| BEVERAGES DELAWARE INC. | ||
| DP BEVERAGES INC. | ||
| DPS AMERICAS BEVERAGES, LLC | ||
| DPS BEVERAGES, INC. | ||
| DPS HOLDINGS INC. | ||
| DR PEPPER/SEVEN-UP BEVERAGE SALES COMPANY | ||
| DR PEPPER/SEVEN UP MANUFACTURING COMPANY | ||
| DR PEPPER/SEVEN UP, INC. | ||
| MOTT’S DELAWARE LLC | ||
| MOTT’S LLP | ||
| NANTUCKET ALLSERVE, LLC | ||
| SNAPPLE BEVERAGE CORP. | ||
| SPLASH TRANSPORT, INC. | ||
| THE AMERICAN BOTTLING COMPANY | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
[Signature Page to the Second Supplemental Indenture]
| TRUSTEE: | ||
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: | /s/ James Byrnes | |
| Name: James Byrnes | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
[Signature Page to the Second Supplemental Indenture]
SCHEDULE I
LIST OF GUARANTORS
| 234DP Aviation, LLC |
| A & W Concentrate Company |
| Bai Brands LLC |
| Beverages Delaware Inc. |
| DP Beverages Inc. |
| DPS Americas Beverages, LLC |
| DPS Beverages, Inc. |
| DPS Holdings Inc. |
| Dr Pepper/Seven-Up Beverage Sales Company |
| Dr Pepper/Seven Up Manufacturing Company |
| Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. |
| Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. |
| Mott’s Delaware LLC |
| Mott’s LLP |
| Nantucket Allserve LLC |
| Snapple Beverage Corp. |
| Splash Transport, Inc. |
| The American Bottling Company |
Schedule I-1
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE DUE 2029
[Insert Global Notes Legend, if applicable]
[Insert Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable]
CUSIP NO. [56530K AA4][U5649L AA4]
ISIN NO. [US56530KAA43][USU5649LAA45]
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
4.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029
$__________ No.: [A][S]-__
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________ DOLLARS or such other Principal Amount as shall be set forth on Schedule I hereto on March 26, 2029 and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 4.750% per annum from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on March 26 and September 26 of each year, commencing September 26, 2026 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest rate on the Notes is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Indenture.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, which will be the March 11 and September 11 (whether or not such date is a Business Day), as the case may be (each, a “Regular Record Date”), immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and either may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to the Indenture (initially the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in St. Paul, Minnesota (the “Corporate Trust Office”)), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Payments of principal and interest at maturity will be made against presentation of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office (or such other office as may be established pursuant to the Indenture), by wire transfer.
A-1
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse side hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an authenticating agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[Signature Pages Follow]
A-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed in its name by the manual or facsimile signature of two of its Officers.
Date: March 26, 2026
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Anthony DiSilvestro | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
A-3
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: March 26, 2026
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Officer | ||
A-4
(Reverse of Note)
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
4.750% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029
1. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company designated as its 4.750% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) limited in aggregate principal amount to $__________ issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture), and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as so supplemented and as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors named therein and the Trustee. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof and interest thereon (including post-default interest), will constitute unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s current and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
2. The Notes are subject to redemption at any time and from time to time prior to the Par Call Date, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| (i) | (a)the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and |
| (ii) | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
“Par Call Date” means February 26, 2029.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
A-5
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (as applicable, the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
If on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date, but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date, and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
A-6
Notice of any redemption will be first-class mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. Any notice to Holders of Notes of a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 2 hereof will include, among other things set forth in the Indenture, the redemption date, the redemption price, the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date, and conditions applicable to redemption and the name and address of the Paying Agent.
In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by the Depositary, the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depositary.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
3. If a Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem the outstanding Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price.
4. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless all Notes have been called for redemption pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Note, each Holder of the Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of $1,000) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase. “Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event, as such terms are defined in the Indenture. The Change of Control Offer will be made in accordance with the terms specified in the Indenture.
5. The payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors, if any, on the terms set forth in the Indenture.
6. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
7. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
A-7
8. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
9. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, and duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
10. The Notes are issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000 in book-entry form only. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes in authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
11. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Paying Agent and/or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
12. Prior to the due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
13. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months. Interest shall be payable to and excluding any Interest Payment Date or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the succeeding Business Day and Holders will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment as a result of such delay.
14. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
A-8
15. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Securities Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be effective to waive or release liabilities under the federal securities laws.
16. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
17. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUT (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
18. Each Holder of this Note covenants and agrees by such Holder’s acceptance thereof to comply with and be bound by the foregoing provisions.
19. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. All capitalized terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
A-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
|
|
|
|
|
|
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ___________________________________ attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: __________________________
Signature: ____________________________
| NOTICE: | THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. |
Signature Guarantee:
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A-10
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is [one year]1 [40 days]2 after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
| (1) | ☐ to the Company; or |
| (2) | ☐ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or |
| (3) | ☐ inside the United States to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or |
| (4) | ☐ to a non-United States person outside the United States in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
| (5) | ☐ pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirement of the Securities Act. |
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Signature |
| 1 | Rule 144A notes only |
| 2 | Regulation S notes only |
A-11
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH
TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]3
[Date]
Attention:
Re: Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”)
4.750% Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale or other transfer of $__________________ aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
| (1) | the offer of the Notes was not made to a Person in the United States; |
| (2) | either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any Person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any Person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States; |
| (3) | no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable; |
| (4) | the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and |
| (5) | we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes. |
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| [Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signature | ||
| 3 | Regulation S notes only |
A-12
[FORM OF EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE]4
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Transfer Agent
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
| Re: | Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) |
4.750% Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”) and the Second Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, as issuer, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Notes or an interest in the Notes, in the principal amount of $__________ in such Notes or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that in connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Regulation S Global Note for a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Notes or interest in the Notes are being transferred to a Person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company and are dated ______________________.
| [Insert Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Dated: ______________________
| 4 | Regulation S notes only |
A-13
Schedule I
SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES
The following increases or decreases in Principal Amount of this Global Security have been made:
| Date of Exchange |
Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Amount of Increase in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Principal Amount of this Global Security following such Decrease or Increase |
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Trustee or Notes Custodian | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
A-14
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE DUE 2031
[Insert Global Notes Legend, if applicable]
[Insert Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable]
CUSIP NO. [56530K AB2][U5649L AB2]
ISIN NO. [US56530KAB26][USU5649LAB28]
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
5.050% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2031
$__________ No.: [A][S]-__
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________ DOLLARS or such other Principal Amount as shall be set forth on Schedule I hereto on March 26, 2031 and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 5.050% per annum from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on March 26 and September 26 of each year, commencing September 26, 2026 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest rate on the Notes is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Indenture.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, which will be the March 11 and September 11 (whether or not such date is a Business Day), as the case may be (each, a “Regular Record Date”), immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and either may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to the Indenture (initially the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in St. Paul, Minnesota (the “Corporate Trust Office”)), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Payments of principal and interest at maturity will be made against presentation of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office (or such other office as may be established pursuant to the Indenture), by wire transfer.
B-1
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse side hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an authenticating agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[Signature Pages Follow]
B-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed in its name by the manual or facsimile signature of two of its Officers.
Date: March 26, 2026
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Anthony DiSilvestro | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
B-3
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: March 26, 2026
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Officer | ||
B-4
(Reverse of Note)
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
5.050% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2031
1. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company designated as its 5.050% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”) limited in aggregate principal amount to $__________ issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture), and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as so supplemented and as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors named therein and the Trustee. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof and interest thereon (including post-default interest), will constitute unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s current and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
2. The Notes are subject to redemption at any time and from time to time prior to the Par Call Date, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| (i) | (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and |
| (ii) | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
“Par Call Date” means February 26, 2031.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
B-5
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (as applicable, the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
If on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date, but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date, and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
B-6
Notice of any redemption will be first-class mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. Any notice to Holders of Notes of a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 2 hereof will include, among other things set forth in the Indenture, the redemption date, the redemption price, the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date, and conditions applicable to redemption and the name and address of the Paying Agent.
In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by the Depositary, the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depositary.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
3. If a Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem the outstanding Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price.
4. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless all Notes have been called for redemption pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Note, each Holder of the Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of $1,000) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase. “Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event, as such terms are defined in the Indenture. The Change of Control Offer will be made in accordance with the terms specified in the Indenture.
5. The payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors, if any, on the terms set forth in the Indenture.
6. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
7. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
B-7
8. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
9. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, and duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
10. The Notes are issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000 in book-entry form only. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes in authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
11. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Paying Agent and/or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
12. Prior to the due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
13. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months. Interest shall be payable to and excluding any Interest Payment Date or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the succeeding Business Day and Holders will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment as a result of such delay.
14. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Securities Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be effective to waive or release liabilities under the federal securities laws.
B-8
16. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
17. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUT (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
18. Each Holder of this Note covenants and agrees by such Holder’s acceptance thereof to comply with and be bound by the foregoing provisions.
19. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. All capitalized terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
B-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ___________________________________ attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: __________________________
Signature: ____________________________
| NOTICE: | THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. |
Signature Guarantee:
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
B-10
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is [one year]5 [40 days]6 after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
| (1) | ☐ to the Company; or |
| (2) | ☐ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or |
| (3) | ☐ inside the United States to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or |
| (4) | ☐ to a non-United States person outside the United States in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
| (5) | ☐ pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirement of the Securities Act. |
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Signature |
| 5 | Rule 144A notes only |
| 6 | Regulation S notes only |
B-11
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH
TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]7
[Date]
Attention:
Re: Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”)
5.050% Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale or other transfer of $__________________ aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
| (1) | the offer of the Notes was not made to a Person in the United States; |
| (2) | either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any Person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any Person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States; |
| (3) | no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable; |
| (4) | the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and |
| (5) | we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes. |
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| [Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signature | ||
| 7 | Regulation S notes only |
B-12
[FORM OF EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE]8
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Transfer Agent
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
Re: Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”)
5.050% Notes due 2031 (the “Notes”)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”) and the Second Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, as issuer, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Notes or an interest in the Notes, in the principal amount of $__________ in such Notes or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that in connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Regulation S Global Note for a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Notes or interest in the Notes are being transferred to a Person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company and are dated ______________________.
| [Insert Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Dated: ______________________
| 8 | Regulation S notes only |
B-13
Schedule I
SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES
The following increases or decreases in Principal Amount of this Global Security have been made:
| Date of Exchange |
Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Amount of Increase in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Principal Amount of this Global Security following such Decrease or Increase |
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Trustee or Notes Custodian | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
B-14
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE DUE 2036
[Insert Global Notes Legend, if applicable]
[Insert Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable]
CUSIP NO. [56530K AC0][U5649L AC0]
ISIN NO. [US56530KAC09][USU5649LAC01]
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
5.700% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2036
$__________ No.: [A][S]-__
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________ DOLLARS or such other Principal Amount as shall be set forth on Schedule I hereto on March 26, 2036 and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 5.700% per annum from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on March 26 and September 26 of each year, commencing September 26, 2026 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest rate on the Notes is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Indenture.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, which will be the March 11 and September 11 (whether or not such date is a Business Day), as the case may be (each, a “Regular Record Date”), immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and either may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to the Indenture (initially the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in St. Paul, Minnesota (the “Corporate Trust Office”)), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Payments of principal and interest at maturity will be made against presentation of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office (or such other office as may be established pursuant to the Indenture), by wire transfer.
C-1
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse side hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an authenticating agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[Signature Pages Follow]
C-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed in its name by the manual or facsimile signature of two of its Officers.
Date: March 26, 2026
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Anthony DiSilvestro | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
C-3
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: March 26, 2026
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Officer | ||
C-4
(Reverse of Note)
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
5.700% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2036
1. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company designated as its 5.700% Senior Notes due 2036 (the “Notes”) limited in aggregate principal amount to $__________ issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture), and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as so supplemented and as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors named therein and the Trustee. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof and interest thereon (including post-default interest), will constitute unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s current and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
2. The Notes are subject to redemption at any time and from time to time prior to the Par Call Date, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| (i) | (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and |
| (ii) | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
“Par Call Date” means December 26, 2035.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
C-5
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (as applicable, the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
If on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date, but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date, and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
C-6
Notice of any redemption will be first-class mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. Any notice to Holders of Notes of a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 2 hereof will include, among other things set forth in the Indenture, the redemption date, the redemption price, the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date, and conditions applicable to redemption and the name and address of the Paying Agent.
In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by the Depositary, the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depositary.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
3. If a Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem the outstanding Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price.
4. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless all Notes have been called for redemption pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Note, each Holder of the Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of $1,000) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase. “Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event, as such terms are defined in the Indenture. The Change of Control Offer will be made in accordance with the terms specified in the Indenture.
5. The payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors, if any, on the terms set forth in the Indenture.
6. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
7. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
C-7
8. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
9. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, and duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
10. The Notes are issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000 in book-entry form only. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes in authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
11. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Paying Agent and/or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
12. Prior to the due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
13. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months. Interest shall be payable to and excluding any Interest Payment Date or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the succeeding Business Day and Holders will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment as a result of such delay.
14. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Securities Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be effective to waive or release liabilities under the federal securities laws.
C-8
16. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
17. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUT (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
18. Each Holder of this Note covenants and agrees by such Holder’s acceptance thereof to comply with and be bound by the foregoing provisions.
19. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. All capitalized terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
C-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ___________________________________ attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: __________________________
Signature: ____________________________
| NOTICE: | THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. |
Signature Guarantee:
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
C-10
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is [one year]9 [40 days]10 after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
| (1) | ☐ to the Company; or |
| (2) | ☐ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or |
| (3) | ☐ inside the United States to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or |
| (4) | ☐ to a non-United States person outside the United States in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
| (5) | ☐ pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirement of the Securities Act. |
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Signature |
| 9 | Rule 144A notes only |
| 10 | Regulation S notes only |
C-11
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH
TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]11
[Date]
Attention:
Re: Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”)
5.700% Notes due 2036 (the “Notes”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale or other transfer of $__________________ aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
| (1) | the offer of the Notes was not made to a Person in the United States; |
| (2) | either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any Person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any Person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States; |
| (3) | no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable; |
| (4) | the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and |
| (5) | we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes. |
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| [Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signature | ||
| 11 | Regulation S notes only |
C-12
[FORM OF EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE]12
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Transfer Agent
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
| Re: | Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) |
5.700% Notes due 2036 (the “Notes”)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”) and the Second Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, as issuer, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Notes or an interest in the Notes, in the principal amount of $__________ in such Notes or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that in connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Regulation S Global Note for a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Notes or interest in the Notes are being transferred to a Person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company and are dated ______________________.
| [Insert Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Dated: ______________________
| 12 | Regulation S notes only |
C-13
Schedule I
SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES
The following increases or decreases in Principal Amount of this Global Security have been made:
| Date of Exchange |
Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Amount of Increase in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Principal Amount of this Global Security following such Decrease or Increase |
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Trustee or Notes Custodian | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
C-14
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF GLOBAL NOTE DUE 2056
[Insert Global Notes Legend, if applicable]
[Insert Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable]
CUSIP NO. [56530K AD8][U5649L AD8]
ISIN NO. [US56530KAD81][USU5649LAD83]
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
6.625% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2056
$__________ No.: [A][S]-__
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of ___________ DOLLARS or such other Principal Amount as shall be set forth on Schedule I hereto on March 26, 2056 and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 6.625% per annum from and including March 26, 2026, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on March 26 and September 26 of each year, commencing September 26, 2026 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest rate on the Notes is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Indenture.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, which will be the March 11 and September 11 (whether or not such date is a Business Day), as the case may be (each, a “Regular Record Date”), immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and either may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to the Indenture (initially the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in St. Paul, Minnesota (the “Corporate Trust Office”)), in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by wire transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Payments of principal and interest at maturity will be made against presentation of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office (or such other office as may be established pursuant to the Indenture), by wire transfer.
D-1
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse side hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an authenticating agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[Signature Pages Follow]
D-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed in its name by the manual or facsimile signature of two of its Officers.
Date: March 26, 2026
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Anthony DiSilvestro | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: Dan Morrell | ||
| Title: Vice President and Treasurer | ||
D-3
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: March 26, 2026
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Officer | ||
D-4
(Reverse of Note)
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
6.625% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2056
1. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company designated as its 6.625% Senior Notes due 2056 (the “Notes”) limited in aggregate principal amount to $__________ issued and to be issued under an indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture), and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as so supplemented and as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Indenture”), among the Company, the guarantors named therein and the Trustee. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, and the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof and interest thereon (including post-default interest), will constitute unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and will rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s current and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
2. The Notes are subject to redemption at any time and from time to time prior to the Par Call Date, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
| (i) | (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and |
| (ii) | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
“Par Call Date” means September 26, 2055.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
D-5
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (as applicable, the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
If on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date, but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date, and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
D-6
Notice of any redemption will be first-class mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address. Any notice to Holders of Notes of a redemption pursuant to this paragraph 2 hereof will include, among other things set forth in the Indenture, the redemption date, the redemption price, the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date, and conditions applicable to redemption and the name and address of the Paying Agent.
In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by the Depositary, the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depositary.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
3. If a Special Mandatory Redemption Event occurs, then the Company shall redeem the outstanding Notes on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price.
4. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless all Notes have been called for redemption pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Note, each Holder of the Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to an integral multiple of $1,000) of such Holder’s Notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of repurchase. “Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event, as such terms are defined in the Indenture. The Change of Control Offer will be made in accordance with the terms specified in the Indenture.
5. The payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors, if any, on the terms set forth in the Indenture.
6. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
7. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain
D-7
past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
8. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
9. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, and duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
10. The Notes are issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000 in book-entry form only. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes in authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
11. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Paying Agent and/or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
12. Prior to the due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
13. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months. Interest shall be payable to and excluding any Interest Payment Date or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the succeeding Business Day and Holders will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment as a result of such delay.
14. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
15. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or of the Guarantors under the Notes, the Indenture, the Securities Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver and release may not be effective to waive or release liabilities under the federal securities laws.
D-8
16. This Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
17. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUT (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
18. Each Holder of this Note covenants and agrees by such Holder’s acceptance thereof to comply with and be bound by the foregoing provisions.
19. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. All capitalized terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
D-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF
ASSIGNEE
the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: __________________________
Signature: ____________________________
| NOTICE: | THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. |
Signature Guarantee:
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
D-10
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the date that is [one year]13 [40 days]14 after the later of the date of original issuance of such Notes and the last date, if any, on which such Notes were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
| (1) | ☐ to the Company; or |
| (2) | ☐ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or |
| (3) | ☐ inside the United States to a person reasonably believed to be a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or |
| (4) | ☐ to a non-United States person outside the United States in an offshore transaction in compliance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
| (5) | ☐ pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirement of the Securities Act. |
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee shall be entitled to require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
|
| ||
| Signature |
| 13 | Rule 144A notes only |
| 14 | Regulation S notes only |
D-11
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH
TRANSFERS PURSUANT TO REGULATION S]15
[Date]
Attention:
Re: Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”)
6.625% Notes due 2056 (the “Notes”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed sale or other transfer of $__________________ aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
| (1) | the offer of the Notes was not made to a Person in the United States; |
| (2) | either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any Person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither we nor any Person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been prearranged with a buyer in the United States; |
| (3) | no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S, as applicable; |
| (4) | the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and |
| (5) | we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes. |
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
| .Very truly yours, | ||
| [Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Authorized Signature | ||
| 15 | Regulation S notes only |
D-12
[FORM OF EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE]16
Maple Parent Holdings Corp.
6425 Hall of Fame Lane
Frisco, Texas 75034
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee and Transfer Agent
Mail Code: MA-DM-CMNB
Lunken Operations Center
5065 Wooster Road
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
| Re: | Maple Parent Holdings Corp. (the “Company”) |
6.625% Notes due 2056 (the “Notes”)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture”) and the Second Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), between Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, as issuer, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
___________ (the “Owner”) owns and proposes to exchange the Notes or an interest in the Notes, in the principal amount of $__________ in such Notes or interests (the “Exchange”). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that in connection with the Exchange of the Owner’s Regulation S Global Note for a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Note, with an equal principal amount, the Notes or interest in the Notes are being transferred to a Person (A) who the transferor reasonably believes to be a QIB, (B) purchasing for its own account or the account of a QIB in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and (C) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the States of the United States and other jurisdictions.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Company and are dated .
| [Insert Name of Transferor] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Dated: ______________________
| 16 | Regulation S notes only |
D-13
Schedule I
SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES
The following increases or decreases in Principal Amount of this Global Security have been made:
| Date of Exchange |
Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Amount of Increase in Principal Amount of this Global Security |
Principal Amount of this Global Security following such Decrease or Increase |
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Trustee or Notes Custodian | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
D-14
ANNEX
FORM OF NOTICE OF SPECIAL MANDATORY REDEMPTION
NOTICE OF FULL SPECIAL MANDATORY REDEMPTION
TO THE HOLDERS OF
MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
[•]% NOTES DUE 20[•]
(CUSIP No. [•]/ Reg S: [•])17
(ISIN No. [•]/ Reg S: [•])18
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”) to the Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026 (the “Base Indenture” and as supplemented or amended from time to time, including by the Second Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”), shall redeem all of its outstanding [•]% Notes due [•], 20[•] (the “Notes”) on [ ], 20[•] (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”) pursuant to Section 4.01 of the Second Supplemental Indenture. The Redemption Price for each Note will be $1,010 per $1,000 principal amount thereof (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Price”), plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon from the [[Issue Date][insert most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid]] to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date. Capitalized terms used herein (but otherwise not defined herein) shall have such meanings as set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture provides that upon the deposit of funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price of all Notes to be redeemed on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date with the Paying Agent by no later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Notes shall cease to bear interest, and all rights and obligations under the Notes shall terminate.
| 17 | Rule 144A notes: 4.750% Senior Notes due 2029: 56530K AA4; 5.050% Senior Notes due 2031: 56530K AB2; 5.700% Senior Notes due 2036: 56530K AC0; 6.625% Senior Notes due 2056: 56530K AD8 |
Regulation S notes: 4.750% Senior Notes due 2029: U5649L AA4; 5.050% Senior Notes due 2031: U5649L AB2; 5.700% Senior Notes due 2036: U5649L AC0; 6.625% Senior Notes due 2056: U5649L AD8
| 18 | Rule 144A notes: 4.750% Senior Notes due 2029: US56530KAA43; 5.050% Senior Notes due 2031: US56530KAB26; 5.700% Senior Notes due 2036: US56530KAC09; 6.625% Senior Notes due 2056: US56530KAD81 |
Regulation S notes: 4.750% Senior Notes due 2029: USU5649LAA45; 5.050% Senior Notes due 2031: USU5649LAB28; 5.700% Senior Notes due 2036: USU5649LAC01; 6.625% Senior Notes due 2056: USU5649LAD83
1
In order to receive the redemption payment, the Notes called for redemption must be surrendered for payment at the following location of the Trustee and Paying Agent. Notes to be redeemed must be surrendered for payment: (a) in book-entry form by transferring the Notes to be redeemed to the Trustee’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) in accordance with DTC’s procedures; or (b) by delivering the Notes to be redeemed to the Trustee at:
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
111 East Fillmore Ave EP-MN-WS2N
St. Paul, MN 55107
Attention: GCT Bondholder Services
Phone Inquiries: 1-800-934-6802
The method of delivery of the Notes is at the election and risk of the Holder. If delivered by mail, certified or registered mail, properly insured, is recommended. Direct inquiries related to procedures to redeem the Notes should be directed to the Trustee by telephone at 1-800-934-6802.
No representation is being made as to the correctness of the CUSIP numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in this notice. Holders should rely only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
For Holders of Notes who have not established an exemption, payments made upon the redemption of the Notes may be subject to U.S. federal withholding of 24% of the payments to be made, as and to the extent required by the provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. To establish an exemption from such withholding, Holders of Notes should submit a properly executed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or applicable Form W-8) when surrendering their Notes for payment.
Date: [ ], 20[ ]
By: MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP.
2
Exhibit 4.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated March 26, 2026 (this “Agreement”) is entered into by and among Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., a Delaware corporation (“KDP Parent”), as guarantor, the other guarantors listed in Schedule III to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (together with KDP Parent, the “Guarantors”), Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities plc as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the initial purchasers listed in Schedule II to the Purchase Agreement (the “Initial Purchasers”).
The Issuer, the Guarantors, and the Representatives are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated March 12, 2026 (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Issuer to the Initial Purchasers of €600 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.495% Senior Notes due 2028, €800 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.881% Senior Notes due 2030, €800 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.224% Senior Notes due 2032 and €800 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.728% Senior Notes due 2035 (collectively, the “Securities”), which will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis, jointly and severally, by each Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (as defined below). Immediately upon the Separation (as defined below), the Guarantees of KDP Parent and the KDP Guarantors will be automatically released and discharged pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.
As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuer and the Guarantors have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or required by executive order to close or on which the SEC is closed.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Exchange Dates” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Issuer and the Guarantors of Exchange Securities for the applicable series or tranche of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange Securities” shall mean, with respect to any series or tranche of the Securities, a series or tranche of senior notes issued by the Issuer and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture, containing terms substantially identical in all material respects to such series or tranche of the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Securities of such series or tranche in exchange for Securities of such series or tranche pursuant to the Exchange Offer for such series or tranche.
“FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Issuer and the Guarantors or used or referred to by the Issuer and the Guarantors in connection with the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.
“Guarantee” shall mean the guarantee of the Securities and guarantee of the Exchange Securities by the Guarantors, as applicable, under the Indenture.
“Guarantors” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include any such Guarantor’s successor and any other subsidiary of KDP Parent or the Issuer, as applicable, that provides a Guarantee of the Securities until, in each case, such time as any such Guarantor is released from its Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Guarantors” excludes any entity whose Guarantee was released (and not since reinstated) in accordance with the Indenture.
“Holders” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that, for purposes of Section 4 and Section 5 hereof, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.
“Indenture” shall mean the indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026, between the Issuer and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof with applicability to the Securities and the Exchange Securities.
“Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Inspector” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiv) hereof.
“Issuer” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Issuer’s successors.
“KDP Parent” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include KDP Parent’s successors.
“KDP Guarantors” shall mean Guarantors that are subsidiaries of KDP Parent but not subsidiaries of the Issuer.
“Issuer Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“Notice and Questionnaire” shall mean a notice of registration statement and selling security holder questionnaire distributed to a Holder by the Issuer or a Guarantor upon receipt of a Shelf Request from such Holder.
2
“Participating Broker-Dealers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“Participating Holder” shall mean any Holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Issuer or the Guarantors in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of the following: (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding, (iii) when such Securities have been resold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act (but not Rule 144A) without regard to volume restrictions; provided that the Issuer shall have removed or caused to be removed any restrictive legend on the Securities, or (iv) except in the case of Securities that otherwise remain Registrable Securities and that are held by an Initial Purchaser and that are ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, when the Exchange Offer is consummated.
“Registration Default” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the Registration Statement referenced in Section 2(a)(x) is not deemed effective on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (ii) if the Exchange Offer is not completed prior to the Target Registration Date and, if a Shelf Registration Statement is required pursuant to Section 2(b), such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the later of (x) the Target Registration Date and (y) 60 days after delivery of the applicable Shelf Request, or (iii) if a Shelf Registration Statement is required pursuant to Section 2(b) and after being declared effective, such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable for resales of Registrable Securities (a) on more than two occasions of at least 30 consecutive calendar days during the Shelf Effectiveness Period or (b) at any time in any 12 month period during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, such failure to remain effective or useable for resales of Registrable Securities exists for more than 90 calendar days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Issuer and the Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of the Issuer and the Guarantors in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees incurred by the Issuer
3
and the Guarantors (including with respect to maintaining ratings of the Securities), (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuer and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Participating Holders (which counsel shall be selected or replaced by the Participating Holders holding a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities held by such Participating Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers), (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accountants of the Issuer and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement and (ix) all expenses for the Exchange Securities being made eligible for clearance and settlement through the Depository Trust Company or Euroclear Bank SA/NV and Clearstream Banking, S.A., as applicable; and (x) all expenses and application fees related to any listing of the Exchange Securities issued in exchange for the Securities on any stock exchange; but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
“Registrar” shall mean U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Issuer and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Representatives” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Separation” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Indenture.
