StoneX Group Inc S-3ASR, filed Feb 20, 2025
StoneX Group Inc. (SNEX)
S-3ASR
2025-02-20
View Original
Added on
October 15, 2026
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2025
Registration No. 333-_____
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under the Securities Act of 1933
STONEX GROUP INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| Delaware | 59-2921318 | |||||||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |||||||
230 Park Ave, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10169
(212) 485-3500
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
William J. Dunaway
StoneX Group Inc.
1251 NW Briarcliff Parkway, Suite 800
Kansas City, Missouri 64116
(816) 410-7129
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
Copy to:
Daniel P. Gibbons
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-4000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [_]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [X]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [_]
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer [x] | Accelerated filer [_] | Non-accelerated filer [_] | Smaller reporting company [_] | Emerging growth company [_] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. [_]
PROSPECTUS
STONEX GROUP INC.
Debt Securities
Warrants
Preferred Stock
Units
Common Stock
We may offer from time to time debt securities, warrants, preferred stock, units and common stock. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. We can only use this prospectus to offer and sell any specific security by also including a prospectus supplement for that security. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplements carefully before you invest in our securities.
We may sell these securities directly or to or through agents, underwriters or dealers, and also to other purchasers or through agents. We may offer and sell these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. The names of any agents, underwriters or dealers that are included in a sale of securities to you, and any applicable commissions or discounts, will be stated in an accompanying prospectus supplement. In addition, the underwriters, if any, may over-allot a portion of these securities.
Investing in these securities involves certain risks. See the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 4 of this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference herein.
Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ") under the symbol “SNEX”. Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus is dated February 19, 2025
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TABLE OF CONTENTS | ||||||||
Page | ||||||||
About this Prospectus | 3 | |||||||
Special Note on Forward-Looking Statements | 4 | |||||||
| Risk Factors | 4 | |||||||
Where You Can Find More Information | 4 | |||||||
| The Company | 6 | |||||||
| Description of Debt Securities | 7 | |||||||
| Description of Warrants | 12 | |||||||
| Description of Preferred Stock | 15 | |||||||
| Description of Units | 18 | |||||||
| Description of Common Stock | 19 | |||||||
| Form, Exchange and Transfer | 20 | |||||||
| Use of Proceeds | 23 | |||||||
| Plan of Distribution | 23 | |||||||
| Legal Matters | 24 | |||||||
| Experts | 25 | |||||||
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About this Prospectus
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings from time to time.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time that we sell the securities described in this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement made in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made in a prospectus supplement. The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. This information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by StoneX Group Inc., or any underwriter, agent, dealer or remarketing firm. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of StoneX Group Inc. since the date hereof or that the information contained or incorporated by reference herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
References to the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this prospectus are references to StoneX Group Inc. and not to any of our subsidiaries, unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires.
The prospectus contained herein relates to all of the following: the initial offering of debt securities, warrants, preferred stock, units and common stock issuable by StoneX Group Inc. and the offering of such securities by the holders thereof.
When we use the term security or securities in this prospectus, we mean any of the securities we may offer with this prospectus, unless we say otherwise. This prospectus describes the general terms that may apply to the securities; the specific terms of any particular securities that we may offer will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus and may differ from the general terms described herein.
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than the information provided in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the information incorporated by reference. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document.
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Special Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including adverse changes in economic, political and market conditions, including losses from our market-making and trading activities arising from counterparty failures, the loss of key personnel, the impact of increasing competition, the impact of changes in government regulation, the possibility of liabilities arising from violations of foreign, U.S. federal and U.S. state securities laws, the impact of changes in technology in the securities and commodities trading industries, and other risks discussed in our filings with the SEC, including Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024. Although we believe that our forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions regarding our business and future market conditions, there can be no assurances that our actual results will not differ materially from any results expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We caution investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.
RISK FACTORS
For a discussion of risk factors affecting StoneX Group Inc. and its business, see the Risk Factors section in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement. Our business, results of operations or financial condition could be adversely affected by any of these risks or by additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), we filed a registration statement relating to the securities offered by this prospectus with the SEC. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement, which includes additional information.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains the reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov. Our internet address is www.stonex.com. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or our other SEC filings and is not a part of this prospectus or those filings.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update information in this prospectus. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or the prospectus supplement. You should not assume that the information in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus and into any accompanying prospectus supplement is current as of any date other than the date of that document.
We incorporate by reference each document listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act’), prior to the termination of any offering under this prospectus:
•our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 27, 2024;
•our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 5, 2025;
•our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (solely to the extent incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024) filed with the SEC on January 23, 2025;
•our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 9, 2024, February 5, 2025 and February 11, 2025; and
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•the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024, including any amendments or reports filed thereafter for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents we file under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and before the later of the completion of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus and the date our affiliates stop offering securities pursuant to this prospectus shall be incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the date of filing of such documents.
Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs, information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits under Item 9.01, is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
You may obtain copies of these documents, at no cost to you, from our Internet website (www.stonex.com), or by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Investor Relations
StoneX Group Inc.
1251 NW Briarcliff Parkway, Suite 800
Kansas, Missouri 64116
Attn: William J. Dunaway, Chief Financial Officer
(866) 522-7188
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THE COMPANY
We operate a global financial services network that connects companies, organizations, traders and investors to the global market ecosystem through a unique blend of digital platforms, end-to-end clearing and execution services, high touch service and deep expertise. We strive to be the one trusted partner to our clients, providing our network, product and services to allow them to pursue trading opportunities, manage their market risks, make investments and improve their business performance. Our businesses are supported by our global infrastructure of regulated operating subsidiaries, our advanced technology platforms and our team of more than 4,600 employees as of December 31, 2024. We believe our client-first approach differentiates us from large banking institutions, engenders trust and has enabled us to establish market leading positions in a number of complex fields in financial markets around the world.
We offer a vertically integrated product suite, beginning with high-touch and electronic access to nearly all major financial markets worldwide, as well as numerous liquidity venues. We deliver this access through the entire lifecycle of a trade, from deep market expertise and on-the-ground intelligence to best execution and finally post-trade clearing, custody and settlement services. We believe this is a unique product offering outside of the bulge bracket banks, which creates long-term relationships with our clients. Our business model has created a revenue stream that is diversified by asset class, client type and geography, earning commissions and spreads as clients execute transactions across our global network, monetizing non-trading client activity including interest and fee earnings on client balances as well as earning consulting and fees for our market intelligence and risk management services.
We currently serve more than 54,000 commercial, institutional, and payments clients, and over 400,000 self-directed/retail accounts located in more than 180 countries. Our clients include commercial entities, regional, national and introducing broker-dealers, asset managers, insurance companies, brokers, institutional and individual investors, professional traders, commercial and investment banks as well as government and non-governmental organizations. We believe our clients value us for our attention to their needs, our expertise and flexibility, our global reach, our ability to provide access to liquidity in hard-to-reach markets and opportunities, and our status as a well-capitalized and regulatory-compliant organization.
We engage in direct sales efforts to seek new clients, with a strategy of extending our services to potential clients that are similar in size and operations to our existing client base. In executing this strategy, we intend to both target new geographic locations and expand the services offered in geographic locations in which we currently operate in an effort to increase our market share or where there is an unmet demand for our services. Through our mobile platforms and intranet websites, including StoneX.com, FOREX.com, and StoneXBullion.com we seek to attract and onboard new clients generated from digital marketing and brand advertising initiatives. We also pursue new clients through indirect channels, including our StoneX Marketing Partners affiliate program, StoneX.com/marketing partnerships; our relationships with introducing brokers, who solicit clients on our behalf; and white label partners, who offer our services to their clients under their own brand. In addition, we selectively pursue small- to medium-sized acquisitions, focusing primarily on targets that satisfy specified criteria, including client-centric organizations that enable us to increase market share in existing products, or which help us expand into new asset classes, client segments and geographies where we currently have a small or limited market presence.
We focus on mitigating exposure to market risk, ensuring adequate liquidity to maintain our daily operations and making non-interest expenses variable, to the greatest extent possible. Our strategy is to utilize a centralized and disciplined process for capital allocation, risk management and cost control, while delegating the execution of strategic objectives and day-to-day management to experienced individuals. This requires high quality managers, a clear communication of performance objectives and strong financial, operational and compliance controls. We believe this strategy will enable us to build a more scalable and significantly larger organization that embraces an entrepreneurial approach to business, supported and underpinned by strong centralized financial and compliance controls.
Our executive offices are located at 230 Park Ave, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10169. Our primary telephone number is (212) 485-3500 and our Internet address is www.stonex.com. Information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus and is not a part of this prospectus.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
Please note that in this section entitled “Description of Debt Securities,” references to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “ours” or “our” refer only to StoneX Group Inc. and not to its consolidated subsidiaries. Also, in this section, references to holders mean those who own debt securities registered in their own names, on the books that the Company or the trustee maintains for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in debt securities registered in street name or in debt securities issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities should read the section below entitled “Form, Exchange and Transfer—Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement.”
General
The following description sets forth general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may issue, which may include convertible or exchangeable debt securities. We will set forth the particular terms of the debt securities we offer in a prospectus supplement. The extent, if any, to which the following general provisions apply to particular debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description of general terms relating to the debt securities and the indenture under which the debt securities will be issued are summaries only and therefore are not complete. You should read the indenture and the prospectus supplement regarding any particular issuance of debt securities.
The debt securities will represent our unsecured general obligations, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement. We currently conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the debt securities or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans or other payments. The holders of debt securities (whether senior or subordinated debt securities) will be effectively subordinated to the creditors of our subsidiaries. This means that creditors of our subsidiaries will have a claim to the assets of our subsidiaries that is superior to the claim of our creditors, including holders of our debt securities.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture to be entered into between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, which we refer to as the “trustee.” The indenture, and any supplemental indentures thereto, will be subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
The form of indenture gives us broad authority to set the particular terms of each series of debt securities issued thereunder, including, without limitation, the right to modify certain of the terms contained in the indenture.
Except to the extent set forth in a prospectus supplement, the indenture does not contain any covenants or restrictions that afford holders of the debt securities special protection in the event of a change of control or highly leveraged transaction.
The indenture will not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued under it and provides that debt securities may be issued in one or more series, in such form or forms, with such terms and up to the aggregate principal amount that we may authorize from time to time. We will establish the terms of each series of debt securities, and such terms will be set forth or determined in the manner provided in one or more resolutions of the board of directors or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of the debt securities offered pursuant to any prospectus supplement will be described in the prospectus supplement. All debt securities of one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of any holder, for issuances of additional debt securities of that series.
Information in the Prospectus Supplement
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of any series of debt securities that we may offer (to the extent applicable to the debt securities):
•the title and designation of the debt securities (which shall distinguish debt securities of one series from debt securities of any other series), including whether the debt securities shall be issued as senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities, any subordination provisions particular to such series of debt securities and whether such debt securities are convertible and/or exchangeable for other securities;
•the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
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•the date or dates (whether fixed or extendable) on which the principal of the debt securities is payable or the method of determination thereof;
•the rate or rates (which may be fixed, floating or adjustable) at which the debt securities shall bear interest, if any, the method of calculating the rates, the date or dates from which interest shall accrue or the manner of determining those dates, the interest payment dates on which interest shall be payable, the record dates for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months;
•the place or places where the principal and premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest on the debt securities, if any, shall be payable, where the holders may surrender debt securities for conversion, transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon us may be served;
•any provisions relating to the issuance of the debt securities at an original issue discount;
•the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise (including, without limitation, the form or method of payment if other than in cash);
•our obligation, if any, to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder, the price at which, the period within which and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation (including, without limitation, the form or method of payment thereof if other than in cash) and any provisions for the remarketing of the debt securities;
•if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the debt securities of the series shall be issuable;
•if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity or provable in bankruptcy, or, if applicable, the portion of the principal amount which is convertible or exchangeable in accordance with the provisions of the debt securities or the resolution of our board of directors or any supplemental indenture pursuant to which such debt securities are issued;
•any events of default with respect to the debt securities, in lieu of or in addition to those set forth in the indenture and the remedies therefor;
•our obligation, if any, to permit the conversion or exchange of the debt securities of such series into shares of common stock or other capital stock or property, or combination thereof, and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion shall be effected (including, without limitation, the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period, the provisions for conversion or exchange price or rate adjustments and any other provision relative to such obligation) and any limitations on the ownership or transferability of the securities or property into which holders may convert or exchange the debt securities;
•any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or any other agents with respect to the debt securities;
•the currency or currency units, including composite currencies, in which the debt securities shall be denominated if other than the currency of the United States of America;
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•if other than the currency or currency units in which the debt securities are denominated, the currency or currency units in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any or interest on the debt securities shall be payable (and the manner in which the equivalent of the principal amount thereof in the currency of the United States of America is to be determined for any purpose, including for the determination of the principal amount outstanding);
•if the principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest on the debt securities is to be payable, at our election or the election of a holder, in currency or currency units other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or stated, the period within which, and the terms and conditions upon which such election may be made and the time and manner of and identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility for determining the exchange rate between the currency or currency units in which the debt securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currency units in which the debt securities will be payable;
•if the amount of the payments of principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which the amount shall be determined from that index;
•whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts on the debt securities held by foreign holders in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay such additional amounts;
•if receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions will be necessary for any purpose, including, without limitation, as a condition to the issuance of the debt securities in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary debt security), the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;
•any other affirmative or negative covenants with respect to the debt securities;
•whether the debt securities shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and the depositary for the global securities or debt securities, the circumstances under which any global security may be exchanged for debt securities registered in the name of any person other than the depositary or its nominee and any other provisions regarding the global securities;
•whether the debt securities are defeasible;
•a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities; and
•any other terms of a particular series.
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities, the principal amount of and any premium or make-whole amount or interest on the debt securities will be payable, and the debt securities will be exchangeable and transfers thereof will be registrable, at the office of the trustee. However, at our option, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as it appears in the debt security register. Any payment of principal and any premium or make-whole amount or interest required to be made on an interest payment date, redemption date or at maturity that is not a business day need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding business day with the same force and effect as if made on the applicable date, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such date.
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement relating to debt securities, the debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge required to be paid in connection with a transfer or exchange.
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Debt securities may bear interest at fixed or floating rates. We may issue our debt securities at an original issue discount, bearing no interest or bearing interest at a rate that, at the time of issuance, is below market rate, to be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. Generally speaking, if our debt securities are issued at an original issue discount and there is an acceleration of their maturity, holders will receive an amount less than the debt securities’ principal amount. Tax and other special considerations applicable to any series of debt securities, including original issue discount debt, will be described in the prospectus supplement in which we offer those debt securities. In addition, certain United States federal income tax or other considerations, if any, applicable to any debt securities which are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Global Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominees identified in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities. In such a case, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series to be represented by such global security or securities.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be registered for transfer or exchange except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of the depositary and except in the circumstances described in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series.
Modification of the Indenture
We and the trustee may modify the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, with or without the consent of the holders of debt securities, under certain circumstances to be described in a prospectus supplement.
Defeasance; Satisfaction and Discharge
The prospectus supplement will outline the conditions under which we may elect to have certain of our obligations under the indenture discharged and under which the indenture obligations will be deemed to be satisfied.
Defaults and Notice
The debt securities of any series will contain events of default to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation:
• failure to pay the principal of, or premium or make-whole amount, if any, on any debt security of such series when due and payable (whether at maturity, by call for redemption, through any mandatory sinking fund, by redemption at the option of the holder, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise);
•failure to make a payment of any interest on any debt security of such series when due, which failure shall have continued for a period of 30 days;
• failure to perform or observe any of our other covenants or agreements in the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series; and
• certain events relating to our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and certain cross defaults.
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series shall occur and be continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series may declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities of such series are issued at an original issue discount, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of the debt securities of such series) of all debt securities of such series and/or such other amount or amounts as the debt securities or supplemental indenture with respect to such series may provide, to be immediately due and payable.
The trustee under the indenture shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default, give to the holders of debt securities of any series notice of all uncured defaults with respect to such series known to it. However, in the case of a default
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that results from an event other than the failure to make any payment of the principal of, premium or make-whole amount, if any, or interest on the debt securities of any series, or in the payment of any mandatory sinking fund installment with respect to the debt securities of such series, the trustee may withhold giving such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities of such series.