“Shelf Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Issuer and the Guarantors that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Securities on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Shelf Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Staff” shall mean the staff of the SEC.
4
“Suspension Actions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Target Registration Date” shall mean September 17, 2027.
“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.
“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture and any successor thereto.
“Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(f) hereof.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act. (a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to (x) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, as selected by the Issuer and the Guarantors, covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (y) have such Registration Statement become effective on or before the Target Registration Date, and if requested by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, remain effective until 180 days after the last Exchange Date for use by such Participating Broker-Dealers. The Issuer and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer for the Securities promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use their commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date.
The Issuer and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing and/or electronically delivering, or by causing the mailing and/or electronic delivery of, the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:
| (i) | that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange; |
| (ii) | the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days (or such shorter period as then-applicable SEC rules require) from the date such notice is mailed and/or electronically delivered) (each, an “Exchange Date”); |
| (iii) | that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein; |
| (iv) | that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such Registrable Security, in each case prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date with respect to the Exchange Offer; and |
| (v) | that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date with respect to the Exchange Offer, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address specified in the notice, a transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for the Registrable Securities. |
5
As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Issuer and the Guarantors that (1) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (2) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (3) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of any of the Issuer and the Guarantors, and (4) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (5) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date with respect to the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities of a series or tranche, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall:
| (I) | accept for exchange Registrable Securities of such series or tranche or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and |
| (II) | deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee and the Registrar for cancellation all Registrable Securities of such series or tranche or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Issuer and the Guarantors and issue, and cause the Trustee and the Registrar to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities of such series or tranche equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities of such series or tranche tendered by such Holder; provided that if any of the Registrable Securities of such series or tranche are in book-entry form, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, in cooperation with the Trustee and the Registrar, effect the exchange of Registrable Securities of such series or tranche in accordance with applicable book-entry procedures. |
The Issuer and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall use reasonable best efforts to comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff and that no action or proceeding has been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency relating to the Exchange Offer which, in the Issuer and the Guarantors’ judgment, could reasonably be expected to impair the Issuer and the Guarantors’ ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Issuer and the Guarantors determine that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) hereof is not available under any applicable law or if applicable interpretations of the Staff do not permit the Issuer and the Guarantors to effect the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities, or, if for any reason the Issuer and the Guarantors do not consummate the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities by the later of the Target Registration Date and the date the Issuer and the Guarantors receive a written request (a “Shelf Request”) from any Initial Purchaser representing that it holds Registrable Securities that are or were ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed and become effective as soon as practicable after such determination, date or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf
6
Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, as selected by the Issuer and the Guarantors, providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective; provided that (a) no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Securities included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Issuer and the Guarantors as is contemplated by Section 3(c) hereof and, if necessary, the Shelf Registration Statement has been amended to reflect such information and (b) the Issuer and the Guarantors shall be under no obligation to file or cause to become effective any such Shelf Registration Statement before it is obligated to file or cause to become effective an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
The Issuer and the Guarantors agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the date on which the Securities covered thereby cease to be Registrable Securities (the “Shelf Effectiveness Period”). The Issuer and the Guarantors further agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Issuer and the Guarantors for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Issuer and the Guarantors agree to furnish to the Participating Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC, as reasonably requested by the Participating Holders.
(c) The Issuer and the Guarantors shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC. A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the Securities Act.
If a Registration Default occurs with respect to the Registrable Securities, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities (and only the Registrable Securities) will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period beginning on the day immediately following such Registration Default and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until and including the date such Registration Default ends, up to a maximum increase of 1.00% per annum. A Registration Default ends with respect to any Security when such Security ceases to be a Registrable Security or, if earlier, (1) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (i) or (ii) of the definition thereof, when the Exchange Offer is completed or when the Shelf Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities becomes effective or (2) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (iii) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable. If at any time more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, then, until the next date that there is no Registration Default, the increase in interest rate provided for by this paragraph shall apply as if there occurred a single Registration Default that begins on the date that the earliest such Registration Default occurred and ends on the next date that there is no Registration Default.
7
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Exchange Offer with respect to the Registrable Securities is consummated, any Holder who was, at the time the Exchange Offer was pending and consummated, eligible to exchange, and did not validly tender, or withdrew, its Securities for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer will not be entitled to receive any additional interest pursuant to the preceding paragraph, and upon the completion of the Exchange Offer, such Securities will no longer constitute Registrable Securities hereunder.
Any amounts of additional interest due under this clause (d) will be payable in cash on the relevant regular interest payment dates of the Securities to holders of record on the relevant regular record dates set forth in the Indenture, calculated in the same manner as the regular interest payments as provided in the Indenture.
(e) The Issuer and the Guarantors shall be entitled to suspend its obligation to file any amendment to a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish any supplement or amendment to a Prospectus included in a Shelf Registration Statement or any Free Writing Prospectus, make any other filing with the SEC that would be incorporated by reference into a Shelf Registration Statement, cause a Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective or the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus usable or take any similar action (collectively, “Suspension Actions”) if there is a possible acquisition, disposition or business combination or other transaction, business development or event involving the Issuer, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries that may require disclosure in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus and the Issuer and the Guarantors determine in good faith that such disclosure would materially and adversely affect an offering of securities or is not in the best interest of the Issuer and the Guarantors and the Issuer’s stockholders or obtaining any financial statements relating to any such acquisition or business combination required to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus would be impracticable. Upon the occurrence of any of the conditions described in the foregoing sentence, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall give prompt notice of the delay or suspension (but not the basis thereof) to the Participating Holders. Upon the termination of such condition, the Company shall promptly proceed with all Suspension Actions that were delayed or suspended and, if required, shall give prompt notice to the Participating Holders of the cessation of the delay or suspension (but not the basis thereof).
(f) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Issuer and the Guarantors acknowledge that any failure by the Issuer or the Guarantors to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may seek to specifically enforce the Issuer and the Guarantors’ obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures. (a) In connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to:
(i) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (A) shall be selected by the Issuer and the Guarantors, (B) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and (C) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include or incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
8
(ii) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(a)(3) of, and Rule 174 under, the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;
(iii) to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Issuer and the Guarantors with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain a copy of any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed;
(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Participating Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto (other than any document that amends and supplements any Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus because it is incorporated by reference therein), as such Participating Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in writing in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and, subject to Section 3(d) hereof, the Issuer and the Guarantors consent to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Participating Holders and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
(v) register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions of the United States as any Participating Holder shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; cooperate with such Participating Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things within the Company’s reasonable control that may be reasonably necessary to enable each Participating Holder to remove any legal impediments to completing the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Holder; provided that neither the Issuer nor the Guarantors shall be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) execute or file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation or service of process in any such jurisdiction if it is not already so subject;
(vi) notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers (it being understood that for purposes of this Agreement, such references to such counsel shall mean counsel on the date of this Agreement unless the Initial Purchasers notify the Issuer and the Guarantors in writing otherwise) and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders (it being understood that for purposes of this Agreement, references to such counsel shall only be applicable to the extent that the Issuer and the Guarantors has been provided with contact information for such counsel) promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, when any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, (2) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Issuer and the Guarantors of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (3) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered
9
thereby, the representations and warranties of the Issuer and the Guarantors contained in any underwriting agreement, purchase agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to such offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Issuer and the Guarantors receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any U.S. jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (4) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (5) of any determination by the Issuer and the Guarantors that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus would be appropriate;
(vii) notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders, of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective;
(viii) obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement on the proper form, as soon as reasonably practicable and provide prompt notice to each Holder or Participating Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;
(ix) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, without charge, upon request, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested), if such documents are not available via EDGAR;
(x) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Participating Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Participating Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;
(xi) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(vi)(4) hereof, prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Issuer and the Guarantors shall notify the Participating Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and the Initial Purchasers and any Participating Broker-Dealers known to the Issuer and the Guarantors (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Participating Holders, such Participating Broker-Dealers and the Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, until the Issuer and the Guarantors have amended or supplemented the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such misstatement or omission provided that the Issuer and the Guarantors shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 3(a)(xi) during any suspension period pursuant to Sections 2(e) or 3(d) hereof;
10
(xii) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the Representatives and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Participating Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the Issuer and the Guarantors as shall be reasonably requested by the Representatives or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice; and the Issuer and the Guarantors shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, of which the Representatives and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Representatives or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object in writing within two Business Days after the receipt thereof, unless the Issuer and the Guarantors believe that use or filing of such Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment of or supplement thereto is required by applicable law;
(xiii) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities that are registered on a Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement;
(xiv) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(xv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Participating Holders (an “Inspector”), any Underwriters participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants designated by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by the Participating Holders and one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants designated by such Underwriters, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Issuer and the Guarantors and its subsidiaries reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Issuer and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement and customary due diligence related to the offering and sale of Registrable Securities thereunder, subject to such parties conducting such investigation entering into confidentiality agreements as the Issuer and the Guarantors may reasonably require and to any applicable privilege or pre-existing contractual confidentiality obligations;
(xvii) if reasonably requested by any Participating Holder, promptly include or incorporate by reference in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Participating Holder as such Participating Holder reasonably requests to be included therein, based upon a reasonable belief that such information is required to be included therein or is necessary to make the information about such Participating Holder not misleading, and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Issuer and the Guarantors have received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing;
11
(xviii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Participating Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, in connection with an Underwritten Offering, (1) to the extent possible, making such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Issuer and the Guarantors and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and consistent with the applicable representations and warranties in the Purchase Agreement and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) obtain an opinion of counsel to the Issuer and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinion, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to the Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and consistent with the opinions delivered pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; provided that, if required by the Underwriter, counsel for the Participating Holders shall provide an opinion to the Underwriter covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested from selling securityholders by underwriters in underwritten offerings, in connection with an Underwritten Offering, (3) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountant of the Issuer and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary of the Issuer and the Guarantors, or of any business acquired by the Issuer and the Guarantors for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to the Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and (4) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.