The indenture will contain a provision entitling the trustee to be indemnified by holders of debt securities before proceeding to exercise any trust or power under the indenture at the request of such holders. The indenture will provide that the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of such series. However, the trustee may decline to follow any such direction if, among other reasons, the trustee determines in good faith that the actions or proceedings as directed may not lawfully be taken, would involve the trustee in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to the holders of the debt securities of such series not joining in such direction.
The right of a holder to institute a proceeding with respect to the indenture is subject to certain conditions including, that the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series make a written request upon the trustee to exercise its power under the indenture, indemnify the trustee to its satisfaction and afford the trustee reasonable opportunity to act. Even so, the holder has an absolute right to receipt of the principal of, premium or make-whole amount, if any, and interest when due, to require conversion or exchange of debt securities if the indenture provides for convertibility or exchangeability at the option of the holder and to institute suit for the enforcement of such rights.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
If debt securities of any series are convertible or exchangeable, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify:
• the type of securities into which they may be converted or exchanged;
• the conversion price or exchange ratio, or its method of calculation;
• whether conversion or exchange is mandatory or at the holder’s election;
• how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted; and
• any other important terms concerning the conversion or exchange rights.
Concerning the Trustee
The Bank of New York Mellon will serve as the trustee under the indenture pursuant to which any debt securities will be issued. The prospectus supplement with respect to particular debt securities will describe any other relationship that we may have with The Bank of New York Mellon.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
Please note that in this section entitled “Description of Warrants,” references to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “ours” or “our” refer only to StoneX Group Inc. and not to its consolidated subsidiaries. Also, in this section, references to holders mean those who own warrants registered in their own names, on the books that the Company or its agent maintains for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in warrants registered in street name or in warrants issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. Owners of beneficial interests in the warrants should read the section below entitled “Form, Exchange and Transfer—Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement.”
General
We may offer warrants separately or together with our debt or equity securities.
We may issue warrants in such amounts or in as many distinct series as we wish. This section summarizes terms of the warrants that apply generally to all series. The financial and other specific terms of your warrant and any warrant agreement will be described in the prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described here.
The warrants of a series will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and one or more banks or trust companies, as warrant agent, as set forth in the prospectus supplement. A form of each warrant agreement, including a form of warrant certificate representing each warrant, reflecting the particular terms and provisions of a series of offered warrants, will be filed with the SEC at the time of the offering and incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You can obtain a copy of any form of warrant agreement when it has been filed by following the directions outlined in “Where You Can Find More Information” or by contacting the applicable warrant agent.
The following briefly summarizes the material provisions of the warrant agreements and the warrants. As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of your warrant as described in the prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. You should read carefully the prospectus supplement and the more detailed provisions of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate, including the defined terms, for provisions that may be important to you. If there are differences between the prospectus supplement and this prospectus, the prospectus supplement will control. Thus, the statements made in this section may not apply to your warrant.
Types of Warrants
We may issue debt warrants or equity warrants. A debt warrant is a warrant for the purchase of our debt securities on terms to be determined at the time of sale. An equity warrant is a warrant for the purchase or sale of our equity securities. We may also issue warrants for the purchase or sale of, or whose cash value is determined by reference to the performance, level or value of, one or more of the following: securities of one or more issuers, including those issued by us and described in this prospectus or debt or equity securities issued by third parties; a currency or currencies; a commodity or commodities; and other financial, economic or other measure or instrument, including the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or circumstances, or one or more indices or baskets of these items.
Information in the Prospectus Supplement
The prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following information about the warrants:
• the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the warrants;
• the currency or currency unit with which the warrants may be purchased and in which any payments due to or from the holder upon exercise must be made;
• the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants;
• whether the exercise price may be paid in cash, by the exchange of warrants or other securities or both, and the method of exercising the warrants;
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• whether the warrants will be settled by delivery of the underlying securities or other property or in cash;
• whether and under what circumstances we may cancel the warrants prior to their expiration date, in which case the holders will be entitled to receive only the applicable cancellation amount, which may be either a fixed amount or an amount that varies during the term of the warrants in accordance with a schedule or formula;
• whether the warrants will be issued in global or non-global form, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any debt security included in that unit;
• the identities of the warrant agent, any depositaries and any paying, transfer, calculation or other agents for the warrants;
• any securities exchange or quotation system on which the warrants or any securities deliverable upon exercise of the warrants may be listed;
• whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities, as part of units or otherwise, and if the warrants are to be sold with the securities of another company or other companies, certain information regarding such company or companies; and
• any other terms of the warrants.
If warrants are issued as part of a unit, the prospectus supplement will specify whether the warrants will be separable from the other securities in the unit before the warrants expiration date.
No holder of a warrant will, as such, have any rights of a holder of the debt securities, equity securities or other warrant property purchasable under or in the warrant, including any right to receive payment thereunder.
Additional Information in the Prospectus Supplement for Debt Warrants
In the case of debt warrants, the prospectus supplement will contain, where appropriate, the following additional information:
• the designation, aggregate principal amount, currency and terms of the debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the debt warrants; and
• the designation, terms and amount of debt securities, if any, to be issued together with each of the debt warrants and the date, if any, after which the debt warrants and debt securities will be separately transferable.
No Limit on Issuance of Warrants
The warrant agreements will not limit the number of warrants or other securities that we may issue.
Modifications
We and the relevant warrant agent may, without the consent of the holders, amend each warrant agreement and the terms of each issue of warrants, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity or of correcting or supplementing
any defective or inconsistent provision, or in any other manner that we may deem necessary or desirable and that will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the outstanding unexercised warrants in any material respect.
We and the relevant warrant agent also may, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in number of the outstanding unexercised warrants affected, modify or amend the warrant agreement and the terms of the warrants.
No such modification or amendment may, without the consent of each holder of an affected warrant:
• reduce the amount receivable upon exercise, cancellation or expiration;
• shorten the period of time during which the warrants may be exercised;
• otherwise materially and adversely affect the exercise rights of the beneficial owners of the warrants; or
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•reduce the percentage of outstanding warrants whose holders must consent to modification or amendment of the applicable warrant agreement or the terms of the warrants.
Merger and Similar Transactions Permitted; No Restrictive Covenants or Events of Default
The warrant agreements will not restrict our ability to merge or consolidate with, or sell our assets to, another firm or to engage in any other transactions. If at any time there is a merger or consolidation involving us or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, the successor or assuming company will be substituted for us, with the same effect as if it had been named in the warrant agreement and in the warrants. We will be relieved of any further obligation under the warrant agreement or warrants, and, in the event of any such merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition, we as the predecessor corporation may at any time thereafter be dissolved, wound up or liquidated.
The warrant agreements will not include any restrictions on our ability to put liens on our assets, including our interests in our subsidiaries, nor will they provide for any events of default or remedies upon the occurrence of any events of default.
Warrant Agreements Will Not Be Qualified under Trust Indenture Act
No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their warrants.
Enforceability of Rights by Beneficial Owner
Each warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the issuance and exercise of the applicable warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any registered holder of or owner of a beneficial interest in any warrant. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant certificate, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or to make any demand upon us.
Holders may, without the consent of the applicable warrant agent, enforce by appropriate legal action, on their own behalf, their right to exercise their warrants, to receive debt securities, in the case of debt warrants, and to receive payment, if any, for their warrants, in the case of universal warrants.
Governing Law
Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement, the warrants and each warrant agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized capital stock includes 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which were issued and outstanding as of February 19, 2025.
The following briefly summarizes the material terms of our preferred stock, other than pricing and related terms disclosed for a particular issuance in an accompanying prospectus supplement. You should read the particular terms of any series of preferred stock we offer which will be described in more detail in the prospectus supplement prepared for such series, together with the more detailed provisions of our certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designations relating to each particular series of preferred stock, for provisions that may be important to you. The certificate of designations relating to a particular series of preferred stock offered by way of an accompanying prospectus supplement will be filed with the SEC at the time of the offering and incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You can obtain a copy of this document by following the directions outlined in “Where You Can Find More Information.” The prospectus supplement will also state whether any of the terms summarized below do not apply to the series of preferred stock being offered.
General
Under our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and to establish from time to time a series of preferred stock with the following terms specified:
• the number of shares to be included in the series;
• the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of the series; and
• the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series, except as otherwise stated in the certificate of incorporation.
Prior to the issuance of any series of preferred stock, our board of directors will adopt resolutions creating and designating the series as a series of preferred stock and the resolutions will be filed in a certificate of designations as an amendment to the certificate of incorporation. The term board of directors includes any duly authorized committee.
The rights of holders of the preferred stock offered may be adversely affected by the rights of holders of any shares of preferred stock that may be issued in the future, provided that the future issuances are first approved by the holders of the class(es) of preferred stock adversely affected. The board of directors may cause shares of preferred stock to be issued in public or private transactions for any proper corporate purpose. Examples of proper corporate purposes include issuances to obtain additional financing in connection with acquisitions or otherwise, and issuances to our officers, directors and employees pursuant to benefit plans or otherwise. Shares of preferred stock we issue may have the effect of rendering more difficult or discouraging an acquisition of us deemed undesirable by our board of directors.
The preferred stock will be, when issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of preferred stock will not have any preemptive or subscription rights to acquire more of our stock.
We will name the transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent for shares of each series of preferred stock in the prospectus supplement relating to such series.
Rank
Unless otherwise specified for a particular series of preferred stock in an accompanying prospectus supplement, each series will rank on an equal basis with each other series of preferred stock, and prior to the common stock, as to dividends and distributions of assets.
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Dividends
Holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive cash dividends, when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. The rates and dates of payment of dividends will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to each series of preferred stock. Dividends will be payable to holders of record of preferred stock as they appear on our books or, on the record dates fixed by the board of directors. Dividends on any series of preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative.
We may not declare, pay or set apart for payment dividends on the preferred stock unless full dividends on any other series of preferred stock that ranks on an equal or senior basis have been paid or sufficient funds have been set apart for payment for:
• all prior dividend periods of the other series of preferred stock that pay dividends on a cumulative basis; or
• the immediately preceding dividend period of the other series of preferred stock that pay dividends on a noncumulative basis.
Partial dividends declared on shares of preferred stock and any other series of preferred stock ranking on an equal basis as to dividends will be declared pro rata. A pro rata declaration means that the ratio of dividends declared per share to accrued dividends per share will be the same for both series of preferred stock.
Similarly, we may not declare, pay or set apart for payment non-stock dividends or make other payments on the common stock or any other of our stock ranking junior to the preferred stock until full dividends on the preferred stock have been paid or set apart for payment for:
• all prior dividend periods if the preferred stock pays dividends on a cumulative basis; or
• the immediately preceding dividend period if the preferred stock pays dividends on a noncumulative basis.
Conversion and Exchange
The prospectus supplement for any series of preferred stock will state the terms, if any, on which shares of that series are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock.
Redemption
If so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a series of preferred stock may be redeemable at any time, in whole or in part, at our option or at the option of the holder thereof and may be mandatorily redeemed.
Any partial redemptions of preferred stock will be made in a way that our board of directors decides is equitable.
Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, dividends will cease to accrue after the redemption date on shares of preferred stock called for redemption and all rights of holders of such shares will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.
Liquidation Preference
Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive distributions upon liquidation in the amount set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of preferred stock, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends. Such distributions will be made before any distribution is made on any securities ranking junior relating to preferred stock in liquidation, including common stock.
If the liquidation amounts payable relating to the preferred stock of any series and any other securities ranking on a parity regarding liquidation rights are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock of such series and such other securities will share in any such distribution of our available assets on a ratable basis in proportion to the full liquidation preferences. Holders of such series of preferred stock will not be entitled to any other amounts from us after they have received their full liquidation preference.
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Voting Rights
The holders of shares of our preferred stock will have no voting rights, except:
• as otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement;
• as otherwise stated in the certificate of designations establishing such series; and
• as required by applicable law.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more warrants, debt securities, preferred shares, common shares or any combination of such securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
• the terms of the units and of the warrants, debt securities, preferred shares and common shares comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately;
• a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units;
• description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange or the units; and
•any applicable U.S. federal income tax consequences.
The terms and conditions described under “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Warrants,” “Description of Preferred Stock,” and “Description of Common Stock” will apply to each unit and to any warrants, shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock or debt securities issued by us included in each unit, as applicable, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will issue the units under one or more unit agreements, each referred to as a Unit Agreement, to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as unit agent. The specific terms of any Unit Agreement will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may issue units in one or more series, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
Our authorized capital stock includes 200,000,000 shares of common stock, 35,981,191 of which were issued and 32,070,206 of which were outstanding as of February 19, 2025. The following briefly summarizes the material terms of our common stock. You should read the more detailed provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws for provisions that may be important to you. You can obtain copies of these documents by following the directions outlined in “Where You Can Find More Information.”
General
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share for the election of directors and for all other matters to be voted on by stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by law, the holders of common stock vote as one class together with holders of our preferred stock (if they have voting rights). Holders of common stock may not cumulate their votes in the election of directors, and are entitled to share equally in the dividends that may be declared by the board of directors, but only after payment of dividends required to be paid on outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of common stock share ratably in the assets remaining after payments to creditors and provision for the preference of any preferred stock. There are no preemptive or other subscription rights, conversion rights or redemption or scheduled installment payment provisions relating to shares of our common stock. All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services. The common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “SNEX”.
Delaware Law, Certificate of Incorporation and By-Law Provisions that May Have an Antitakeover Effect
The following discussion concerns certain provisions of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and by-laws that may delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interest, including offers or attempts that might result in a premium being paid over the market price for its shares.
Delaware Law. We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
• prior to the business combination the corporation’s board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; or
• upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the stockholder owned at least 85% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for the purpose of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned by the corporation’s officers and directors and by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
• at or subsequent to the time the business combination is approved by the corporation’s board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of its stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of its outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
A business combination includes mergers, asset sales or other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the stockholder. An interested stockholder is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws. Our by-laws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called by our Secretary only at the request of the President, a majority of our board of directors or the holders of not less than one-fifth of all the shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the particular meeting. Written notice of a special meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purposes for which the meeting is called must be given between 10 and 60 days before the date of the meeting, and only business specified in the notice may come before the meeting. In addition, our by-laws provide that directors be elected by a plurality of votes cast at an annual meeting and does not include a provision for cumulative voting for directors. Under cumulative voting, a minority stockholder holding a sufficient percentage of a class of shares may be able to ensure the election of one or more directors.
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FORM, EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER
Each debt security, equity security, warrant, and unit will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Both certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued only in registered form.
Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and, in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below under “- Global Securities.”
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee under any indenture and the obligations, if any, of any warrant agents and unit agents and any other agents of ours, any agents of the trustee or any agents of any warrant agents or unit agents, run only to the persons or entities named as holders of the securities in the relevant security register. Neither we nor any trustee, warrant agent, unit agent, other agent of ours, agent of the trustee or agent of the warrant agents or unit agents have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interest in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means.
Upon making a payment or giving a notice to the holder as required by the terms of that security, we will have no further responsibility for that payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect owners of beneficial interests in that security but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval or consent of the holders of any securities for any purpose, we would seek the approval only from the holders, and not the indirect owners, of the relevant securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect owners would be governed by the agreements between such holders and the indirect owners.
References to you in this prospectus refer to those who invest in the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the direct holders or only indirect owners of beneficial interests in those securities.
Global Securities
We may issue debt securities, equity securities, warrants and units in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or its nominee. In those cases, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.
Debt securities issued in registered global form primarily outside the United States will be deposited with a common safekeeper for Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg and will be registered in the name of a nominee of the common safekeeper. We anticipate that the provisions described under The Depositary section below will apply to all other depositary arrangements, unless otherwise described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities.
The Depositary
Except as otherwise described herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (the “Depositary”) will be designated as the depositary for any registered global security. Each registered global security will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., the Depositary’s nominee.
The Depositary is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a clearing agency registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The Depositary holds securities deposited with it by its direct participants, and it facilitates the settlement of transactions among its direct participants in those securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. The Depositary’s direct participants
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include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, including the agents, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations, some of whom and/or their representatives own the Depositary. Access to the Depositary’s book-entry system is also available to others, such as both U.S. and non-U.S. brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations, such as Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to the Depositary and its participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of the securities under the Depositary’s system must be made by or through its direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on the Depositary’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security (the “beneficial owner”) is in turn to be recorded on the records of direct and indirect participants. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from the Depositary of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the securities are to be made by entries on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the securities is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all securities deposited with the Depositary are registered in the name of the Depositary’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by the Depositary. The deposit of securities with the Depositary and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee of the Depositary do not affect any change in beneficial ownership. The Depositary has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities; the Depositary’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by the Depositary to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Neither the Depositary nor Cede & Co. (nor such other nominee of the Depositary) will consent or vote with respect to the securities unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, the Depositary mails an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy to whose accounts the securities are credited on the record date.