(xix) so long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, cause each successor or additional Guarantor upon entry into a Guarantee by such successor or additional Guarantor with respect to any Registrable Securities, to execute a counterpart to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex A and to deliver such counterpart to the Representative no later than thirty (30) calendar days following the execution thereof.
(b) The Issuer and the Guarantors will comply in all material respects with all rules and regulations of the SEC to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration.
(c) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuer and the Guarantors may require, as a condition to including such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Issuer and the Guarantors a Notice and Questionnaire and such other information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities and other documentation necessary to effectuate the proposed disposition as the Issuer and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing and require such Holder to agree in writing to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder. Each Holder of
12
Registrable Securities as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Issuer and the Guarantors all information required to be disclosed so that the information previously furnished to the Issuer and the Guarantors by such Holder is not materially misleading and does not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made.
(d) Each Participating Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Issuer and the Guarantors of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(vi)(2) or Section 3(a)(vi)(4) hereof, such Participating Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Participating Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(xi) hereof and, if so directed by the Issuer and the Guarantors, such Participating Holder will deliver to the Issuer and the Guarantors all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Participating Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.
(e) If the Company shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the period of such suspension, and the Company shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions or notice that such amendment or supplement is not necessary; provided, however, that no such extension shall be made in the case where such suspension is solely a result the Company’s compliance with Section 3(c) or any other suspension at the request of a Holder.
(f) The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “Underwriter”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering, subject in each case to consent by the Issuer and the Guarantors (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed so long as such bank or manager is internationally recognized as an underwriter of debt securities offerings). All fees, costs and expenses of the Underwriters, except for Registration Expenses, shall be borne solely by the Participating Holders.
(g) No Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer. (a) The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
13
The Issuer and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.
(b) In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Issuer and the Guarantors agree to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to Section 3(e) hereof), if requested by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Issuer and the Guarantors further agree that, subject to Section 3(c), Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.
(c) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Issuer and the Guarantors or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Issuer and the Guarantors will jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective directors, officers and employees, each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint or several, to which such Initial Purchaser, Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person or affiliate may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus as amended or supplemented, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“Issuer Information”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, and will reimburse each such Initial Purchaser, Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person or affiliate for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such Initial Purchaser, Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person or affiliate in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, damage, liability, action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Issuer and the Guarantors shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus as amended or supplemented, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Initial Purchaser or any Holder furnished to the Issuer and the Guarantors in writing by such Initial Purchaser or by such Holder expressly for use therein.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer and the Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors, officers and employees of the Issuer and the Guarantors, and the Initial Purchasers, each Person, if any, who controls the Issuer and the Guarantors, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and each affiliate of any Initial
14
Purchaser within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Issuer and the Guarantors or such Initial Purchaser, other selling Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person or affiliate may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) that arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Issuer and the Guarantors by such Holder; and each Holder will reimburse the Issuer and the Guarantors and such Initial Purchaser, other selling Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person and affiliate for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by the Issuer and the Guarantors, Initial Purchaser, other selling Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person or affiliate in connection with investigating, or defending any such loss, damage, liability, action or claim as such expenses are incurred, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished to the Issuer and the Guarantors in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent such omission materially prejudices the indemnifying party. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party) and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, and shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, except that, in the case of a governmental, regulatory or non-civil proceeding, upon request of the indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such governmental, regulatory or non-civil proceeding and shall pay the reasonably incurred and documented fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such governmental, regulatory or non-civil proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein (or actions in respect thereof), then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuer and the Guarantors from the offering of the Securities or Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
15
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Issuer and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Issuer and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuer and the Guarantors or such Holder and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) The Issuer and the Guarantors and the Holders agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no Holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.
(f) The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder, any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder or any affiliate of any Initial Purchaser, or by or on behalf of the Issuer and the Guarantors, its officers or directors or any Person controlling the Issuer and the Guarantors, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
6. General.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuer and the Guarantors represent, warrant and agree that the Issuer and the Guarantors have not entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(b) Guarantors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Guarantor shall automatically, irrevocably and unconditionally no longer be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement at such time as such Guarantor ceases to provide a Guarantee of the Securities. For the avoidance of doubt, each of KDP Parent and the KDP Guarantors shall be automatically, irrevocably and unconditionally no longer bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement immediately upon the Separation.
16
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Issuer and the Guarantors have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(c) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto. Each Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the time of any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent thereafter shall be bound by any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section 6(c), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is delivered to such Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Holder may waive compliance with respect to any obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Agreement as it may apply or be enforced by such particular Holder.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, electronic mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Issuer or the Guarantors by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the addresses set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Issuer and the Guarantors, initially at KDP Parent’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address(es), notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d), and, following the date of the Separation, the address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if sent by electronic mail or telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
(e) Majority of Holders. Whenever an action or determination under this Agreement requires a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable holders, in determining such majority, if the Issuer and the Guarantors shall issue any additional Securities under the Indenture prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement, then such additional Securities and the Registrable Securities to which this Agreement relates shall be treated together as one class for purposes of determining whether the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities has been obtained.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Issuer or the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.
17
(g) Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third-party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Issuer and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.
(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered (by telecopy, electronic delivery or otherwise) to the other parties. Signatures to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in “portable document format” (“.pdf”) form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or any agreement entered into in connection herewith shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (e.g. DocuSign).
(i) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j) Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(k) Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Issuer, the Guarantors, and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.
18
| Very truly yours, | ||
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: | Dan Morrell | |
| Title: | Vice President & Treasurer | |
| KEURIG DR PEPPER INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: | Dan Morrell | |
| Title: | Vice President & Treasurer | |
| SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
234DP AVIATION, LLC A & W CONCENTRATE COMPANY BEVERAGES DELAWARE INC. DP BEVERAGES INC. DPS AMERICAS BEVERAGES, LLC DPS BEVERAGES, INC. DPS HOLDINGS INC. DR PEPPER/SEVEN-UP BEVERAGE SALES COMPANY DR PEPPER/SEVEN UP MANUFACTURING COMPANY DR PEPPER/SEVEN UP, INC. MOTT’S DELAWARE LLC NANTUCKET ALLSERVE, LLC SNAPPLE BEVERAGE CORP. THE AMERICAN BOTTLING COMPANY | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: | Dan Morrell | |
| Title: | Vice President & Treasurer | |
| MOTT’S LLP BAI BRANDS LLC By its Sole Member, MOTT’S LLP | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: | Dan Morrell | |
| Title: | Vice President & Treasurer | |
| SPLASH TRANSPORT, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: | Dan Morrell | |
| Title: | Vice President & Treasurer | |
Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC
| For itself and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers | ||
| By: | /s/ Kathryn McArdle | |
| Name: | Kathryn McArdle | |
| Title: | Executive Director | |
| GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Johannes Hahn | |
| Name: | Johannes Hahn | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
| J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Robert Chambers | |
| Name: | Robert Chambers | |
| Title: | Executive Director | |
ANNEX A
Counterpart to Registration Rights Agreement
The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees as a Guarantor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 26, 2026, by and among Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., a Delaware corporation, as guarantor, the other Guarantors party thereto and Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities plc as Representatives) to be bound by the terms and provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this counterpart as of _______________, 20__.
| [GUARANTOR] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | [●] | |
| Title: | [●] | |
Exhibit 4.5
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT dated March 26, 2026 (this “Agreement”) is entered into by and among Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., a Delaware corporation (“KDP Parent”), as guarantor, the other guarantors listed in Schedule III to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) (together with KDP Parent, the “Guarantors”), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the initial purchasers listed in Schedule II to the Purchase Agreement (the “Initial Purchasers”).
The Issuer, the Guarantors, and the Representatives are parties to the Purchase Agreement dated March 12, 2026 (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Issuer to the Initial Purchasers of $550 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.750% Senior Notes due 2029, $600 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.050% Senior Notes due 2031, $700 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.700% Senior Notes due 2036 and $700 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.625% Senior Notes due 2056 (collectively, the “Securities”), which will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis, jointly and severally, by each Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (as defined below). Immediately upon the Separation (as defined below), the Guarantees of KDP Parent and the KDP Guarantors will be automatically released and discharged pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.