Redemption proceeds, distributions, and dividend payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co. or such other nominee as may be requested by the Depositary. The Depositary’s practice is to credit direct participants accounts upon the Depositary’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or any agent of ours, on the date payable in accordance with their respective holdings shown on the Depositary’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in street name, and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of the Depositary or its nominee, the trustee, any agent of ours, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payments of redemption proceeds, distributions, and dividend payments to Cede & Co. or such other nominee as may be requested by the Depositary is the responsibility of us or of any paying agent of ours, disbursement of such payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of the Depositary, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
The Depositary may discontinue providing its services as depositary with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or our agent. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depositary is not obtained by us within 90 days, security certificates are required to be printed and delivered. In addition, under the terms of the indentures, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the securities represented by one or more registered global securities. We understand, however, that, under current
industry practices, the Depositary would notify its participants of our request, but will only withdraw beneficial interests from a global security at the request of each participant. We would issue definitive certificates in exchange for any such interests withdrawn. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the Depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the Depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the Depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the Depositary.
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According to the Depositary, the foregoing information relating to the Depositary has been provided to the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.
The information in this section concerning the Depositary and Depositary’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. The Depositary may change or discontinue the foregoing procedures at any time.
Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement
The securities will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of the Depositary, and registered in the name of Cede & Co. Beneficial interests in the registered global securities will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in the Depositary, as described above. Investors may elect to hold interests in the registered global securities held by the Depositary through Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear if they are participants in those systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in those systems. Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream, Luxembourg’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold interests in the registered global securities in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries names on the books of the Depositary. Citibank, N.A. will act as depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, will act as depositary for Euroclear. We refer to each of Citibank, N.A. and The Bank of New York Mellon, acting in this depositary capacity, as the U.S. depositary for the relevant clearing system. Except as set forth below, the registered global securities may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to the Depositary, another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or its nominee.
Clearstream, Luxembourg advises that distributions with respect to the securities held through Clearstream, Luxembourg will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream, Luxembourg customers in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg.
Euroclear advises that distributions with respect to the securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with the terms and conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Euroclear.
Euroclear further advises that investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in securities by book-entry through accounts with Euroclear or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with their intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between their intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the securities.
Individual certificates in respect of the securities will not be issued in exchange for the registered global securities, except in very limited circumstances. If the Depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a clearing system in connection with the registered global securities or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor clearing system is not appointed by us within 90 days after receiving that notice from the Depositary or upon becoming aware that the Depositary is no longer so registered, we will issue or cause to be issued individual certificates in registered form on registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, book-entry interests in the securities represented by registered global securities upon delivery of those registered global securities for cancellation.
Title to book-entry interests in the securities will pass by book-entry registration of the transfer within the records of Clearstream, Luxembourg, Euroclear or the Depositary, as the case may be, in accordance with their respective procedures. Book-entry interests in the securities may be transferred within Clearstream, Luxembourg and within Euroclear and between Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear in accordance with procedures established for these purposes by Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear. Book-entry interests in the securities may be transferred within the Depositary in accordance with procedures established for this purpose by the Depositary. Transfers of book-entry interests in the securities among Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and the Depositary may be effected in accordance with procedures established for this purpose by Clearstream, Luxembourg, Euroclear and the Depositary.
Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures
Initial settlement for the securities offered on a global basis through the Depositary will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between the Depositary’s participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance
22
with the Depositary’s rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using the Depositary’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream, Luxembourg customers and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in immediately available funds.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through the Depositary on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream, Luxembourg customers or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected through the Depositary in accordance with the Depositary’s rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. depositary; however, these cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in the clearing system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering interests in the securities to or receiving interests in the securities from the Depositary, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to the Depositary. Clearstream, Luxembourg customers and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of interests in the securities received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a Depositary participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the Depositary settlement date. Credits of interests or any transactions involving interests in the securities received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a Depositary participant and settled during subsequent securities settlement processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream, Luxembourg customers or Euroclear participants on the business day following the Depositary settlement date. Cash received in Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear as a result of sales of interests in the securities by or through a Clearstream, Luxembourg customer or a Euroclear participant to a Depositary participant will be received with value on the Depositary settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in the Depositary.
Although the Depositary, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the securities among participants of the Depositary, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform the foregoing procedures and these procedures may be changed or discontinued at any time.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities we offer by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things: additions to working capital; the redemption or repurchase of outstanding equity and debt securities; the repayment of indebtedness; and the expansion of our business through internal growth or acquisitions.
We may raise additional funds from time to time through equity or debt financing, including borrowings under credit facilities, to finance our business and operations.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may offer the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, by ourselves directly, through agents, or through a combination of any of these methods of sale. Any such underwriters, dealers or agents may include our affiliates. The details of any such offering will be set forth in the any prospectus supplement relating to the offering.
We may sell any series of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock and depositary shares being offered directly to one or more purchasers, through agents, to or through underwriters or dealers, or through a combination of any such methods of sale. The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at fixed prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering, including the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of such securities and the proceeds to us from such sale, any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation, any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers or any securities exchange on which such securities may be listed. Any initial public offering price, discounts or concessions allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
23
Any discounts, concessions or commissions received by underwriters or agents and any profits on the resale of securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and such underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities, if any are purchased. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
We may also offer and sell securities, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more firms referred to as remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act in connection with the securities they remarket.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers or other persons acting as agents for us to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us, pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases such institutions must be approved by us. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the conditions that the purchase of the offered securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers or other persons acting as agents for us to make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an at-the-market offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on or through The NASDAQ Global Select Market, the existing trading market for our common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.
In connection with the offering of securities, we may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments at the initial public offering price, with an additional underwriting commission, as may be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement. If we grant any over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such securities.
Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.
The securities may be a new issue of securities that have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Such securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any securities.
We may indemnify agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Our agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business.
LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, the validity of the securities and certain other legal matters will be passed upon for us by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York. Any underwriters, dealers or agents will be advised about the validity of the securities and other legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement.
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EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of StoneX Group Inc. as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 30, 2024 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2024 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PART II
Information Not Required in Prospectus
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following is a statement of the expenses (all of which are estimated) to be incurred by StoneX Group Inc. in connection with a distribution of the securities registered under this registration statement:
| Amount to be paid | |||||
| SEC registration fee | (1) | ||||
| Rating agency fees | * | ||||
| Legal fees and expenses | * | ||||
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | ||||
| Printing fees | * | ||||
| Trustee's fees and expenses | * | ||||
| Miscellaneous | * | ||||
| Total | * | ||||
(1) Applicable SEC registration fees have been deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act and are not estimable at this time.
* These fees and expenses will depend on the securities offered, the number of issuances and the nature of offerings, and cannot be estimated at this time.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Charter”) of StoneX Group Inc. (the “Company”) and the Company By-Laws, as amended to date (the “By-Laws”), require the Company to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The Charter and By-Laws also provide that the Company may, by action of the Board of Directors, provide indemnification to any employee or agent of the Company to the same extent as the foregoing indemnification of directors and officers of the Company.
The right to indemnification under the Charter and By-Laws includes the right to be paid the expenses and costs incurred in defending a civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or investigative action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding (subject, in the case of employees and agents, to authorization by the Board of Directors) upon receipt of an undertaking in writing by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in the Charter or By-Laws.
In addition, the officers and directors of the Company are insured under officers and directors liability insurance policies purchased by the Company, as permitted by the By-Laws. Under the By-Laws, the Company has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any capacity whether or not the Company has the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the By-Laws or applicable law.
Any underwriting agreement or agency agreement with respect to an offering of securities registered hereunder will provide for indemnification of the Company and its officers and directors who signed this registration statement by the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, against certain liabilities including liabilities under the Act.
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Item 16. Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | ||||||||||||||||
4.1 | |||||||||||||||||
4.2* | Form of Warrant Agreement. | ||||||||||||||||
4.3* | Form of Certificate of Designations. | ||||||||||||||||
4.4* | Form of Debt Security. | ||||||||||||||||
4.5* | Form of Warrant. | ||||||||||||||||
4.6* | Form of Preferred Security. | ||||||||||||||||
4.7* | Form of Unit Agreement. | ||||||||||||||||
5.1 | Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. | ||||||||||||||||
23.1 | |||||||||||||||||
23.2 | |||||||||||||||||
24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on signature page). | ||||||||||||||||
| 25.1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 107 | |||||||||||||||||
* | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with the offering of the applicable securities. | ||||||||||||||||
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii)to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
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(i)Each prospectus filed by a Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii)Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of an undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned Registrant;
(iii)The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about an undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of an undersigned Registrant; and
(iv)Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by an undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(8) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of a Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, that Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, StoneX Group Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York on February 19, 2025.
STONEX GROUP INC.
/s/ Philip Smith
Philip Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Philip Smith and William Dunaway his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or supplements to this registration statement, whether pre-effective or post-effective, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate to be done with respect to this registration statement or any amendments or supplements hereto in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||||||||||||
| /S/ JOHN RADZIWILL | Director and Chairman of the Board | February 19, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| John Radziwill | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ PHILIP SMITH | Chief Executive Officer | February 19, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Philip Smith | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||||||||||
| /S/ SEAN O'CONNOR | Director and Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board | February 19, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Sean O'Connor | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ ANNABELLE BEXIGA | Director | February 19, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Annabelle Bexiga | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ DIANE COOPER | Director | February 19, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Diane Cooper | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ JOHN M. FOWLER | Director | February 19, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| John M. Fowler | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ STEVEN KASS | Director | February 19, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Steven Kass | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ ERIC PARTHEMORE | Director | February 19, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Eric Parthemore | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ DHAMU THAMODARAN | Director | February 19, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Dhamu Thamodaran | ||||||||||||||
| /S/ WILLIAM DUNAWAY | Chief Financial Officer | February 19, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| William Dunaway | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||||||||||||
II- 5
Exhibit 4.1
STONEX GROUP INC.
as Issuer
INDENTURE
Dated as of [ ], 20[ ]
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
as Trustee
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
TIA Section | Indenture Section | ||||
| 310(a)(1) | 11.5 | ||||
| (a)(2) | 11.5 | ||||
| (a)(3) | N.A. | ||||
| (a)(4) | N.A. | ||||
| (a)(5) | 11.5 | ||||
| (b) | 11.4, 11.5 | ||||
| 311(a) | 11.9 | ||||
| (b) | 11.9 | ||||
| 312(a) | 4.6(c), 11.11 | ||||
| (b) | 11.11 | ||||
| (c) | 11.11 | ||||
| 313(a) | 11.10(a) | ||||
| (b)(1) | N.A. | ||||
| (b)(2) | 11.10(a) | ||||
| (c) | 11.10(a) | ||||
| (d) | 11.10(b) | ||||
| 314(a)(1) | 4.6(a) | ||||
| (a)(2) | 4.6(a) | ||||
| (a)(3) | 4.6(a) | ||||
| (a)(4) | 4.7 | ||||
| (b) | N.A. | ||||
| (c) | 3.7 | ||||
| (d) | N.A. | ||||
| (e) | 3.7 | ||||
| 315(a) | 11.1(a) | ||||
| (b) | 11.3 | ||||
| (c) | 11.1(b) | ||||
| (d) | 11.1(a), 11.1(c) | ||||
| (e) | 7.6 | ||||
| 316(a)(1)(A) | 7.6 | ||||
| (a)(1)(B) | 7.1,7.5 | ||||
| (a)(2) | N.A. | ||||
| (b) | 7.6 | ||||
| (c) | 8.1 | ||||
| 317(a) | 7.2 | ||||
| (b) | 4.8 | ||||
| 318(a) | 3.3 | ||||
| (b) | 3.3 | ||||
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
i
Section 5.02. Notices of Redemption to Trustee - Deposit of Cash (or Other Form of Payment) - Selection of Debt Securities to be Redeemed 27
ii
Section 11.15. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of Debt Securities or Application of Proceeds Thereof 55
iii
INDENTURE dated as of the [_] day of [ ], 20[ ], between STONEX GROUP INC., an Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, a New York banking corporation, as Trustee hereunder (the “Trustee”);
WHEREAS, the Company for its lawful corporate purposes has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture (as defined herein) to provide for the issuance from time to time of its Debt Securities (as defined herein), to be issued in one or more series as herein provided.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
THAT, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants herein contained and of the purchase and acceptance of the Debt Securities by the Holders (as defined herein) thereof, and for other valuable consideration the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, it is hereby agreed between the Company and the Trustee, for the benefit of each other and of those who shall hold the Debt Securities, as follows:
Article 1
Definitions; Trust Indenture Act Controlling
Definitions; Trust Indenture Act Controlling
Section 1.01.Definitions. Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Article 1 shall for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto have the meanings herein specified, the following definitions to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of any of the terms herein defined. All accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, and the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
“Affiliate” of any specified person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.
“Agent Member” has the meaning specified in Section 2.13.
“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of one or more series.
“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily printed on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term, is used or in the financial community of such place. If, because of temporary suspension of publication or general circulation of any newspaper or for any other reason, it is impossible or, in the opinion of the Company, impracticable to make any publication of any notice required by this Indenture in the manner herein provided, such publication or other notice in lieu thereof which is made at the written direction of the Company by the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same place meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day, as directed in writing by the Company.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board” or “Board of Directors” means the (i) Board of Directors (or similar governing body) of the Company or (ii) the Executive Committee, if any, thereof, (iii) any other committee of such Board duly authorized to act hereunder, or (iv) any Officers of the Company duly authorized by such Board or by any duly authorized committee of such Board to act hereunder.
“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Debt Securities, any day other than a (i) Saturday or Sunday, (ii) day upon which the Trustee is authorized by law, regulation or executive order to close, or (iii) day that, in The City of New York or in the city (or in any of the cities, if more than one) in which amounts are payable, as specified in the terms of such Debt Securities, is not a day upon which banking institutions are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of Common Shares and Preferred Stock of the Company, and all options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.
“Certified Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Shares” means any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) of the Company’s common shares, whether outstanding on any issue date of any Debt Securities or issued thereafter, and includes without limitation, all series and classes of such common shares including the common shares, no par value, of the Company.
2
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the pre-amble hereof and, subject to the provisions of Article X, shall include such entity’s successors and assigns.
“Company Order” or “Company Request” means a written order or request signed in the name of the Company by at least one Officer of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 240 Greenwich Street, Floor 7, New York, New York 10286, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).
“Debt Security” means one of the debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued from, time to time in one or more series under this Indenture and, more particularly, any series of Debt Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Depositary” has the meaning specified in Section 2.13.
"Electronic Means" means the following communications methods: e-mail or secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee or Collateral Agent, or another method or system specified by the Trustee or Collateral Agent, as available for use in connection with its services hereunder
“Event of Default” means an event listed in Section 8.01, continued for the period of time, if any, and after the required notices, if any, therein designated.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Global Security” has the meaning specified in Section 2.13.
“Holders,” “Holders of Debt Securities” or other similar term means any person who shall at the time be the registered holder of any Debt Security or Debt Securities as shown by the register or registers kept by the Company or its agent for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented and, unless the context otherwise indicates, shall include the form and terms of each particular series of Debt Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“Officer” means (a) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the
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Controller, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person and (b) with respect to any other Person, the individuals selected by such Person to perform, functions similar to those of the officers listed in clause (a).
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Trustee signed on behalf of the Company by one Officer of the Company, and as to any Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 5.07, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate other than an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 5.07 shall include the statements provided for in Section 4.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, or other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and delivered to the Trustee. Such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 3.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Original Issue Discount” with respect to any Debt Security, including an Original Issue Discount Security, has the same meaning as set forth in Section 1273 of the Code, or any successor provision, and the applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any series of a Debt Security that provides for an amount less than the Principal Amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 8.01.
“Outstanding” when used with respect to the Debt Securities, means, subject to Section 4.02, as of the date of determination, all Debt Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except: (a) Debt Securities for the payment or redemption of which cash (or other form of payment if permitted by the terms of such Debt Securities) in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company); provided, however, that, if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been duly given or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; (b) Debt Securities converted or exchanged into Capital Stock in accordance with the provisions of such Debt Securities or the resolution of the Board of Directors or the indenture supplement pursuant to which such Debt Securities were issued, if the terms of such Debt Securities provide for convertibility or exchangeability pursuant to Section 2.02; (c) Debt Securities paid or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debt Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 3.12, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Debt Securities are held by persons in whose hands such Debt Securities are valid, binding and legal obligations; and (d) Debt Securities which have been cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee or its designee for cancellation.
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“Paying Agent” means any person authorized by the Company to pay the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any and interest on any Debt Securities.
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, company (including limited liability company and joint-stock company), unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, association, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Preferred Stock” means any Capital Stock that has preferential rights to any other Capital Stock with respect to dividends or redemptions or upon liquidation.
“Principal” of a debt security, including any series of Debt Securities, on any day and for any purpose means the amount (including, without limitation, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, any accrued Original Issue Discount, but excluding interest) that is payable with respect to such debt security as of such date and for such purpose (including, without limitation, in connection with any sinking fund, upon any redemption at the option of the Company upon any purchase or exchange at the option of the Company or the Holder of such debt security and upon any acceleration of the maturity of such debt security).
“Principal Amount” of a debt security, including any series of Debt Securities, means the principal amount as set forth on the face of such debt security.
“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee (or any similar or successor group of the Trustee), including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, 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 or to whom any matter arising under this Indenture 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.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company that satisfies the criteria for a “significant subsidiary” set forth in Article 1, Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
“Trustee” means the Trustee or Trustees hereunder for the time being, whether original or successor. “Trustee” as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series means the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of such series.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is
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pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the full and timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.
Section 1.02.Trust Indenture Act Definitions Controlling. All terms used in this Indenture which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, or which are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture Act and the Securities Act as they were respectively in force at the date of this Indenture, except as otherwise provided in Section 4.03.
Article 2
Form, Issue and Registration of Debt Securities
Form, Issue and Registration of Debt Securities
Section 2.01.Forms Generally and Dating. The Debt Securities of each series shall be in the form or forms (including temporary or permanent global form) established from time to time by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or in one or more supplemental indentures, which shall set forth the information required by Section 2.02. The Debt Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or by a resolution of the Board of Directors and may have such notations, legends or endorsements as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or as may be required by law, securities exchange rule or usage. The Company shall approve and provide the form of the Debt Securities and any notation, legend or endorsement thereon. If the form of Debt Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, a Certified Resolution shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 2.05 for the authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities.
Each Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by the Debt Securities shall be substantially as follows:
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[FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]
This is one of the Debt Securities of the series referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
[ ] | |||||
| By: | Authorized Signatory | ||||
Dated:
Section 2.02.Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to one or more resolutions of the Board of Directors, or established in or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of the Debt Securities of any series:
(1)the title and designation of the Debt Securities of the series (which shall distinguish Debt Securities of the series from. Debt Securities of any other series) including whether the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued as senior Debt Securities, senior subordinated Debt Securities or subordinated Debt Securities, any subordination provisions particular to such series of Debt Securities, and whether such Debt Securities are convertible and/or exchangeable for other securities;
(2)the aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities of the series and any limit upon the aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for the Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.09, 2.08, 2.09, 2.10, 2.11, 5.02 or 12.05);
(3)the date or dates (whether fixed or extendable) on which the Principal of the Debt Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;
(4)the rate or rates (which may be fixed, floating or adjustable) at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the method of calculating such rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue or the manner of determining such dates, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable and the record dates for the determination of Holders of Debt Securities to whom interest is payable, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months;
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(5)the place or places where the Principal of and premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities of the series, if any, shall be payable, where the Holders of the Debt Securities may surrender Debt Securities for conversion, transfer or exchange, and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities and this Indenture may be served;
(6)any provisions relating to the issuance of the Debt Securities of the series at an Original Issue Discount;
(7)the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise (including, without limitation, the form, or method of payment thereof if other than in cash);
(8)the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay the Debt Securities of the series pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder of Debt Securities thereof and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation (including, without limitation, the form, or method of payment thereof if other than in cash), and any provisions for the remarketing of such Debt Securities;
(9)if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Debt Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(10)if other than the Principal Amount thereof, the portion of the Principal Amount of the Debt Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.01 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 7.02, or, if applicable, which is convertible or exchangeable in accordance with the provisions of such Debt Securities or the resolution of the Board of Directors or the supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Debt Securities are issued;
(11)any Events of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of a particular series, in lieu of or in addition to those set forth herein and the remedies therefor;
(12)the obligations, if any, of the Company to permit the conversion or exchange of the Debt Securities of such series into Common Shares or other Capital Stock or property, or combination thereof, and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion shall be effected (including, without limitation, the initial conversion or exchange price or rate, the conversion or exchange period,
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the provisions for conversion or exchange price or rate adjustments and any other provision relative to such obligation) and any limitations on the ownership or transferability of the securities or property into which Holders of such Debt Securities may convert or exchange such Debt Securities;
(13)any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or any other agents with respect to the Debt Securities of such series;
(14)the currency or currency units, including composite currencies, in which the Debt Securities of the series shall be denominated if other than the currency of the United States of America, and, if so, whether the Debt Securities of the series may be satisfied and discharged other than as provided in Article 6;
(15)if other than the currency or currency units in which the Debt Securities of that series are denominated, the coin or currency in which payment of the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities of such series shall be payable (and the manner in which the equivalent of the Principal Amount thereof in the currency of the United States of America is to be determined for any purpose, including for the determination of the Principal Amount outstanding);
(16)if the Principal of, premium^ if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder of Debt Securities thereof, in a coin or currency other than that in which the Debt Securities are denominated or stated, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made and the time and manner of, and identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility for, determining the exchange rate between the currency or currencies in which the Debt Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currencies in which the Debt Securities will be payable;
(17)if the amount of payments of Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(18)(18) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the Debt Securities of the series held by a person who is not a United States of America Person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Debt Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;
(19)if receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions will be necessary for any purpose, including, without limitation, as a condition to the issuance of the Debt Securities of such series in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary
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Debt Security of such series), the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;
(20)any other affirmative or negative covenants with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; (21) whether the Debt Securities of such series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and in such case, (i) the Depositary for such Global Securities or Debt Securities, which Depositary must be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (ii) the circumstances under which any such Global Security may be exchanged for Debt Securities registered in the name of, and under which any transfer of such Global Securities may be registered in the name of, any Person other than such Depositary or its nominee, if other than as set forth in Section 2.13 and (iii) any other provisions regarding such Global Securities which provisions may be in addition to or in lieu of, in whole or in part, the provisions of Section 2.13;
(21)whether the Debt Securities are defeasible; and
(22)any other terms of a particular series and any other provisions expressing or referring to the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities of the series are to be issued under the Indenture, which terms and provisions are not in conflict with the provisions of this Indenture; provided, however, that the addition to or subtraction from or variation of 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 (and Section 1.01, insofar as it relates to the definition of certain terms as used in such Articles) with regard to the Debt Securities of a particular series shall not be deemed to constitute a conflict with the provisions of those Articles.
All Debt Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such resolution of the Board of Directors or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. Not all Debt Securities of any one series need be issued at the same time, and, unless otherwise so provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Debt Securities of such series.
If any of the terms of the Debt Securities of a series are established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, a Certified Resolution shall be delivered to the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the Debt Securities of such series. With respect to Debt Securities of a series that are not to be issued at one time, such resolution of the Board of Directors or action may provide general terms or parameters for Debt Securities of the series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Debt Securities of the series shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company or its agents in accordance with a Company Order as contemplated by the proviso clause of Section 2.08.
Section 2.03.Denominations. The Debt Securities of each series shall be registered Debt Securities without coupons, in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.02. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to
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the Debt Securities of any series, the Debt Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 or of any integral multiple of $1,000.
Section 2.04.Execution and Authentication. The Debt Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by at least one Officer of the Company, whose signature may be manual, electronic or in facsimile. In case any Officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such Officer before the Debt Securities so signed shall actually have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated, issued and delivered or disposed of with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such Officer of the Company; and any such Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such person, as at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper Officer of the Company, although at the date of such Debt Security or the date of execution of this Indenture any such person was not such Officer.
No Debt Security of any series shall be entitled to the benefits hereof or shall be or become valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there shall appear on the Debt Security a certificate of authentication, substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, manually, in facsimile or electronically executed by the Trustee for such series or an Authenticating Agent; and such certificate on any series of Debt Securities issued by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that it has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.
If the form or forms or terms of the Debt Securities of any series have been established in or pursuant to one or more resolutions of the Board of Directors or indentures supplemental hereto as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 2.02, in authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 11.02) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, a Certified Resolution or Resolutions delivered to the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and an Opinion of Counsel stating:
(1)if the form or forms of such Debt Securities have been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or indenture supplemental hereto, that such form or forms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(2)if the terms of such Debt Securities have been established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors or indenture supplemental hereto, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(3)that this Indenture and such Debt Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent and issued by the
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Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (or such other similar matters as in the opinion of such counsel shall not materially adversely affect such enforceability); and
(4)that the issuance and authentication of such Debt Securities to be issued complies with all covenants and conditions precedent under this Indenture, and will not violate, result in a breach or constitute a default or, with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both, would not constitute a default, under the articles of incorporation or code of regulations of the Company or result in such a default or violation.
If all the Debt Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, the resolution of the Board of Directors or supplemental indenture, the Certified Resolution or supplemental indenture, the Officer’s Certificate, the Company Order and any other documents otherwise required pursuant to Sections 2.01, 2.02, 3.07 and this Section shall be delivered at or prior to the time of authentication of each Debt Security of such series.
The Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall not be required to authenticate such Debt Securities if the issue of such Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture will adversely affect the Trustee’s or the Authenticating Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Debt Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
With respect to Debt Securities of a series which are not all issued at one time, the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent may conclusively rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any such Debt Securities, the form and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel, Officer’s Certificate and other documents delivered pursuant to Sections 2.01, 2.02, 3.07 and this Section, as applicable, at or prior to the time of the first authentication of Debt Securities of such series unless and until such opinion, certificate or other documents have been superseded or revoked in a writing delivered to the Trustee. In connection with the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities of a series which are not all issued at one time, the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent shall be entitled to assume that the Company’s instructions to authenticate and deliver such Debt Securities do not violate any rules, regulations or orders of any governmental agency or commission having jurisdiction, over the Company.
Section 2.05.Issue of Debt Securities. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent, forthwith upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture and from time to time thereafter, upon the execution and delivery to it of Debt Securities of any series by the Company as herein provided, and without any further action on the part of the Company, shall authenticate such Debt Securities up to a maximum amount, if any, designated for such series pursuant to Section 2.02 and deliver them to or upon the receipt of a Company
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Order; provided, however, that if not all the Debt Securities of a series are to be issued at one time and if the resolution of the Board of Directors or indenture supplemental hereto establishing such series as contemplated by Sections 2.01 and 2.02 shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures acceptable to the Trustee for the issuance of such Debt Securities and for determining the form or forms or terms of particular Debt Securities of such series including, but not limited to, interest rate, if any, maturity date, date of issuance and date from which interest, if any, shall accrue.
Section 2.06.Transfer of Debt Securities. The transfer of any series of Debt Securities may be registered by the registered owner thereof, in person or by his attorney duly authorized in writing, at the office or agency of the Company to be maintained by it as provided in Section 5.02, by delivering such Debt Security for cancellation, accompanied by delivery of a duly executed instrument of transfer, in form approved by the Company and satisfactory to the Trustee or its designee, and thereupon the Company shall execute in the name of the transferee or transferees, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series and of like form, for the same aggregate Principal Amount.
Section 2.07.Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentation of any series of Debt Securities for registration of transfer, the person in whose name a Debt Security of any series shall be registered on books kept for such purpose in accordance with Section 5.02 shall be deemed the absolute owner thereof for all purposes of this Indenture, whether or not such Debt Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any Paying Agent or conversion agent nor any series of Debt Securities registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.12, payment of or on account of the Principal, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest shall be made only to or upon the order in writing of such registered owner thereof, but such registration may be changed as above provided. All such payments shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon such Debt Security to the extent of the sum. or sums so paid.
Section 2.08.Temporary Form. Until Debt Securities of any series in definitive form are ready for delivery, the Company may execute and, upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu thereof and subject to the same conditions, one or more printed Debt Securities in temporary form, substantially of the tenor of Debt Securities of the same series, without a recital of specific redemption prices and with such other appropriate omissions, variations and insertions, all as may be determined by the Board of Directors. Until exchanged for Debt Securities of the same series in definitive form such Debt Securities in temporary form shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. The Company shall, without unreasonable delay after the issue of Debt Securities in temporary form, prepare, execute and deliver definitive Debt Securities of the same series to the Trustee, and upon the presentation and surrender of Debt Securities in temporary form, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange therefor, Debt Securities of the same series in definitive form for the same aggregate Principal Amount as the Debt Securities in temporary form surrendered. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor.
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Section 2.09.Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. Upon receipt by the Company, the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent of evidence satisfactory to them that any Debt Security of any series has been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, and upon receipt of an indemnity bond from the Holder (and in case of a destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, proof of ownership) that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, Trustee, Authenticating Agent or any other agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Debt Security is replaced, the Company shall, in the case of a mutilated Debt Security, and may in the case of a lost, stolen or destroyed Debt Security, execute, and thereupon the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debt Security of the same series of like tenor bearing a serial number not contemporaneously outstanding (bearing such notation, if any, as may be required by the rules of any securities exchange upon which the Debt Securities of the same series are listed or are to be listed), in exchange and substitution for, and upon surrender and cancellation of, the mutilated Debt Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debt Security so destroyed, lost or stolen; or, if any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security of any series shall have matured or be about to mature, instead of issuing a new Debt Security, the Company, upon written notice to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, may pay the same without surrender of the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security. The Company may require payment of the expenses which may be incurred by the Company or any agent thereof and the charges and expenses of the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent in the premises. Any series of Debt Securities issued under the provisions of this Section 3.12 in lieu of any series of Debt Securities alleged to have been destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the Debt Security alleged to have been destroyed, lost or stolen shall be found at any time, and shall be equally and proportionately entitled to the benefits of this Indenture with all other Debt Securities of the same series issued under this Indenture.
All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, and shall preclude, to the extent lawful, any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.10.Exchanges of Debt Securities. Debt Securities of any series may, upon surrender thereof as hereinafter provided in this Section 3.13, be exchanged for one or more Debt Securities of the same series of the same aggregate Principal Amount, in authorized denominations. The Debt Securities to be exchanged shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company to be maintained by it as provided in Section 5.02, accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer in a form acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and the registrar, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange therefor, the Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding, which the Holder of Debt Securities making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Every exchange of Debt Securities of any series shall be effected in such manner
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as may be prescribed by the Company with the approval of the Trustee and registrar, and as may be necessary to comply with the regulations of any securities exchange upon which Debt Securities of such series are listed or are to be listed or to conform to usage in respect thereof.
Upon every exchange or registration of transfer of Debt Securities, no service charge shall be made but the Company may require the payment of any taxes or other governmental charges required to be paid with respect to such exchange or registration, as a condition precedent to the exercise of the privilege of such exchange or registration.
All Debt Securities executed, authenticated and delivered in exchange or upon registration of transfer shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt as the Debt Securities surrendered, and shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture to the same extent as the Debt Securities in exchange for which they were authenticated and delivered.
The Company shall not be required to make exchanges or registrations of transfer under any provision of this Article 2 of: (a) the Debt Securities of any series for the period of 15 days next preceding the date of any designation of Debt Securities of such series to be redeemed, as provided in Article 5, (b) any series of Debt Securities or portion thereof called or to be called for redemption or (c) any series of Debt Securities between a record date for such series and the next succeeding interest payment date for such series.
Section 2.11.Cancellation of Surrendered Debt Securities. All Debt Securities of any series surrendered for the purpose of payment, exchange, conversion or cancellation shall, if surrendered to the Company or any Paying Agent or conversion agent, be delivered to the Trustee or its designee with a Company Order directing the cancellation of such Debt Securities, and such Debt Securities will be cancelled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee or its designee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture or as otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or indenture supplemental hereto establishing such series as contemplated by Section 2.02. All Debt Securities of any series surrendered for the purpose of redemption or credit against any sinking fund shall similarly be delivered to the Trustee or its designee for cancellation, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except Debt Securities of the same series in the case of redemption of a Debt Security in part only. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debt Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee or its designee for cancellation. Unless otherwise directed in writing by the Company, the Trustee or its designee shall dispose of cancelled Debt Securities in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to any record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification of the cancellation of all canceled Debt Securities shall be delivered to the Company upon request.