As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Issuer and the Guarantors have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or required by executive order to close or on which the SEC is closed.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
“Exchange Dates” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii) hereof.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the exchange offer by the Issuer and the Guarantors of Exchange Securities for the applicable series or tranche of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form) and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange Securities” shall mean, with respect to any series or tranche of the Securities, a series or tranche of senior notes issued by the Issuer and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture, containing terms substantially identical in all material respects to such series or tranche of the Securities (except that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with this Agreement) and to be offered to Holders of Securities of such series or tranche in exchange for Securities of such series or tranche pursuant to the Exchange Offer for such series or tranche.
“FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Issuer and the Guarantors or used or referred to by the Issuer and the Guarantors in connection with the sale of the Securities or the Exchange Securities.
“Guarantee” shall mean the guarantee of the Securities and guarantee of the Exchange Securities by the Guarantors, as applicable, under the Indenture.
“Guarantors” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include any such Guarantor’s successor and any other subsidiary of KDP Parent or the Issuer, as applicable, that provides a Guarantee of the Securities until, in each case, such time as any such Guarantor is released from its Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Guarantors” excludes any entity whose Guarantee was released (and not since reinstated) in accordance with the Indenture.
“Holders” shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own any Registrable Securities, and each of their successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture; provided that, for purposes of Section 4 and Section 5 hereof, the term “Holders” shall include Participating Broker-Dealers.
“Indenture” shall mean the indenture, dated as of March 26, 2026, between the Issuer and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof with applicability to the Securities and the Exchange Securities.
“Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Inspector” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a)(xiv) hereof.
“Issuer” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Issuer’s successors.
“KDP Parent” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include KDP Parent’s successors.
“KDP Guarantors” shall mean Guarantors that are subsidiaries of KDP Parent but not subsidiaries of the Issuer.
“Issuer Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.
“Notice and Questionnaire” shall mean a notice of registration statement and selling security holder questionnaire distributed to a Holder by the Issuer or a Guarantor upon receipt of a Shelf Request from such Holder.
2
“Participating Broker-Dealers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
“Participating Holder” shall mean any Holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Issuer or the Guarantors in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in, or, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Act, deemed a part of, a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of the following: (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities cease to be outstanding, (iii) when such Securities have been resold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act (but not Rule 144A) without regard to volume restrictions; provided that the Issuer shall have removed or caused to be removed any restrictive legend on the Securities, or (iv) except in the case of Securities that otherwise remain Registrable Securities and that are held by an Initial Purchaser and that are ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, when the Exchange Offer is consummated.
“Registration Default” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the Registration Statement referenced in Section 2(a)(x) is not deemed effective on or prior to the Target Registration Date, (ii) if the Exchange Offer is not completed prior to the Target Registration Date and, if a Shelf Registration Statement is required pursuant to Section 2(b), such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the later of (x) the Target Registration Date and (y) 60 days after delivery of the applicable Shelf Request, or (iii) if a Shelf Registration Statement is required pursuant to Section 2(b) and after being declared effective, such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable for resales of Registrable Securities (a) on more than two occasions of at least 30 consecutive calendar days during the Shelf Effectiveness Period or (b) at any time in any 12 month period during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, such failure to remain effective or useable for resales of Registrable Securities exists for more than 90 calendar days (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Issuer and the Guarantors with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities), (iii) all expenses of the Issuer and the Guarantors in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees incurred by the Issuer
3
and the Guarantors (including with respect to maintaining ratings of the Securities), (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Issuer and the Guarantors and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Participating Holders (which counsel shall be selected or replaced by the Participating Holders holding a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities held by such Participating Holders and which counsel may also be counsel for the Initial Purchasers), (viii) the fees and disbursements of the independent registered public accountants of the Issuer and the Guarantors, including the expenses of any special audits or “comfort” letters required by or incident to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement and (ix) all expenses for the Exchange Securities being made eligible for clearance and settlement through the Depository Trust Company; but excluding fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters (other than fees and expenses set forth in clause (ii) above) or the Holders and underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Issuer and the Guarantors that covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Representatives” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Separation” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Indenture.
“Shelf Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Issuer and the Guarantors that covers all or a portion of the Registrable Securities on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein or deemed a part thereof, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein.
“Shelf Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
“Staff” shall mean the staff of the SEC.
“Suspension Actions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e) hereof.
“Target Registration Date” shall mean September 17, 2027.
4
“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.
“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture and any successor thereto.
“Underwriter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(f) hereof.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean an offering in which Registrable Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act. (a) To the extent not prohibited by any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to (x) cause to be filed an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, as selected by the Issuer and the Guarantors, covering an offer to the Holders to exchange all the Registrable Securities for Exchange Securities and (y) have such Registration Statement become effective on or before the Target Registration Date, and if requested by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, remain effective until 180 days after the last Exchange Date for use by such Participating Broker-Dealers. The Issuer and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer for the Securities promptly after the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC and use their commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer not later than 60 days after such effective date.
The Issuer and the Guarantors shall commence the Exchange Offer by mailing and/or electronically delivering, or by causing the mailing and/or electronic delivery of, the related Prospectus, appropriate letters of transmittal and other accompanying documents to each Holder stating, in addition to such other disclosures as are required by applicable law, substantially the following:
| (i) | that the Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to this Agreement and that all Registrable Securities validly tendered and not properly withdrawn will be accepted for exchange; |
| (ii) | the dates of acceptance for exchange (which shall be a period of at least 20 Business Days (or such shorter period as then-applicable SEC rules require) from the date such notice is mailed and/or electronically delivered) (each, an “Exchange Date”); |
| (iii) | that any Registrable Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest but will not retain any rights under this Agreement, except as otherwise specified herein; |
| (iv) | that any Holder electing to have a Registrable Security exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be required to (A) surrender such Registrable Security, together with the appropriate letters of transmittal, to the institution and at the address and in the manner specified in the notice, or (B) effect such exchange otherwise in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for such Registrable Security, in each case prior to the close of business on the last Exchange Date with respect to the Exchange Offer; and |
| (v) | that any Holder will be entitled to withdraw its election, not later than the close of business on the last Exchange Date with respect to the Exchange Offer, by (A) sending to the institution and at the address specified in the notice, a transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Registrable Securities delivered for exchange and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Securities exchanged or (B) effecting such withdrawal in compliance with the applicable procedures of the depositary for the Registrable Securities. |
5
As a condition to participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder will be required to represent to the Issuer and the Guarantors that (1) any Exchange Securities to be received by it will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business, (2) at the time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer it has no arrangement or understanding with any Person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the Exchange Securities in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act, (3) it is not an “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of any of the Issuer and the Guarantors, and (4) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (5) if such Holder is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Registrable Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, then such Holder will deliver a Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a Prospectus to purchasers) in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
As soon as practicable after the last Exchange Date with respect to the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities of a series or tranche, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall:
| (I) | accept for exchange Registrable Securities of such series or tranche or portions thereof validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer; and |
| (II) | deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities of such series or tranche or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the Issuer and the Guarantors and issue, and cause the Trustee to promptly authenticate and deliver to each Holder, Exchange Securities of such series or tranche equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities of such series or tranche tendered by such Holder; provided that if any of the Registrable Securities of such series or tranche are in book-entry form, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall, in cooperation with the Trustee, effect the exchange of Registrable Securities of such series or tranche in accordance with applicable book-entry procedures. |
The Issuer and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above and shall use reasonable best efforts to comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and other applicable laws and regulations in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretations of the Staff and that no action or proceeding has been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency relating to the Exchange Offer which, in the Issuer and the Guarantors’ judgment, could reasonably be expected to impair the Issuer and the Guarantors’ ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer.
(b) In the event that (i) the Issuer and the Guarantors determine that the Exchange Offer Registration provided for in Section 2(a) hereof is not available under any applicable law or if applicable interpretations of the Staff do not permit the Issuer and the Guarantors to effect the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities, or, if for any reason the Issuer and the Guarantors do not consummate the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities by the later of the Target Registration Date and the date the Issuer and the Guarantors receive a written request (a “Shelf Request”) from any Initial Purchaser representing that it holds Registrable Securities that are or were ineligible to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be filed and become effective as soon as practicable after such determination, date or Shelf Request, as the case may be, a Shelf Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, as selected by the Issuer and the Guarantors, providing for the sale of all the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and to have such Shelf Registration Statement become effective; provided that (a) no Holder will be entitled to have any Registrable Securities included in any Shelf Registration Statement, or entitled to use the prospectus forming a part of such Shelf Registration Statement, until such Holder shall have delivered a completed and
6
signed Notice and Questionnaire and provided such other information regarding such Holder to the Issuer and the Guarantors as is contemplated by Section 3(c) hereof and, if necessary, the Shelf Registration Statement has been amended to reflect such information and (b) the Issuer and the Guarantors shall be under no obligation to file or cause to become effective any such Shelf Registration Statement before it is obligated to file or cause to become effective an Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
The Issuer and the Guarantors agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the date on which the Securities covered thereby cease to be Registrable Securities (the “Shelf Effectiveness Period”). The Issuer and the Guarantors further agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Issuer and the Guarantors for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations thereunder or if reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities with respect to information relating to such Holder, and to use their commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such amendment to become effective, if required, and such Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to become usable as soon as thereafter practicable. The Issuer and the Guarantors agree to furnish to the Participating Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC, as reasonably requested by the Participating Holders.
(c) The Issuer and the Guarantors shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(d) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC. A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC or is automatically effective upon filing with the SEC as provided by Rule 462 under the Securities Act.