Section 2.12.Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest. Interest (except defaulted interest) on the Debt Securities of any series which is payable on any interest payment
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date shall be paid to the persons who are Holders of Debt Securities of such series at the close of business on the record date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 2.02. At the option of the Company, payment of interest on any series of Debt Securities may be made by check mailed to the Holder’s registered address.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Debt Securities of any series, it shall pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are Holders of Debt Securities of such series at the close of business on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the special record date (which shall be not less than ten days prior to the date of payment of such defaulted interest) and payment date. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail to each Holder of Debt Securities of such series a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Debt Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or any Paying Agent for such series an amount of money in immediately available funds by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the payment date equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to any Paying Agent for such series for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debt Security may be listed, and upon 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 payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Section 2.13.Global Securities; Depositary. For the purpose of this Section, the term “Agent Member” means a member of, or participant in, a Depositary; the term “Depositary” means, with respect to Debt Securities issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the entity designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 2.02 and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder, and, if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Debt Securities means the respective Depositary with respect to a particular series of Debt Securities; and the term “Global Security” means a global certificate evidencing all or part of the series of Debt Securities as shall be specified herein, issued to the Depositary for the series or such portion of the series, and registered in the name of such Depositary or its nominee. The Global Security may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Debt Securities from time to time endorsed to a schedule of increases or decreases thereon which may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement on such schedule to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Debt Securities shall be made by the Trustee.
Notwithstanding Section 3.13, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02, hereof, any Global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. A Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to this Section 2.13 if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary
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for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary, (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that all Global Securities of any series then outstanding under this Indenture shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series in registered form or (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of the series represented by such Global Security has occurred and is continuing. Any Global Security of such series exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities of such series in registered form, bearing interest (if any) at the same rate or pursuant to the same formula, having the same date of issuance, redemption, conversion (if any) and other provisions, and of differing denominations aggregating a like amount. Such definitive Debt Securities of such series shall be registered in the names of the owners of the beneficial interests in such Global Securities of such series as such names are from time to time provided by the relevant participants in the Depositary holding such Global Securities (as such participants are identified from time to time by such Depositary).
No Global Security may be transferred except as a whole by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor of the Depositary or a nominee of such successor. Except as provided above, owners solely of beneficial interests in a Global Security shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Debt Securities of such series in definitive form and will not be considered the Holders of Debt Securities thereof for any purpose under this Indenture.
Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be exchangeable for Debt Securities of such series in authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Depositary that is the Holder of Debt Securities of such Global Securities of such series shall direct.
The Agent Members shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by a Depositary, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depositary or impair, as between a Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of a Debt Security of any series, including without limitation the granting of proxies or other authorization of participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder of Debt Securities is entitled to give or take under this Indenture. Neither the Trustee nor any of its agents shall have any responsibility for actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate Global Securities until it has received documentation as required by Section 2.04.
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The Company and the Trustee may treat the Depositary (or its nominee) as the sole and exclusive owner of the Debt Securities registered in its name(or its nominee) for the purposes of payment of the Principal of or interest on the Debt Securities, giving any notice permitted or required to be given to Holders under the Indenture, registering the transfer of Debt Securities, obtaining any consent or other action to be taken by Holders and for all other purposes whatsoever; and neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or obligation to any participant in the Depositary, any Person claiming a beneficial ownership interest in the Debt Securities under or through the Depositary or any such participant, or any other Person which is not shown on the register as being a registered Holder, with respect to either the Debt Securities, the accuracy of any records maintained by the Depositary or any such participant; the payment by the Depositary or any such participant of any amount in respect of the Principal of or interest on the Debt Securities, any notice which is permitted or required to be given to Holders under the Indenture, any consent given or other action taken by the Depositary as Holder or any selection by the Depositary of any participant or other Person to receive payment of Principal, interest or redemption payment of the Debt Securities.
Section 2.14.CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Debt Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.
Article 3
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 3.01.Limitation of Rights. Nothing in this Indenture or the Debt Securities, express or implied, is intended or shall be construed to confer upon, or to give to, any Person, other than the parties hereto, their successors and assigns, and the Holders of the Debt Securities, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or any provision hereof; and the provisions of this Indenture are for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, their successors and assigns, and the Holders of the Debt Securities.
Section 3.02.Outstanding Debt Securities. For all purposes of this Indenture, in determining whether the Holders of a required percentage or the required proportion of Principal Amount of Debt Securities of one or more series has concurred in any request, waiver, vote, direction or consent, Debt Securities owned or held by or for the account or for the benefit of the Company or any other obligor under this Indenture or any Affiliate of the Company or an Affiliate of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not Outstanding, except that, for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in conclusively relying on any such request, waiver, direction or consent, only Debt Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so
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owned or held shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith to secure an obligation may be regarded as Outstanding for all such purposes, if the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate stating that said Debt Securities have been so pledged, that the pledgee is entitled to vote with respect to such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities, an Affiliate of the Company or an Affiliate of such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be conclusive, and, subject to the provisions of Section 12.01 of this Indenture, shall afford full protection to the Trustee.
Section 3.03.Severability; Trust Indenture Act Controls. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Indenture, but this Indenture shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with any other provision of this Indenture which is required to be included in an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, such provision which is so required to be included shall control. If any provisions of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.
Section 3.04.Company Release. Whenever by the terms of this Indenture the Company shall be required to do or not to do anything so long as any of the Debt Securities shall be Outstanding of any series, the Company shall, notwithstanding any such provision, not be required to comply with such provision with respect to such series if it shall be entitled to have this Indenture satisfied and discharged pursuant to the provisions hereof, even though in either case the Holders of any of the Debt Securities of such series shall have failed to present and surrender such Debt Securities for payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
Section 3.05.Date of Execution. Although this Indenture, for convenience and for the purpose of reference, is dated as of the date first above written, the actual date of execution by the Company and by the Trustee is as indicated by their respective acknowledgements hereto annexed.
Section 3.06.Execution of Documents. Unless otherwise expressly provided, any order, notice, request, demand, certificate or statement of the Company required or permitted to be made or given under any provision hereof shall be sufficiently executed if signed by at least one Officer of the Company.
Section 3.07.Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel. Upon any application, demand or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent
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and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied, and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied; and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by counsel, unless such Officer knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous. Any certificate, statement or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, information with respect to which is in the possession of the Company, upon the certificate, statement or opinion of or representations by an officer or officers of the Company, unless such counsel knows that the certificate, statement or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.
Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Officer of the Company or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company, unless such Officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.
Section 3.08.Notices and Demands. All notices to or demands upon the Trustee shall be in writing and may be served or presented at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. Any notice to or demand upon the Company shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or served by the Trustee or the Holders of Debt Securities, for all purposes, by being mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), by electronic transmission or delivered by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, addressed to the Company, attention of the [ ], , or at such other address or to such other counsel, as may be filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee.
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Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Debt Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Debt Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Debt Security affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Debt Security register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail and facsimile service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to Holders of Debt Securities by mail or facsimile, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be acceptable to the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to Holders of Debt Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Debt Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Debt Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Debt Security, where this Indenture or any Debt Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with applicable Depositary procedures.
The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to this Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Company whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee Instructions using Electronic Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Company understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Company shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Company and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by the Company. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions 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; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated
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with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Company; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.
Section 3.09.Successors and Assigns. All the covenants, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of the Trustee shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 3.10.Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Articles of this Indenture are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
Section 3.11.Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver. THIS INDENTURE AND EACH DEBT SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE, AND BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, THE HOLDERS OF THE DEBT SECURITIES, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE DEBT SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 3.12.Counterparts. This Indenture may be simultaneously executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 3.13.Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable, nor shall the Company be responsible or liable to the Trustee, 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, actual or threatened pandemics or epidemics, disease, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee or the Company, as
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the case may be, shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 3.14.USA Patriot Act. The Company acknowledges that in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism, and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account 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 USA PATRIOT Act.
Section 3.15.FATCA. The Company agrees (i) to provide the Trustee with such reasonable information as it has in its possession to enable the Trustee to determine whether any payments pursuant to the Indenture are subject to the withholding requirements described in Section 1471(b) of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any regulations, or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof (“Applicable Law”), and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under the Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law, for which the Trustee shall not have any liability.
Section 3.16.Submission to Jurisdiction. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture and the Debt Securities, and irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts.
Article 4
Covenants of The Company
Covenants of The Company
The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
Section 4.01.Payment of Principal and Interest. The Company will for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities of such series on or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time on the due date by depositing money in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all Principal, premium, if any, and interest then due, at the place and in the manner specified in this Indenture and in the Debt Securities of such series. At the option of the Company, interest on the Debt Securities shall be payable without presentation of such Debt Securities by a check to the registered Holder (or if a Global Security, payable by wire to the Depositary). Any payment of Principal and any premium or make-whole amount or interest required to be made on an interest payment date, redemption date or at maturity which is not a Business Day need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such
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interest payment date, redemption date or at maturity, as the case may be, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such interest payment date, redemption date or maturity.
Section 4.02.Maintenance of Office or Agency. So long as any of the Debt Securities of any series remain unpaid, the Company will at all times keep an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee, registrar or co-registrar) where Debt Securities of such series may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange as in this Indenture provided, where notices and demands with respect to the Debt Securities and this Indenture may be served and where the Debt Securities may be presented for payment or, for Debt Securities of each series that is convertible, for conversion. The Company shall give the Trustee written notice of the location thereof and any change in the location thereof. In case the Company shall fail to maintain such office or agency, presentations may be made and notices and demands may be served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from, time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Debt Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company shall keep, at said office or agency, a register or registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register or cause to be registered Debt Securities of each series and shall register or cause to be registered the transfer or exchange of Debt Securities of each series as in Article 2 provided. Such register or registers shall be in written form in the English language or any other form capable of being converted into written form, within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times, such register or registers shall be open for inspection by the Trustee.
Section 4.03.Corporate Existence. Subject to Article 10 hereof, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business and its subsidiaries as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of Debt Securities.
Section 4.04.Restrictions on Mergers, Sales and Consolidations. So long as any of the Debt Securities remain unpaid, the Company will not (i) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) or (ii) sell, convey or lease all or substantially all of its property to any other corporation, partnership or limited liability company except (a) to the extent expressly permitted pursuant to the terms of any supplemental indenture governing any series of the Debt Securities and (b) as otherwise permitted in Article X hereof.
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Section 4.05.Further Assurances. From time to time whenever requested by the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and assurances and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of this Indenture or to secure the rights and remedies hereunder of the Holders of the Debt Securities of any series.
Section 4.06.Reports.
(a)So long as any Debt Securities are outstanding, the Company will file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents, and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act.
(b)Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice or knowledge of any information contained therein or determinable from, information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).
(c)So long as any Debt Securities are outstanding, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee, at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date (but in no event less frequently than every six months) with respect to Debt Securities of any series, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such request, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require containing all information in the possession or control of the Company or of any Paying Agent, other than the Trustee, as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series obtained since the date as of which the next previous list, if any, was furnished; provided, however, that so long as the Trustee is Debt Security registrar for such series, no such list need be furnished. Any such list may be dated as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished or caused to be furnished, and need not include information received after such date (excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Debt Security registrar).
Section 4.07.Compliance Certificate. Within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year subsequent to the date of this Indenture, the Company will file with the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate (that need not comply with Section 4.07) as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture and if a default or an Event of Default has occurred, specify such default or Event of Default and the nature and status thereof, of which such signer may have knowledge. For purposes of this paragraph, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture.
Section 4.08.Duties of Paying Agent. The Company will cause each Paying Agent for the Debt Securities of any series other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee:
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(a) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities of such series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series;
(b) that it will give the Trustee written notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities of such series) to make any payment of the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and
(c) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default with respect to such series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
If the Company acts as its own Paying Agent for the Debt Securities of any series, it will, on or before each due date of the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities of such series, set aside and segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay such Principal, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest and will notify the Trustee, in writing, of such action or any failure to take such action.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Debt Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest on any Debt Securities of such series, deposit with the Paying Agent or Agents for the Debt Securities of such series a sum, by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, in immediately available funds on the payment date, sufficient to pay the Principal, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest so becoming due with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure so to act.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent for such series to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such payment.
Anything in this Section 4.08 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.08 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 7.03.
Section 4.09.Calculation of Original Issue Discount. The Company shall file with the Trustee within 20 days following the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual
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periods) accrued on Outstanding Debt Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such Original Issue Discount as may then be relevant under the Code.
Article 5
Redemption of Debt Securities; Sinking Fund
Redemption of Debt Securities; Sinking Fund
Section 5.01.Applicability of Article. Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable before their stated maturity at the election of the Company or through the operation of any sinking fund for the retirement of Debt Securities of such series shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms established pursuant to Section 2.02 and (except as otherwise established pursuant to Section 2.02 for Debt Securities of such series) in accordance with this Article.
Section 5.02.Notices of Redemption to Trustee - Deposit of Cash (or Other Form of Payment) - Selection of Debt Securities to be Redeemed. Not less than 45 days (or such lesser number of days as the Trustee shall approve) nor more than 60 days (or such greater number of days as the Trustee shall approve) prior to the date fixed by the Company for the redemption at the option of the Company of any Debt Securities of any series which are subject to redemption or portions thereof, the Company shall give written notice, by delivering a Company Order to the Trustee, stating the aggregate Principal Amount of Debt Securities of such series which the Company elects to redeem, the redemption price at which such Debt Securities are to be redeemed and the date and place fixed for redemption. If the redemption price is not known at the time such notice is to be given, the actual redemption price, calculated as described in the terms of the Debt Securities to be redeemed, will be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, of the date fixed for redemption, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or the Paying Agent money in immediately available funds on such redemption date (or other form of payment if permitted by the terms of such Debt Securities) in an amount sufficient to redeem on the date fixed for redemption all the Debt Securities of such series or portions thereof to be redeemed, other than any Debt Securities of such series called for redemption on such date which have been converted prior to the date of such deposit, at the appropriate redemption price, together with any accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. If less than all the Debt Securities then Outstanding of such series are to be redeemed, and the Debt Securities are Global Securities, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures. If the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed are not Global Securities, the Trustee shall select by lot, the numbers of the Debt Securities to be redeemed as a whole or in part: (1) if the Debt Securities are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Debt Securities are listed; or (2) if otherwise required by law or to comply with the rules of the Depositary. The Trustee shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Debt Securities to be redeemed; provided, however, that Debt Securities of such series registered in the name of the Company shall be excluded
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from any such selection for redemption until all Debt Securities of such series not so registered shall have been previously selected for redemption. For the purpose of such selection in case of redemption of less than all of the Debt Securities of any series, the Trustee and the Company shall have the option to treat as Outstanding Debt Securities any Debt Securities of such series which are surrendered for conversion after the fifteenth day immediately preceding the mailing of the notice of such redemption, and need not treat as Outstanding Debt Securities any Debt Securities authenticated and delivered during such period in exchange for the unconverted portion of any Debt Securities converted in part during such period. In case any series of Debt Securities shall be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall specify the Principal Amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that, upon surrender thereof for redemption, a new Debt Security or new Debt Securities of the same series of an aggregate Principal Amount equal to the unredeemed portion of such Debt Security will be issued in lieu thereof (or if a Global Security, adjusted on the Schedule of Exchanges attached thereto; and in such case the Company shall execute and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver such new Debt Security or Debt Securities of such series to or upon the written order of the Holder of Debt Securities, at the expense of the Company. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Debt Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Debt Securities called for redemption.
Upon or after the receipt of such notice, the Trustee, in the name and at the request of the Company and as its agent, shall not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed by the Company for the redemption, to each registered Holder of a Debt Security to be redeemed in whole or in part at his last address appearing on the registration books of the Debt Securities registrar, a notice of redemption prepared by the Company. Such notice of redemption shall identify the Debt Securities to be so redeemed in whole or in part and whether such Debt Securities are to be redeemed in whole or in part and shall state: (i) the date fixed for redemption; (ii) the redemption price at which Debt Securities are to be redeemed and method of payment, if other than in cash; (iii) if applicable, the current conversion price or rate; (iv) if applicable, that the right of the Holder of Debt Securities to convert Debt Securities called for redemption shall terminate at the close of business on the date fixed for redemption (or such other day as may be specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for Debt Securities of any series); (v) if applicable, that Holders of Debt Securities who want to convert Debt Securities called for redemption must satisfy the requirements for conversion contained in such Debt Securities; (vi) the name and address of the Paying Agent; (vii) that Debt Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price; (viii) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest, if any, accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice and that on and after said date interest thereon shall cease to accrue; (ix) the provision of the Debt Security or this Indenture under which the redemption is being made; (x) that the Company so elects to redeem such Debt Securities or portions thereof at the place or places specified in such notice; and (xi) 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 Debt Security. Such notice shall be mailed not later than the thirtieth, and not earlier than the sixtieth, day before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice which is
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mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice; and failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice, to the Holder of any series of Debt Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee the cost of giving notices of redemption and any other necessary expenses incurred by the Trustee in connection therewith.
Section 5.03.Effect of Notice of Redemption. The notice of election to redeem having been mailed as hereinbefore provided, the Debt Securities or portions thereof called for redemption shall become due and payable on the redemption date at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, at the place or places specified in such notice, and if cash (or other form of payment if permitted by the terms of such Debt Securities) in the amount necessary to redeem such Debt Securities or portions thereof has been deposited with the Trustee, interest on such Debt Securities or portions thereof shall cease to accrue from, and after the date fixed for redemption (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the redemption price, plus accrued interest, if any) and the right to convert such Debt Securities or portions thereof, if the terms of such Debt Securities provide for conversion pursuant to Section 2.02, shall terminate at the close of business on the date fixed for redemption or such other day as may be specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for Debt Securities of such series. The respective registered Holders of Debt Securities or portions thereof so called for redemption shall be entitled to receive payment of the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption on or after the date fixed for redemption (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the redemption price, plus accrued interest, if any), upon presentation and surrender at the place or places of payment specified in such notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the record date for payment of interest is on or prior to the redemption date, such interest shall be payable to the persons who are Holders of such Debt Securities on such record date according to the terms of such Debt Securities and Section 2.12.
If any series of Debt Securities called for redemption pursuant to Section 6.01 is converted or exchanged pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such Debt Security or the resolution of the Board of Directors or the supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Debt Security is issued, if any, any monies deposited with the Trustee for the purpose of paying or redeeming any such Debt Security shall be promptly paid to the Company.
Section 5.04.Credits Against Sinking Fund. Against any one or more sinking fund payments, if any, to be made pursuant to the terms of the Debt Securities of any series providing for a sinking fund, the Company may elect, by delivery of an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the sinking fund payment date (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Trustee or is otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for Debt Securities of any series), to take credit for any Debt Securities of such series or portions thereof acquired or redeemed by the Company, pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted
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optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, which have not previously been used by the Company for the purposes permitted in this Section 5.04 and for any Debt Securities which have been converted pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Debt Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. Upon any such election the Company shall receive credit against such sinking fund payments required to be made in the order in which they are to be made. Any series of Debt Securities for which credit is elected to be taken which shall not theretofore have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall at the time of such election be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation by the Trustee.
Section 5.05.Redemption Through Sinking Fund. Each sinking fund payment, if any, made under the terms of the Debt Securities of any series established pursuant to Section 2.02 shall be applied to the redemption of Debt Securities of such series on the date for redemption specified in the Debt Securities of such series next succeeding such sinking fund payment date; provided, however, if at any time the amount of cash to be paid into the sinking fund for such series on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date, together with any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payment or payments for such series, shall not exceed in the aggregate $100,000, the Trustee, unless requested by the Company, shall not give notice of the redemption of Debt Securities of such series through the operation of the sinking fund on the succeeding date for redemption specified in the Debt Securities of such series. At least 45 days (or such lesser number of days as the Trustee shall approve) prior to the date on which a sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of any series is due, the Company shall give written notice to the Trustee of the Principal Amount of Debt Securities of such series registered in the name of the Company (which shall be excluded from such redemption) and if the Debt Securities are Global Securities, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Depositary in accordance with its standard procedures. If the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed are not Global Securities, the Trustee shall select by lot the Principal Amount of Debt Securities of such series to be redeemed in accordance with the terms of the Debt Securities of such series after allowance for any credit elected under Section 5.04 and shall, in the name and at the expense of the Company and as its agent, give notice of such redemption, all in the manner provided for in Section 5.02, except that such notice shall state that the Debt Securities of such series are being redeemed for the sinking fund. The notice of redemption having been given as hereinbefore provided, the Debt Securities or portions thereof called for redemption shall become due and payable on the next succeeding date for redemption specified in the Debt Securities of such series at the sinking fund redemption price thereof, all in the manner and with the effect provided for in Section 6.03.
Any unused balance of sinking fund moneys with respect to Debt Securities of any series remaining in the hands of the Trustee on the 45th day preceding the sinking fund payment date for such series in any year shall be added to any sinking fund payment for such series to be made in cash in such year, and together with such payment, if any, shall be applied to the redemption of Debt Securities of such series in accordance with the
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provisions of this Section 5.05, provided that any sinking fund moneys so remaining in the hands of the Trustee after the date specified in the Debt Securities of such series and not utilized in the redemption of Debt Securities of such series as provided in this Section 5.05 shall be applied by the Trustee to the payment of Debt Securities at maturity.
Section 5.06.Debt Securities No Longer Outstanding after Notice to Trustee and Deposit of Cash. If the Company, having given notice to the Trustee as provided in Section 6.01 or 5.02, shall have deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of any Debt Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption in whole or in part cash or other form of payment if permitted by the terms of such Debt Securities (which amount shall be immediately due and payable to the Holders of such Debt Securities or portions thereof) in the amount necessary so to redeem all such Debt Securities or portions thereof on the date fixed for redemption and provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for the giving of notice of such redemption, such Debt Securities, or portions thereof, shall thereupon, for all purposes of this Indenture, be deemed to be no longer Outstanding, and the Holders thereof shall be entitled to no rights thereunder or hereunder, except the right to receive payment of the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, on or after the date fixed for redemption of such Debt Securities or portions thereof and the right to convert such Debt Securities or portions thereof, if the terms of such Debt Securities provide for convertibility pursuant to Section 2.02, at or prior to the close of business on the date fixed for redemption.
Section 5.07.Conversion Arrangement on Call for Redemption. In connection with any redemption of Debt Securities, the Company may arrange for the purchase and conversion of any Debt Securities called for redemption by an agreement with one or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Debt Securities by paying to the Trustee or the Paying Agent in trust for the Holders of Debt Securities, on or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, an amount no less than the redemption price, together with interest, if any, accrued to the redemption date of such Debt Securities, in immediately available hinds. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 5, the obligation of the Company to pay the redemption price of such Debt Securities, including all accrued interest, if any, shall be deemed to be satisfied and discharged to the extent such amount is so paid by such purchasers. If such an agreement is entered into, any Debt Securities not duly surrendered for conversion by the Holders thereof may, at the option of the Company, be deemed, to the fullest extent permitted by law, acquired by such purchasers from such Holders and surrendered by such purchasers for conversion, all as of immediately prior to the close of business on the last day on which Debt Securities of such series called for redemption may be converted in accordance with this Indenture and the terms of such Debt Securities, subject to payment of the above amount aforesaid. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall hold and pay to the Holders of Debt Securities whose Debt Securities are selected for redemption any such amount paid to it in the same manner as it would moneys deposited with it by the Company for the redemption of Debt Securities. Without the Trustee’s and the Paying Agent’s prior written consent, no arrangement between the Company and such purchasers for the purchase and conversion of any Debt Securities shall increase or otherwise affect
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any of the powers, duties, responsibilities or obligations of the Trustee as set forth in this Indenture, and the Company agrees to indemnify the Trustee from, and hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense arising out of or in connection with any such arrangement for the purchase and conversion of any Debt Securities between the Company and such purchasers, including the costs and expenses incurred by the Trustee and the Paying Agent in the defense of any claim, or liability arising out of or in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers, duties, responsibilities or obligations under this Indenture.
Article 6
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
Section 6.01.Satisfaction and Discharge. If (a) all Debt Securities of any series theretofore authenticated (other than any such Debt Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and in lieu of or in substitution for which other such Debt Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered or Debt Securities for whose payment money (or other form of payment if permitted by the terms of such Debt Securities) has theretofore been held in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, as provided in Section 7.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and not theretofore cancelled, or (b) the Company shall irrevocably deposit in a non-interest bearing account (subject to Section 7.03) with the Trustee or Paying Agent (or an escrow agent acting on behalf of such Trustee or Paying Agent) as trust funds the entire amount in cash or U.S. Government Obligations, or combination thereof, which is sufficient without consideration of the reinvestment of any interest earned thereon, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof to the Trustee to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debt Securities of such series (other than any Debt Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debt Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered or Debt Securities for whose payment money (or other form of payment if permitted by the terms of such Debt Securities) has theretofore been held in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, as provided in Section 7.03) not theretofore paid, surrendered or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including the Principal, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and if in either case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company and the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series have been complied with (and, in the event that such deposit shall be made more than one year prior to the maturity of the Debt Securities of such series, such Opinion of Counsel shall also state that such deposit will not result in an obligation of the Company, the Trustee or the trust fund created by such deposit to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) and an Officer’s Certificate (upon which the Trustee may conclusively rely) stating that the cash, if any, and U.S. Government Obligations, if any, or combination thereof, deposited as set forth above are sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption
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all of the Debt Securities of such series as set forth above, then, except with respect to the remaining rights of conversion of any Debt Securities the terms of which provide for conversion or to rights of exchange or registration of transfer or of the Company’s right of optional redemption of any Debt Securities of such series, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and the Trustee, on demand of and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 12.02 shall survive, and if moneys or U.S. Government Obligations, or combination thereof, shall have been irrevocably deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent pursuant to clause (b) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 6.02 and the first paragraph of Section 7.03 shall survive.
In order to have money available on a payment date to pay the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debt Securities, the U.S. Government Obligations shall be payable as to Principal or interest on or before such payment date in such amounts as will provide the necessary money. Such U.S. Government Obligations shall not be callable at the issuer’s option.
Section 6.02.Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions hereinafter contained in this Article 6, any moneys or U.S. Government Obligations (or other form of payments if permitted by the terms of such Debt Security) which at any time shall be deposited by the Company, or on its behalf with the Trustee or Paying Agent, for the purpose of paying or redeeming any of the Debt Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee to the payment to the Holders of the particular Debt Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys (or other form of payments if permitted by the terms of such Debt Security) have been deposited, of all sums due and to become due thereon for Principal, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest, upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at the office or agency of the Company maintained as provided in this Indenture. Neither the Company nor the Trustee (except as provided in Section 11.02) nor any Paying Agent shall be required to pay interest on any moneys so deposited.
Section 6.03.Repayment of Moneys. Any moneys or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent remaining unclaimed by the Holders of Debt Securities for two years after the date upon which the Principal of or interest on such Debt Securities shall have become due and payable, shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or Paying Agent and such Holders shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) thereafter be entitled to look to the Company only for payment thereof; provided, however, that, before being required to make any such payment to the Company, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall, at the expense and written direction of the Company, cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, a notice that such moneys remain unclaimed and that, after the date set forth in said notice, the balance of such moneys then unclaimed will be returned to the Company.
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Upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all moneys then held by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee hereunder shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.
The Trustee or any Paying Agent shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon a request in writing by the Company any moneys or U.S. Government Obligations (or the principal or interest on such U.S. Government Obligations) held by it as provided in Section 6.01 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such money or U.S. Government Obligations were deposited or received.
Article 7
Remedies Upon Default
Remedies Upon Default
Section 7.01.Events of Default. The following events are hereby defined for all purposes of this Indenture (except where the term is otherwise defined for specific purposes) as Events of Default with respect to Debt Securities of a particular series, unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or is specifically deleted or modified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for the Debt Securities of such series, in addition to any other events as may be defined as Events of Default pursuant to Section 2.02 for the Debt Securities of such series:
(a)Failure of the Company to pay or provide for payment of the Principal of, premium, if any, or make-whole amount, if any, on any of the Debt Securities of such series, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity thereof, by call for redemption, through any mandatory sinking fund, by redemption at the option of the Holder of any series of Debt Securities pursuant to the terms of such Debt Security, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise; or
(b)Failure of the Company to pay or provide for payment of any installment of interest on any of the Debt Securities of such series, when and as the same shall become due and payable, which failure shall have continued for a period of 30 days; or
(c)Failure of the Company to perform or observe any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Company in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of such series (other than a covenant or agreement which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Debt Securities of any series other than that series or is expressly made inapplicable to the Debt Securities of such series pursuant to Section 2.02), which failure shall have continued for a period of 60 days after written notice to the Company by the Trustee hereunder or to the Company and to the Trustee from the Holders of not less than 25% of the aggregate Principal Amount of Debt Securities then Outstanding of such series under this Indenture specifying such Event of Default or failure and requesting that it be remedied and stating that such notice is a notice of an
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event which, if continued for 60 days after such written notice, will become an Event of Default;
(d)The Company or any Significant Subsidiary:
(1)commences a voluntary case under any Bankruptcy Law,
(2)consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(3)consents to the appointment of a custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(4)makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(5)admits in writing to its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due;
(e)A court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i)is for relief in an involuntary case against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary;
(ii)appoints a custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of any of the foregoing; or
(iii)orders the liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiaries;
(iv)and such order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 consecutive days;
(f)The failure to pay at final maturity (giving effect to any applicable grace periods and any extensions thereof) the stated Principal Amount of any indebtedness of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or the acceleration of the final stated maturity of any such Indebtedness (which acceleration is not rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured within 30 days of receipt by the Company or such subsidiary of notice of any such acceleration) if the aggregate Principal Amount of such indebtedness, together with the Principal Amount of any other such indebtedness in default for failure to pay Principal at final stated maturity or which has been accelerated (in each case with respect to which the 30-day period described above has elapsed), aggregates $20.0 million or more at any time;
(g)One or more judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of $20.0 million (net of any amounts covered by insurance as to which the insurer has acknowledged coverage) shall have been rendered against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and
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such judgments remain undischarged, unpaid or unstayed for a period of 60 days after such judgment or judgments become final and non-appealable; or
(h)Any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture or resolution of the Board of Directors under which such series of Debt Securities is issued or in the form of Debt Security for such series.
If one or more Events of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses (d) or (e) of the immediately preceding paragraph) shall occur and be continuing with respect to Debt Securities then Outstanding of any series, then, and in each and every such case, either the Trustee, by notice in writing to the Company, or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of such series, by notice in writing to the Company and to the Trustee, may declare the Principal Amount (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the Principal Amount as may be specified in the terms of the Debt Securities of such series) of all Debt Securities of such series and/or such other amount or amounts as the Debt Securities or supplemental indenture with respect to such series may provide, if not already due and payable, to be immediately due and payable; and upon any such declaration all Debt Securities of such series shall become and be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in any of the Debt Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding; and if an Event of Default specified in clause (d) or (e) of the immediately preceding paragraph shall occur and be continuing with respect to Debt Securities then Outstanding of any series, then all unpaid Principal of (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the Principal Amount as may be specified in the terms of the Debt Securities of such series) of all Debt Securities of such series and/or such other amount or amounts as the Debt Securities or supplemental indenture with respect to such series may provide, if not already due and payable, shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable (without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of such Debt Securities). The provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the Principal of (and/or such other specified amount on) the Debt Securities of such series shall so become due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Debt Securities of such series and the Principal of (and/or such other specified amount), premium, if any, and make-whole amount, if any, on any and all Debt Securities of such series which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration, with interest on such Principal (and/or such other specified amount), premium, if any, and make-whole amount, if any, and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest, at the rate specified in the Debt Securities of such series (or, if no such rate is specified, at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of such series), to the date of such payment or deposit, and the compensation and expenses of the Trustee, and any and all defaults under this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, other than the nonpayment of Principal of (and/or such other specified amount),
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premium, if any, or make-whole amount, if any, and accrued interest on Debt Securities of such series which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been remedied, then and in every such case the Trustee shall, upon written request or consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of such series delivered to the Company and to the Trustee, waive such default and its consequences and rescind or annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver, rescission or annulment shall extend to or affect any subsequent default, or impair any right consequent thereon.
For all purposes under this Indenture, if the portion of the Principal Amount as may be specified in the terms of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, payment of such portion of the Principal Amount thereof, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.