If a Registration Default occurs with respect to the Registrable Securities, the interest rate on the Registrable Securities (and only the Registrable Securities) will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period beginning on the day immediately following such Registration Default and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until and including the date such Registration Default ends, up to a maximum increase of 1.00% per annum. A Registration Default ends with respect to any Security when such Security ceases to be a Registrable Security or, if earlier, (1) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (i) or (ii) of the definition thereof, when the Exchange Offer is completed or when the Shelf Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities becomes effective or (2) in the case of a Registration Default under clause (iii) of the definition thereof, when the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable. If at any time more than one Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, then, until the next date that there is no Registration Default, the increase in interest rate provided for by this paragraph shall apply as if there occurred a single Registration Default that begins on the date that the earliest such Registration Default occurred and ends on the next date that there is no Registration Default.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Exchange Offer with respect to the Registrable Securities is consummated, any Holder who was, at the time the Exchange Offer was pending and consummated, eligible to exchange, and did not validly tender, or withdrew, its Securities for Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer will not be entitled to receive any additional interest pursuant to the preceding paragraph, and upon the completion of the Exchange Offer, such Securities will no longer constitute Registrable Securities hereunder.
7
Any amounts of additional interest due under this clause (d) will be payable in cash on the relevant regular interest payment dates of the Securities to holders of record on the relevant regular record dates set forth in the Indenture, calculated in the same manner as the regular interest payments as provided in the Indenture.
(e) The Issuer and the Guarantors shall be entitled to suspend its obligation to file any amendment to a Shelf Registration Statement, furnish any supplement or amendment to a Prospectus included in a Shelf Registration Statement or any Free Writing Prospectus, make any other filing with the SEC that would be incorporated by reference into a Shelf Registration Statement, cause a Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective or the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus usable or take any similar action (collectively, “Suspension Actions”) if there is a possible acquisition, disposition or business combination or other transaction, business development or event involving the Issuer, the Guarantors or their respective subsidiaries that may require disclosure in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus and the Issuer and the Guarantors determine in good faith that such disclosure would materially and adversely affect an offering of securities or is not in the best interest of the Issuer and the Guarantors and the Issuer’s stockholders or obtaining any financial statements relating to any such acquisition or business combination required to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus would be impracticable. Upon the occurrence of any of the conditions described in the foregoing sentence, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall give prompt notice of the delay or suspension (but not the basis thereof) to the Participating Holders. Upon the termination of such condition, the Company shall promptly proceed with all Suspension Actions that were delayed or suspended and, if required, shall give prompt notice to the Participating Holders of the cessation of the delay or suspension (but not the basis thereof).
(f) Without limiting the remedies available to the Initial Purchasers and the Holders, the Issuer and the Guarantors acknowledge that any failure by the Issuer or the Guarantors to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Initial Purchasers or the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Initial Purchasers or any Holder may seek to specifically enforce the Issuer and the Guarantors’ obligations under Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures. (a) In connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof, the Issuer and the Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to:
(i) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (A) shall be selected by the Issuer and the Guarantors, (B) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof and (C) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include or incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
(ii) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(a)(3) of, and Rule 174 under, the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities;
8
(iii) to the extent any Free Writing Prospectus is used, file with the SEC any Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed by the Issuer and the Guarantors with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act and to retain a copy of any Free Writing Prospectus not required to be filed;
(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, to counsel for the Initial Purchasers, to counsel for such Participating Holders and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto (other than any document that amends and supplements any Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus because it is incorporated by reference therein), as such Participating Holder, counsel or Underwriter may reasonably request in writing in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities thereunder; and, subject to Section 3(d) hereof, the Issuer and the Guarantors consent to the use of such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the Participating Holders and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus, preliminary prospectus or such Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law;
(v) register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions of the United States as any Participating Holder shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes effective; cooperate with such Participating Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA; and do any and all other acts and things within the Company’s reasonable control that may be reasonably necessary to enable each Participating Holder to remove any legal impediments to completing the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Holder; provided that neither the Issuer nor the Guarantors shall be required to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (2) execute or file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) subject itself to taxation or service of process in any such jurisdiction if it is not already so subject;
(vi) notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers (it being understood that for purposes of this Agreement, such references to such counsel shall mean counsel on the date of this Agreement unless the Initial Purchasers notify the Issuer and the Guarantors in writing otherwise) and, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders (it being understood that for purposes of this Agreement, references to such counsel shall only be applicable to the extent that the Issuer and the Guarantors has been provided with contact information for such counsel) promptly and, if requested by any such Participating Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (1) when a Registration Statement has become effective, when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, when any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus has been filed, (2) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, including the receipt by the Issuer and the Guarantors of any notice of objection of the SEC to the use of a Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (3) if, between the applicable effective date of a Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Issuer and the Guarantors contained in any underwriting agreement, purchase agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to such offering of such Registrable Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the
9
Issuer and the Guarantors receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any U.S. jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (4) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (5) of any determination by the Issuer and the Guarantors that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus would be appropriate;
(vii) notify counsel for the Initial Purchasers or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, notify each Participating Holder and counsel for such Participating Holders, of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective;
(viii) obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or, in the case of a Shelf Registration, the resolution of any objection of the SEC pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, including by filing an amendment to such Registration Statement on the proper form, as soon as reasonably practicable and provide prompt notice to each Holder or Participating Holder of the withdrawal of any such order or such resolution;
(ix) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Participating Holder, without charge, upon request, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested), if such documents are not available via EDGAR;
(x) in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the Participating Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as such Participating Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;
(xi) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(a)(vi)(4) hereof, prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available) to purchasers of the Registrable Securities, such Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Issuer and the Guarantors shall notify the Participating Holders (in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement) and the Initial Purchasers and any Participating Broker-Dealers known to the Issuer and the Guarantors (in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement) to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Participating Holders, such Participating Broker-Dealers and the Initial Purchasers, as applicable, hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, until the Issuer and the Guarantors have amended or supplemented the Prospectus or the Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, to correct such misstatement or omission provided that the Issuer and the Guarantors shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 3(a)(xi) during any suspension period pursuant to Sections 2(e) or 3(d) hereof;
10
(xii) a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, provide copies of such document to the Representatives and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, to the Participating Holders and their counsel) and make such of the representatives of the Issuer and the Guarantors as shall be reasonably requested by the Representatives or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) available for discussion of such document at reasonable times and upon reasonable notice; and the Issuer and the Guarantors shall not, at any time after initial filing of a Registration Statement, use or file any Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to a Registration Statement or a Prospectus or a Free Writing Prospectus, of which the Representatives and their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders and their counsel) shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy or to which the Representatives or their counsel (and, in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Participating Holders or their counsel) shall reasonably object in writing within two Business Days after the receipt thereof, unless the Issuer and the Guarantors believe that use or filing of such Prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment of or supplement thereto is required by applicable law;
(xiii) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities that are registered on a Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, not later than the initial effective date of a Registration Statement;
(xiv) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be; cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(xv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, make available for inspection by a representative of the Participating Holders (an “Inspector”), any Underwriters participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants designated by a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by the Participating Holders and one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants designated by such Underwriters, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Issuer and the Guarantors and its subsidiaries reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant, and cause the respective officers, directors and employees of the Issuer and the Guarantors to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with a Shelf Registration Statement and customary due diligence related to the offering and sale of Registrable Securities thereunder, subject to such parties conducting such investigation entering into confidentiality agreements as the Issuer and the Guarantors may reasonably require and to any applicable privilege or pre-existing contractual confidentiality obligations;
(xvii) if reasonably requested by any Participating Holder, promptly include or incorporate by reference in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Participating Holder as such Participating Holder reasonably requests to be included therein, based upon a reasonable belief that such information is required to be included therein or is necessary to make the information about such Participating Holder not misleading, and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Issuer and the Guarantors have received notification of the matters to be so included in such filing;
11
(xviii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Participating Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities including, but not limited to, in connection with an Underwritten Offering, (1) to the extent possible, making such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and any Underwriters of such Registrable Securities with respect to the business of the Issuer and the Guarantors and its subsidiaries and the Registration Statement, Prospectus, any Free Writing Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and consistent with the applicable representations and warranties in the Purchase Agreement and confirm the same if and when requested, (2) obtain an opinion of counsel to the Issuer and the Guarantors (which counsel and opinion, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Participating Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to the Underwriter of Registrable Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and consistent with the opinions delivered pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; provided that, if required by the Underwriter, counsel for the Participating Holders shall provide an opinion to the Underwriter covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested from selling securityholders by underwriters in underwritten offerings, in connection with an Underwritten Offering, (3) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, obtain “comfort” letters from the independent registered public accountant of the Issuer and the Guarantors (and, if necessary, any other registered public accountant of any subsidiary of the Issuer and the Guarantors, or of any business acquired by the Issuer and the Guarantors for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Registration Statement) addressed to the Underwriter of Registrable Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, including but not limited to financial information contained in any preliminary prospectus, Prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus and (4) in connection with an Underwritten Offering, deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to clause (1) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement.
(xix) so long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, cause each successor or additional Guarantor upon entry into a Guarantee by such successor or additional Guarantor with respect to any Registrable Securities, to execute a counterpart to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as Annex A and to deliver such counterpart to the Representative no later than thirty (30) calendar days following the execution thereof.
(b) The Issuer and the Guarantors will comply in all material respects with all rules and regulations of the SEC to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration.