Section 7.02.Acceleration. If one or more Events of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses (d) or (e) of the immediately preceding paragraph) shall occur and be continuing with respect to Debt Securities then Outstanding of any series, and either the Trustee, by notice in writing to the Company, or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of such series, by notice in writing to the Company and to the Trustee, have declared the Principal Amount (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the Principal Amount as may be specified in the terms of the Debt Securities of such series) of all Debt Securities of such series and/or such other amount or amounts as the Debt Securities or supplemental indenture with respect to such series may provide, if not already due and payable, to be immediately due and payable as provided in Section 8.01; then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company shall pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of such series, the whole amount which then shall have become due on all such Debt Securities of such series for Principal, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue Principal, premium, if any, and make-whole amount, if any, and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate specified in the Debt Securities of such series (or, if no such rate is specified, at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of such series), and in addition thereto, such additional amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the compensation, expenses, liabilities, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee, their agents and counsel. In case the Company shall pay the same in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.02 and, prior to such payment neither the Trustee nor the Holders of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of such series shall have taken any steps to begin enforcing their rights under this Indenture and so long as no additional Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of such series shall have occurred, from and after such payment, the Event of Default giving rise to the demand by the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.02 shall be deemed to be no longer continuing and shall be deemed to have
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thereupon been remedied, cured or waived without further action upon the part of either the Trustee or any of the Holders of Debt Securities. In case the Company shall fail to pay the same forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute any judicial proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid and may prosecute such proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series, wherever situated. The right of the Trustee to recover such judgment shall not be affected by the exercise of any other right, power or remedy for the enforcement of the provisions of this Indenture.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the Principal of any Debt Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue Principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of Principal, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of any series for which it serves as Trustee and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee, their agents and counsel) and of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series allowed in such judicial proceeding, and to receive payment of or on account of such claims and to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any judicial proceeding is hereby irrevocably authorized and instructed by each of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it or any predecessor Trustee, for compensation and expenses, including counsel fees incurred up to the date of such distribution. 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 12.02 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 contained in this Indenture shall be deemed to give to the Trustee any right to accept or consent to any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Holders of Debt Securities or the rights of any Holder of Debt Securities, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of Debt Securities in any such proceeding.
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After an Event of Default any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys or property on account of Principal, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities of the series in respect of which such moneys were received, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of costs and expenses of collections, and compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all advances made and expenses and liabilities incurred by the Trustee, except as a result of its negligence or bad faith and all other amounts owing or reasonably anticipated to be owing to the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to Section 11.02 hereof;
Second: In case the Principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys were received shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on such Debt Securities, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (so far as may be lawful) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate specified in such Debt Securities (or, if no such rate is specified, at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of such series), such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled thereto;
Third: In case the Principal of the Outstanding Debt Securities in respect of which such moneys were received and/or such other amount or amounts as the Debt Securities or supplemental indenture with respect to such series shall provide, shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon such Debt Securities for Principal (and/or such other specified amount), premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue Principal (and/or such other specified amount), premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and (so far as may be lawful) upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate specified in such Debt Securities (or, if no such rate is specified, at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of such series), and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon such Debt Securities, then to the payment of such Principal (and/or such other specified amount), premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue Principal (and/or such other specified amount), premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and (so far as may be lawful) upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate specified in such Debt Securities (or, if no such rate is specified, at the rate borne by the Debt Securities of such series), without preference or priority of Principal (and/or such other specified amount), premium, if any, and make-whole amount, if any, over interest, or of interest over Principal (and/or specified amount), premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any such Debt Security over any other such Debt Security, ratably to the aggregate of such Principal (and/or such other specified amount), premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest; and Fourth : To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company, its successors or assigns, or to whomever may be so lawfully entitled to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
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Section 7.03.Trustee May Enforce Rights of Action without Possession of Debt Securities. All rights of action under this Indenture or any of the Debt Securities Outstanding of any series hereunder enforceable by the Trustee may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debt Securities or the production thereof at the trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Debt Securities with respect to which the rights are being exercised, subject to the provisions of this Indenture.
Section 7.04.Delays or Omissions Not to Impair Any Rights or Powers Accruing Upon Default. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of the Holders of Debt Securities to exercise any rights or powers accruing upon any default which shall not have been remedied shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or acquiescence therein; and every power and remedy given by this Article 7 to the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities of any series may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Trustee or by the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series.
Provided the Debt Securities of any series shall not then be due and payable by reason of a declaration pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities of such series then Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Debt Securities of such series waive by written notice any past default hereunder and its consequences, except a default in the payment of interest on or Principal, premium, if any, and make-whole amount, if any, of any of the Debt Securities of such series. In the case of any such waiver, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 7.05.Holders of at Least a Majority May Direct Exercise of Remedies. The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of any series shall have the right, by an instrument in writing executed and delivered to the Trustee, to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee, or of exercising any power or trust conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture, with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; provided, however, that subject to the provisions of Section 12.01 of this Indenture, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action or proceedings so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith shall, by Responsible Officers, determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability, or would be unduly prejudicial to the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series not joining in such direction, it being understood that the Trustee (subject to Section 12.01) shall have no duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forebearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders, and the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
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Section 7.06.Limitation on Suits by Holders of Debt Securities. No Holder of any Debt Security of any series shall have the right to institute any suit, action or proceeding, in equity or at law for the execution of any trust or power hereof, or for the enforcement of any other remedy under or upon this Indenture or the Debt Securities of such series, unless (1) Holder gives the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (2) the Holders of a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of such series shall have made written request upon the Trustee and shall have afforded to it a reasonable opportunity either to proceed to exercise the powers hereinbefore granted or to institute such suit, action or proceeding in its own name, as Trustee hereunder, (3) shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, (4) the Trustee shall have not complied with such request for 60 days after its receipt of such request and (5) no direction inconsistent with such request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.06; it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders of Debt Securities of any series shall have any right under this Indenture or under the Debt Securities, by his or their action, to enforce any right hereunder except in the manner herein provided, and that all proceedings hereunder, at law or in equity, shall be instituted, had and maintained in the manner herein provided and for the ratable benefit of all Holders of the Debt Securities of such series. The Trustee shall give to all Holders any notice it receives from Holders under this Section. Notwithstanding any provision of this Indenture to the contrary, the right, which is absolute and unconditional, of any Holder of Debt Securities to receive the payment of the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest on his Debt Securities at and after the respective due dates (including maturity by call for redemption, through any sinking fund, declaration unless annulled pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof, or otherwise), of such Principal, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest, or the right, which is also absolute and unconditional, of any Holder of Debt Securities to require exchange or conversion of his Debt Securities pursuant to the terms thereof if the terms of such Debt Securities provide for exchangeability or convertibility, or the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment at or after such due dates or of such right to exchange or convert, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder, and the obligation of the Company, which is also absolute and unconditional, to pay the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest on each of the Debt Securities to the respective Holders thereof at the times and places in the Debt Securities expressed shall not be impaired or affected.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 7.06, the parties to this Indenture and the Holders of Debt Securities agree as follows:
Any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any suit instituted, directly or through an agent or agents, by the Trustee, to any
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suit instituted by any Holder of Debt Securities of any series, or group of Holders of Debt Securities of any series, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of such series or to any suit instituted by any Holder of Debt Securities of any series for the enforcement of the payment of the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security of such series at or after the respective due dates of such Principal, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest expressed in his Debt Security of such series.
Section 7.07.No Company Debt Securities to Be Deemed Outstanding. No Debt Securities owned or held by, for the account of or for the benefit of the Company to be deemed Outstanding for purpose of payment or distribution. No Debt Securities owned or held by, for the account of or for the benefit of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company (other than Debt Securities pledged in good faith which would be deemed Outstanding under the provisions of Section 3.02) shall be deemed Outstanding for the purpose of any payment or distribution provided for in this Article VII.
Section 7.08.Discontinuance or Abandonment of Proceedings. If the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of waiver, or for any other reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then, and in any such case, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of Debt Securities of such series shall each be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
Section 7.09.Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee promptly upon any Officer becoming aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
Article 8
Evidence of Action by Holders of Debt Securities
Evidence of Action by Holders of Debt Securities
Section 8.01.Evidence of Action by Holders of Debt Securities. Any demand, request, consent, proxy or other instrument which this Indenture may require or permit to be signed and executed by the Holders of Debt Securities of any series may be in any number of concurrent instruments of similar tenor, and may be signed or executed by such Holders of Debt Securities in person or by an attorney duly authorized in writing. Proof of the execution of any such demand, request, consent, proxy or other instrument, or of a writing appointing any such attorney, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture if made in the following manner: the fact and date of the execution by any person of such demand, request, consent, proxy or other instrument or writing may be proved by the certificate of any notary public, or other officer authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds to be recorded in any state or country, that the person signing such request or other instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof, or by an affidavit of a witness of such execution. Where such execution is by an officer of a
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corporation or association or a member of a partnership on behalf of such corporation, association or partnership, or by a trustee or other fiduciary, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The Trustee may nevertheless in its discretion accept such other proof or require further proof of any matter referred to in this Section 9.01 as it shall deem reasonable. The ownership of Debt Securities shall be proved by the registry books or by a certificate of the registrar thereof.
The Trustee shall not be bound to recognize any person as a Holder of Debt Securities of any series unless and until his title to the Debt Securities of such series held by him. is proved in the manner in this Article VUI provided.
Any demand, request, discretion, waiver, consent, vote or other action of the Holder of any series of Debt Securities shall be conclusive and shall bind all future Holders of the same Debt Security and of any series of Debt Securities issued in exchange or substitution therefor irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debt Security. Any such Holder, however, may revoke the consent as to his Debt Security or portion thereof. Such revocation shall be effective only if the Trustee receives the written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement, waiver or other action becomes effective. An amendment, supplement, waiver or other action shall become effective on receipt by the Trustee of written consents from the Holders of Debt Securities of the requisite percentage in aggregate Principal Amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of the relevant series. After an amendment, supplement, waiver or other action becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of Debt Securities of each series of Debt Securities so affected.
The Company or the Trustee, as applicable, may set a date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Debt Securities entitled to consent, vote or take any other action referred to in this Section 8.01, which date shall be not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the taking of the consent, vote or other action.
Article 9
Immunity of Shareholders, Officers and Directors
Immunity of Shareholders, Officers and Directors
Section 9.01.Immunity of Shareholders, Officers, Directors and Employees. No past, present or future director, Officer, employee, incorporator, agent, Affiliate or shareholder of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Debt Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Debt Securities by accepting a Debt Security waives and releases all such liabilities. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Debt Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
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Article 10
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR LEASE
Section 10.01.Consolidation, Merger, Sale, Transfer or Lease. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation, partnership or limited liability company, or any consolidation or merger of any other corporation, partnership or limited liability company with or into the Company, or any sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company to any other corporation, partnership or limited liability company lawfully entitled to acquire the same; provided, however, and the Company hereby covenants and agrees, that any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation, partnership or limited liability company or the sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis shall be upon the condition that (a) the due and punctual payment of the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, and interest on all the Debt Securities according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the terms, covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company shall, by a supplemental indenture hereto complying with the provisions of Section 12.01, executed and delivered to the Trustee, be expressly assumed by the corporation, partnership or limited liability company (other than the Company) formed by or resulting from any such consolidation or merger, or which shall have received the delivery, transfer, assignment, conveyance or lease of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, just as fully and effectually as if such successor corporation, partnership or limited liability company had been an original party hereto; and (b) the Company or such successor corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance, lease or other disposition, be in default in the performance of any such covenant or condition. Thereafter, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.02 for the Debt Securities of any series, all obligations of the predecessor corporation, partnership or limited liability company under the Debt Securities of such series shall terminate. In the event of any such sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition, the predecessor entity may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time thereafter.
Every such successor corporation, partnership or limited liability company, upon executing a supplemental indenture hereto as provided in this Section 11.01 in form satisfactory to the Trustee, shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company; and any order, certificate or resolution of the Board or officers of the Company provided for in this Indenture may be made by like officials of such successor corporation, partnership or limited liability company. Such successor corporation, partnership or limited liability company may thereupon cause to be signed, either in its own name or in the name of the Company, with such suitable reference, if any, to such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, assignment,
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conveyance, lease or other disposition as may be required by the Trustee, any or all of the Debt Securities which shall not theretofore have been signed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent; and upon the written order of such successor corporation, partnership or limited liability company in lieu of the Company, signed by not less than two Officers of such successor corporation, partnership or limited liability company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and restrictions herein prescribed with respect to the authentication and delivery of the Debt Securities, the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any and all Debt Securities which shall have been previously signed by the proper Officers of the Company and delivered to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent for authentication and any of such Debt Securities which such successor corporation, partnership or limited liability company shall thereafter, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent for such purpose. All Debt Securities of any series so authenticated and delivered shall in all respects have the same rank as the Debt Securities of such series theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 11.01 shall not apply in the event, and to the extent, that any such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition described above is expressly permitted pursuant to the terms of any Board Resolution or supplemental indenture governing any series of Debt Securities, provided that the Company complies with all conditions set forth in such supplemental indenture for any such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition.
Section 10.02.Trustee May Rely upon Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall receive, subject to the provisions of Section 11.01 of this Indenture, and be fully protected in relying in good faith upon an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed under the foregoing Section 11.01 complies with the foregoing conditions and provisions of this Article 10.
Article 11
Concerning the Trustee
Concerning the Trustee
Section 11.01.Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a)Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,
(1)the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(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 or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to
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be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(b)In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(c)No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that
(1)this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;
(2)the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3)the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in Principal Amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined as provided in Sections 7.05 and 7.06, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and
(4)no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(d)Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
(e)All moneys received by the Trustee in trust under or pursuant to any provision of this Indenture shall constitute trust funds for the purposes for which they were paid or were held, but need not be segregated in any manner from any other moneys and may be deposited by the Trustee, under such conditions as may be prescribed by law, in its general banking department, and the Trustee shall not be liable for any interest thereon, except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.
(f)Subject to the limitations set forth above in Section 11.01:
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(i)the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from action upon any resolution, certificate, opinion, notice, consent, request, order, appraisal, report, bond or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(ii)before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(iii)whenever in the administration of the trusts of this Indenture, prior to an Event of Default hereunder and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof;
(iv)the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the trusts or powers hereof at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Debt Securities, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders of Debt Securities shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity and/or security satisfactory to the Trustee against all the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein;
(v)the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or power conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(vi)the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.
(vii)the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder;
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(viii)the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; and
(ix)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;
(x)in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;
(xi)the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Debt Securities and this Indenture;
(xii)the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be compensated, reimbursed and indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder; and
(xiii)the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
Section 11.02.Compensation and Indemnities. The Company agrees:
(1)to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(2)to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct; and
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(3)to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, charge, liability or expense arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section, except to the extent that such loss, damage, claim, liability or expense is due to its own negligence or willful misconduct.
If any property other than cash shall at any time be subject to a lien in favor of the Holders of Debt Securities, the Trustee, if and to the extent authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such lien, shall be entitled to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of discharging tax liens or other prior liens or encumbrances thereon. The obligations of the Company under this Section 12.02 to compensate the Trustee and to indemnify, pay or reimburse the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the termination of this Indenture, and the satisfaction and discharge or any other termination pursuant to any Bankruptcy Law hereof. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Debt Securities of all series with respect to which the Trustee acts as Trustee upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Debt Securities.
The parties hereto, and the Holders of Debt Securities by their acceptance of their Debt Securities, hereby agree, that when the Trustee incurs expenses and renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(d) or 7.01(e) occurs, such expenses and the compensation for such services are intended by the Holders of the Debt Securities and Company to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Trustee” for the purposes of this Section 11.02 shall include any predecessor Trustee and the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder; provided, however, that the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.
Section 11.03.Notice of Default. The Trustee shall give to the Holders of Debt Securities of any series notice of the happening of all defaults with respect to the Debt Securities of such series known to it, within 90 days after the occurrence thereof unless such defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default resulting from, the failure to make any payment of Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities of any series, or in the payment of any mandatory sinking fund installment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee may withhold the giving of such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee
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or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series. For the purpose of this Section 11.03, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default. Such notice shall be given to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series in the manner and to the extent provided in subsection (c) of Section 11.10.
Section 11.04.Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or acquires a conflicting interest within the within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee will either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act , the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to any other indenture of the Company or Securities of any series by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to any particular series of Securities.
Section 11.05.Eligibility of Trustee. There shall at all times be a corporate Trustee under this Indenture which shall be a bank or trust company organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any State or the District of Columbia that is not an affiliate of the Company and having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000 which is authorized under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State or District of Columbia authority. If the Trustee publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, the combined capital of the Trustee shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published
Section 11.06.Resignation or Removal of Trustee.