(c) In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Issuer and the Guarantors may require, as a condition to including such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Issuer and the Guarantors a Notice and Questionnaire and such other information regarding such Holder and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Registrable Securities and other documentation necessary to effectuate the proposed disposition as the Issuer and the Guarantors may from time to time reasonably request in writing and require such Holder to agree in writing to be bound by all provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder. Each Holder of Registrable Securities as to which any Shelf Registration is being effected agrees to furnish promptly to the Issuer and the Guarantors all information required to be disclosed so that the information previously furnished to the Issuer and the Guarantors by such Holder is not materially misleading and does not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made.
12
(d) Each Participating Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Issuer and the Guarantors of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(a)(vi)(2) or Section 3(a)(vi)(4) hereof, such Participating Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Participating Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(a)(xi) hereof and, if so directed by the Issuer and the Guarantors, such Participating Holder will deliver to the Issuer and the Guarantors all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Participating Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus and any Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.
(e) If the Company shall give any notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, the Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the period of such suspension, and the Company shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders of such Registrable Securities shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions or notice that such amendment or supplement is not necessary; provided, however, that no such extension shall be made in the case where such suspension is solely a result the Company’s compliance with Section 3(c) or any other suspension at the request of a Holder.
(f) The Participating Holders who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment bank or investment banks and manager or managers (each an “Underwriter”) that will administer the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Registrable Securities included in such offering, subject in each case to consent by the Issuer and the Guarantors (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed so long as such bank or manager is internationally recognized as an underwriter of debt securities offerings). All fees, costs and expenses of the Underwriters, except for Registration Expenses, shall be borne solely by the Participating Holders.
(g) No Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
4. Participation of Broker-Dealers in Exchange Offer. (a) The Staff has taken the position that any broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “Participating Broker-Dealer”) may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
The Issuer and the Guarantors understand that it is the Staff’s position that if the Prospectus contained in an Exchange Offer Registration Statement includes a plan of distribution containing a statement to the above effect and the means by which Participating Broker-Dealers may resell the Exchange Securities, without naming the Participating Broker-Dealers or specifying the amount of Exchange Securities owned by them, such Prospectus may be delivered by Participating Broker-Dealers (or, to the extent permitted by law, made available to purchasers) to satisfy their prospectus delivery obligation under the Securities Act in connection with resales of Exchange Securities for their own accounts, so long as the Prospectus otherwise meets the requirements of the Securities Act.
13
(b) In light of the above, and notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, the Issuer and the Guarantors agree to amend or supplement the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement for a period of up to 180 days after the last Exchange Date (as such period may be extended pursuant to Section 3(e) hereof), if requested by one or more Participating Broker-Dealers, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any Exchange Securities by Participating Broker-Dealers consistent with the positions of the Staff recited in Section 4(a) above. The Issuer and the Guarantors further agree that, subject to Section 3(c), Participating Broker-Dealers shall be authorized to deliver such Prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available) during such period in connection with the resales contemplated by this Section 4.
(c) The Initial Purchasers shall have no liability to the Issuer and the Guarantors or any Holder with respect to any request that they may make pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof.
5. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Issuer and the Guarantors will jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser and each Holder, their respective directors, officers and employees, each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser or any Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint or several, to which such Initial Purchaser, Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person or affiliate may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus as amended or supplemented, any Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” (“Issuer Information”) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, and will reimburse each such Initial Purchaser, Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person or affiliate for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such Initial Purchaser, Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person or affiliate in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, damage, liability, action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Issuer and the Guarantors shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus as amended or supplemented, any Free Writing Prospectus or any Issuer Information in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Initial Purchaser or any Holder furnished to the Issuer and the Guarantors in writing by such Initial Purchaser or by such Holder expressly for use therein.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer and the Guarantors, the Initial Purchasers and the other selling Holders, the directors, officers and employees of the Issuer and the Guarantors, and the Initial Purchasers, each Person, if any, who controls the Issuer and the Guarantors, any Initial Purchaser and any other selling Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and each affiliate of any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Issuer and the Guarantors or such Initial Purchaser, other selling Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person or affiliate may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise,
14
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) that arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Issuer and the Guarantors by such Holder; and each Holder will reimburse the Issuer and the Guarantors and such Initial Purchaser, other selling Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person and affiliate for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by the Issuer and the Guarantors, Initial Purchaser, other selling Holder, director, officer, employee, controlling person or affiliate in connection with investigating, or defending any such loss, damage, liability, action or claim as such expenses are incurred, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder furnished to the Issuer and the Guarantors in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any Free Writing Prospectus.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent such omission materially prejudices the indemnifying party. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party) and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, and shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, except that, in the case of a governmental, regulatory or non-civil proceeding, upon request of the indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such governmental, regulatory or non-civil proceeding and shall pay the reasonably incurred and documented fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such governmental, regulatory or non-civil proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein (or actions in respect thereof), then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuer and the Guarantors from the offering of the Securities or Exchange Securities, on the one hand, and the Holders from receiving Securities or Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act, on the other. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Issuer and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant
15
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Issuer and the Guarantors on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Issuer and the Guarantors or such Holder and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) The Issuer and the Guarantors and the Holders agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5, no Holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities or Exchange Securities sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5 are several and not joint.
(f) The remedies provided for in this Section 5 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder, any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder or any affiliate of any Initial Purchaser, or by or on behalf of the Issuer and the Guarantors, its officers or directors or any Person controlling the Issuer and the Guarantors, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
6. General.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Issuer and the Guarantors represent, warrant and agree that the Issuer and the Guarantors have not entered into, and on or after the date of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(b) Guarantors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Guarantor shall automatically, irrevocably and unconditionally no longer be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement at such time as such Guarantor ceases to provide a Guarantee of the Securities. For the avoidance of doubt, each of KDP Parent and the KDP Guarantors shall be automatically, irrevocably and unconditionally no longer bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement immediately upon the Separation.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Issuer and the Guarantors have obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that no
16
amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 6(c) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto. Each Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the time of any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent thereafter shall be bound by any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section 6(c), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is delivered to such Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Holder may waive compliance with respect to any obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantors under this Agreement as it may apply or be enforced by such particular Holder.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, electronic mail, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Issuer or the Guarantors by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d), which address initially is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the addresses set forth in the Purchase Agreement; (ii) if to the Issuer and the Guarantors, initially at KDP Parent’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address(es), notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d), and, following the date of the Separation, the address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(d). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged, if sent by electronic mail or telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
(e) Majority of Holders. Whenever an action or determination under this Agreement requires a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable holders, in determining such majority, if the Issuer and the Guarantors shall issue any additional Securities under the Indenture prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer or, if applicable, the effectiveness of any Shelf Registration Statement, then such additional Securities and the Registrable Securities to which this Agreement relates shall be treated together as one class for purposes of determining whether the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities has been obtained.
(f) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof. The Initial Purchasers (in their capacity as Initial Purchasers) shall have no liability or obligation to the Issuer or the Guarantors with respect to any failure by a Holder to comply with, or any breach by any Holder of, any of the obligations of such Holder under this Agreement.
(g) Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Holder shall be a third-party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Issuer and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of other Holders hereunder.
17
(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered (by telecopy, electronic delivery or otherwise) to the other parties. Signatures to this Agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in “portable document format” (“.pdf”) form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or any agreement entered into in connection herewith shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (e.g. DocuSign).
(i) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j) Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(k) Entire Agreement; Severability. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Issuer, the Guarantors, and the Initial Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.
18
| Very truly yours, | ||
| MAPLE PARENT HOLDINGS CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: | Dan Morrell | |
| Title: | Vice President & Treasurer | |
| KEURIG DR PEPPER INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: | Dan Morrell | |
| Title: | Vice President & Treasurer | |
| SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
234DP AVIATION, LLC A & W CONCENTRATE COMPANY BEVERAGES DELAWARE INC. DP BEVERAGES INC. DPS AMERICAS BEVERAGES, LLC DPS BEVERAGES, INC. DPS HOLDINGS INC. DR PEPPER/SEVEN-UP BEVERAGE SALES COMPANY DR PEPPER/SEVEN UP MANUFACTURING COMPANY DR PEPPER/SEVEN UP, INC. MOTT’S DELAWARE LLC NANTUCKET ALLSERVE, LLC SNAPPLE BEVERAGE CORP. THE AMERICAN BOTTLING COMPANY | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: | Dan Morrell | |
| Title: | Vice President & Treasurer | |
| MOTT’S LLP BAI BRANDS LLC By its Sole Member, MOTT’S LLP | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: | Dan Morrell | |
| Title: | Vice President & Treasurer | |
| SPLASH TRANSPORT, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Dan Morrell | |
| Name: | Dan Morrell | |
| Title: | Vice President & Treasurer | |
| Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written: | ||
| MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC | ||
| For itself and on behalf of the several Initial Purchasers | ||
| By: | /s/ Julie Blanco | |
| Name: | Julie Blanco | |
| Title: | Executive Director | |
| GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Johannes Hahn | |
| Name: | Johannes Hahn | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
| J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Som Bhattacharyya | |
| Name: | Som Bhattacharyya | |
| Title: | Executive Director | |
ANNEX A
Counterpart to Registration Rights Agreement
The undersigned hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees as a Guarantor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 26, 2026, by and among Maple Parent Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., a Delaware corporation, as guarantor, the other Guarantors party thereto and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as Representatives) to be bound by the terms and provisions of such Registration Rights Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this counterpart as of _______________, 20__.
| [GUARANTOR] | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | [●] | |
| Title: | [●] | |