(a)Subject to the limitations contained in subsection (d) of this Section 12.06, the Trustee may resign and be discharged from the trust hereby created with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series by giving notice thereof to the Company. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more or all of such series with respect to which the resigning Trustee has resigned and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any particular series) by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate Principal Amount of any series of Debt Securities then outstanding may, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Holder of Debt Securities of such series who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities of such series for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court
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may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.
(b)In case at any time any of the following shall occur:
(1)the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 11.04 with respect to the Debt Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of Debt Securities of such series who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities of such series for at least six months; or
(2)the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.05 with respect to the Debt Securities of any series and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder of Debt Securities; or
(3)the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Debt Securities of such series and appoint a duly qualified successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Company, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee so appointed, or, subject to the provisions of Section 7.07, any Holder of Debt Securities who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Debt Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a duly qualified successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.
(c)The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of any series may at any time remove the Trustee and appoint a duly qualified successor Trustee with respect to such series by delivery to the Trustee so removed, to the successor Trustee and to the Company of the evidence provided for in Section 8.01 of the action in that regard taken by Holders of Debt Securities.
(d)Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and any appointment of a duly qualified successor Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective only upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 11.07.
Section 11.07.Acceptance by Successor Trustee.
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(a)In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Debt Securities, every duly qualified successor Trustee so appointed under any of the methods herein provided shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor Trustee and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting such appointment hereunder and thereupon such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become fully vested with the rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations of its predecessor in the trust hereunder with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein. The predecessor Trustee shall, nevertheless, at the written request of the successor Trustee, pay over to the successor Trustee all moneys at the time held by it herein; and the Company and the predecessor Trustee upon payment or provision therefor of any amounts then due the predecessor Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.02, shall execute and deliver such instruments and do such other things as may reasonably be required for more fully and certainly vesting and confirming in the successor Trustee all such rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations.
(b)In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the predecessor Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series shall execute and deliver a written instrument or an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (ii) if the predecessor Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Debt Securities of such series, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-Trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such predecessor Trustee upon payment of its charges shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such predecessor Trustee hereunder with respect to the Debt Securities of such series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in this subsection (b) of this Section.
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(c)The Company or the successor Trustee will give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series. Each notice will include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series and the address of its corporate trust office.
Section 11.08.Successor to Trustee by Merger or Consolidation, etc. Any corporation or national banking association into which the Trustee may be merged, or with which it may be consolidated, or to which the Trustee transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business or assets, or any corporation or national banking association resulting from any merger or consolidation or conversion to which the Trustee shall be a party, shall be the successor Trustee under this Indenture without the execution or filing of any instruments or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
Section 11.09.Preferential Collection of Claims. If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to the Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
Section 11.10.Reports by Trustee.
(a)The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each May 15 following the date of the initial issuance of Debt Securities under this Indenture, and for so long as any Debt Securities remain outstanding, deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such reporting date, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also transmit by mail all reports as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).
(b)A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each securities exchange, if any, upon which the Debt Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Debt Securities are listed on any securities exchange and of any delisting thereof.
Section 11.11.Preservation of Information. The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information furnished it pursuant to Section 4.06(c) hereof or received by it as Debt Security registrar hereunder. The Trustee
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may destroy such information, upon receipt of new information, updating information, previously furnished.
Section 11.12.Trustee May Hold Debt Securities and Otherwise Deal with Company. Subject to the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee, the Debt Security registrar, any Paying Agent or any other agent of the Company in its individual or any other capacity may buy, own, hold and sell any of the Debt Securities or any other evidences of indebtedness or other securities, whether heretofore or hereafter created or issued, of the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Debt Security registrar, Paying Agent or such other agent; and the Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, including, without limitation, secured and unsecured loans to the Company or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company; and may maintain any and all other general banking and business relations with the Company and any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company with like effect and in the same manner and to the same extent as if the Trustee were not a party to this Indenture; and no implied covenant shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee in respect of any such matters.
Section 11.13.Trustee May Comply with any Rule, Regulation or Order of the Commission. The Trustee may comply in good faith with any rule, regulation or order of the Commission made pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act and shall be fully protected in so doing notwithstanding that such rule, regulation or order may thereafter be amended or rescinded or determined by judicial or other authority to be invalid for any reason, but nothing herein contained shall require the Trustee to take any action or omit to take any action in accordance with such rule, regulation or order, except as is in this Indenture otherwise required.
Section 11.14.Appointment of Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Debt Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption or partial conversion thereof, and if the Trustee is required to appoint one or more Authenticating Agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, to authenticate Debt Securities of such series and to take such other actions as are specified in Sections 2.04, 2.08, 2.11 and 5.02, and Debt Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent (except in respect of original issue and Section 3.12). Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $1,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by
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Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 11.14, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.14, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 11.14.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of such Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 11.14, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice or resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.14, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall provide notice to the Holders of the Debt Securities of the series as to which the Authenticating Agent will serve as provided in Section 3.08. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 11.14.
The Company agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
If all of the Debt Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Debt Securities upon original issuance located where the Company wishes to have Debt Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 3.07 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint in accordance with this Section 11.14 an Authenticating Agent having an office in a place designated by the Company with respect to such series of Debt Securities.
Section 11.15.Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of Debt Securities or Application of Proceeds Thereof. The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the
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statements of the Issuer, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities and shall have no responsibility for any statement in any document in connection with the sale of the Debt Securities. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Debt Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder or of the proceeds of such Debt Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.
Section 11.16.Calculations in Respect of Debt Securities. The Company will be responsible for making calculations called for under the Debt Securities. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determination of make-whole amounts, if any, premiums, if any, Original Issue Discount, if any, and conversion rates and adjustments, if any. The Company will make the calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on the Holders of the Debt Securities. The Company will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee when applicable, and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification.
Article 12
Supplemental Indentures
Supplemental Indentures
Section 12.01.Supplemental Indentures for Special Purposes. Without the consent of any of the Holders of Debt Securities, the Company, when authorized by resolution of its Board of Directors, and, upon receipt of an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, is duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company and is in compliance with applicable law, the Trustee from time to time and at any time, subject to the conditions and restrictions in this Indenture contained, may enter into an indenture or supplemental indentures in form satisfactory to the Trustee, which thereafter shall form a part hereof, for any one or more of the following purposes:
(a)to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company in this Indenture contained, other covenants and agreements thereafter to be observed for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities (and if such covenants and agreements are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such covenants and agreements are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein reserved to or conferred upon the Company; or
(b)to cure any ambiguity or to cure, correct or supplement any defect or inconsistent provision contained in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture; or
(c)to make such provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture which may be necessary or desirable, or otherwise change this Indenture in
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any manner which shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series; or
(d)to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to Article 10 and to provide for the adjustment of conversion or exchange rights with respect to any Debt Securities, provided that such adjustment is made in accordance with the provisions of such Debt Securities or the resolution of the Board of Directors or the supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Debt Securities were issued; or
(e) to establish the form or terms of the Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 2.02; or
(f) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that, except as otherwise contemplated by Section 2.02(11), any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Debt Security outstanding of any series created prior thereto which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or
(g) to add or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to provide for uncertificated Debt Securities in addition to certificated Debt Securities (so long as any “registration-required obligation” within the meaning of Section 163(f)(2) of the Code is in registered form for purposes of the Code); or
(h) to amend or supplement any provision contained herein, which was required to be contained herein in order for this Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, if the Trust Indenture Act or regulations thereunder change what is so required to be included in qualified indentures, in any manner not inconsistent with what then may be required for such qualification; or
(i) to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be applicable to less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely to be applicable to such series); or
(j) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the Trustee as security for the Debt Securities of one or more series any property or assets; or
(k) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as contemplated in Section 11.07(b);
and the Company hereby covenants that it will fully perform all the requirements of any such supplemental indenture which may be in effect from time to time. Nothing in this Article XII contained shall affect or limit the right or obligation of the Company to execute and deliver to the Trustee any instrument of further assurance or other instrument which elsewhere in this Indenture it is provided shall be delivered to the Trustee.
The Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which
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may be therein contained and accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture which adversely affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 12.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 12.02.
Section 12.02.Amendments with Consent of Holders. With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 9.01) of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate Principal Amount of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding of each series affected by such supplement, the Company, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provision to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of such series of the Debt Securities; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the time or times of payment of the Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or the interest on, any series of Debt Securities, or reduce the Principal Amount of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or the rate of interest on, any series of Debt Securities (and/or such other amount or amounts as any Debt Securities or supplemental indentures with respect thereto may provide to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 8.01) or change the currency of payment of Principal of, premium, if any, make-whole amount, if any, or interest on, any series of Debt Securities or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or alter or impair the right to convert the same at the rate and upon the terms provided in the Indenture or alter or impair the right to require redemption at the option of the Holder, without the consent of the Holder of each Debt Security so affected, or (ii) reduce the percentage of Debt Securities of any series, the vote or consent of the Holders of which is required for such modifications and alterations, without the consent of the Holders of all Debt Securities then Outstanding of such series under the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent of the Holders of any series of Debt Securities shall be necessary to permit the execution of a supplemental indenture to provide for the adjustment of conversion or exchange rights with respect to any Debt Securities, provided that such adjustment is made in accordance with the provisions of such Debt Securities or the resolution of the Board of Directors or the supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Debt Securities were issued.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a Certified Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders of Debt Securities as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may, in its discretion, but shall not be obligated, to enter into such supplemental indenture.
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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Debt Securities under this Section 12.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but is shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series with respect to such provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities of any other series.
Section 12.03.Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 12, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of Debt Securities shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article 12 or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee will receive, and (subject to Section 12.01) will be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but will not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 12.04.Supplemental Indentures to Conform to Trust Indenture Act. Any supplemental indenture executed and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this Article 12 shall conform in all respects to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
Section 12.05.Notation on or Exchange of Debt Securities. If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Debt Security of any series, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Debt Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Debt Security about the amendment, supplement or waiver and return it to the Holder. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Debt Security thereafter authenticated. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Debt Security of any series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Debt Security of such series that reflects the changed terms.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Debt Security will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
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Section 12.06.Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Debt Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Debt Security or portion of a Debt Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Debt Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Debt Security. However, any such Holder of a Debt Security or subsequent Holder of a Debt Security may revoke the consent as to its Debt Security if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.
| STONEX GROUP INC. | |||||
| By: | |||||
| Name: | |||||
| Title: | |||||
| THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee | |||||
| By: | |||||
| Name: | |||||
| Title: | |||||
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Exhibit 5.1 and 23.2
 | Davis Polk & Wardwell llp 450 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10017 davispolk.com | ||||
February 19, 2025
StoneX Group Inc.
230 Park Ave, 10th Floor
230 Park Ave, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10169
Ladies and Gentlemen:
StoneX Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR (the “Registration Statement”) for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (a) shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company; (b) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), of the Company; (c) the Company’s senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities (collectively, the “Debt Securities”), which may be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and the Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Trustee”), (d) warrants of the Company (the “Warrants”), which may be issued under one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and the warrant agent to be named therein (the “Warrant Agent”); and (e) units (the “Units”) to be issued under one or more unit agreements to be entered into among the Company, a bank or trust company, as unit agent (the “Unit Agent”), and the holders from time to time of the Units (each such unit agreement, a “Unit Agreement”).
We, as your counsel, have examined originals or copies of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering this opinion.
In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have, without independent inquiry or investigation, assumed that (i) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, (ii) all documents submitted to us as copies conform to authentic, complete originals, (iii) all documents filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been executed will conform to the forms thereof, (iv) all signatures on all documents that we reviewed are genuine, (v) all natural persons executing documents had and have the legal capacity to do so, (vi) all statements in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company that we reviewed were and are accurate and (vii) all representations made by the Company as to matters of fact in the documents that we reviewed were and are accurate.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the additional assumptions and qualifications set forth below, we advise you that, in our opinion:
1. When the necessary corporate action on the part of the Company has been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such shares of Common Stock proposed to be sold by the Company, and when such shares of Common Stock are issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor (in excess of par value thereof) or upon conversion or exercise of any security offered under the Registration Statement (the “Offered Security”), in
| DRAFT | |||||||||||
| StoneX Group Inc. | ||||||||||
accordance with the terms of such Offered Security or the instrument governing such Offered Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, for the consideration approved by such Board of Directors (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Common Stock), such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable.
2. Upon designation of the relative rights, preferences and limitations of any series of Preferred Stock by the Board of Directors of the Company and the proper filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of a Certificate of Designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock, all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company will have been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such series of Preferred Stock proposed to be sold by the Company, and when such shares of Preferred Stock are issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor (in excess of par value thereof), such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3. When the Indenture and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee and the Company; the specific terms of a particular series of Debt Securities have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Indenture; and such Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the Indenture and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability.
4. When the Warrant Agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Warrant Agent and the Company; the specific terms of the Warrants have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Warrant Agreement; and such Warrants have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Warrant Agreement and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability.
6. When the Unit Agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Unit Agent and the Company; the specific terms of the Units have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Unit Agreement; and such Units have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Unit Agreement and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Units will
| DRAFT | |||||||||||
| StoneX Group Inc. | ||||||||||
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability.
In connection with the opinions expressed above, we have assumed that, at or prior to the time of the delivery of any such security, (i) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have duly established the terms of such security and duly authorized the issuance and sale of such security and such authorization shall not have been modified or rescinded; (ii) the Company is and shall remain, validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (iii) the Registration Statement shall have become effective and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded; (iv) the Indenture, the Debt Securities, the Warrant Agreement and the Unit Agreement are each valid, binding and enforceable agreements of each party thereto (other than as expressly covered above in respect of the Company); and (v) there shall not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of such security. We have also assumed that (i) the terms of any security whose terms are established subsequent to the date hereof and the issuance, execution, delivery and performance by the Company of any such security (a) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and (b) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or public policy or regulation or any judgment, injunction, order or decree or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company and (ii) any Warrant Agreement and Unit Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and the foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement referred to above and further consent to the reference to our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus, which is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the use of our reports dated November 27, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of StoneX Group Inc. and subsidiaries, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Kansas City, Missouri
February 19, 2025
Exhibit 25.1
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) |__|
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) |__|
___________________________
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
| New York (Jurisdiction of incorporation if not a U.S. national bank) | 13-5160382 (I.R.S. employer identification no.) | ||||
| 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. (Address of principal executive offices) | 10286 (Zip code) | ||||
___________________________
STONEX GROUP INC.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
| Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | 59-2921318 (I.R.S. employer identification no.) | ||||
230 Park Avenue, 10th Floor New York, New York (Address of principal executive offices) | 10169 (Zip code) | ||||
___________________________
Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
(Title of the indenture securities)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
1. General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:
(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.
Name | Address | ||||
Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services of the State of New York | One State Street, New York, N.Y. 10004-1417, and Albany, N.Y. 12223 | ||||
Federal Reserve Bank of New York | 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. 10045 | ||||
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation | 550 17th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20429 | ||||
The Clearing House Association L.L.C. | 100 Broad Street New York, N.Y. 10004 | ||||
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
Yes.
2. Affiliations with Obligor.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None.
16. List of Exhibits.
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Act").
1. A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735).
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4. A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-261533).
6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229519).
7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Pittsburgh, and State of Pennsylvania, on the
12th day of February, 2025.
12th day of February, 2025.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By: /s/ Nathaniel Henkle
Name: Nathaniel Henkle
Title: Agent
Name: Nathaniel Henkle
Title: Agent
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EXHIBIT 7
| Consolidated Report of Condition of | ||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
of 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business December 31, 2024, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.
ASSETS | Dollar amounts in thousands | ||||
Cash and balances due from depository institutions: | |||||
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin | 3,316,000 | ||||
Interest-bearing balances | 96,711,000 | ||||
Securities: | |||||
Held-to-maturity securities | 48,596,000 | ||||
Available-for-sale debt securities | 87,787,000 | ||||
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading………………… | 0 | ||||
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell: | |||||
Federal funds sold in domestic offices | 0 | ||||
Securities purchased under agreements to resell… | 24,014,000 | ||||
Loans and lease financing receivables: | |||||
Loans and leases held for sale……………. | 0 | ||||
Loans and leases held for investment………… | 37,084,000 | ||||
LESS: Allowance for credit losses on loans and leases………... | 272,000 | ||||
Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance | 36,812,000 | ||||
Trading assets | 7,593,000 | ||||
Premises and fixed assets (including right-of-use assets) | 2,912,000 | ||||
Other real estate owned | 0 | ||||
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies | 2,021,000 | ||||
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures …………………………………………. | 0 | ||||
Intangible assets…………………………………. | 7,329,000 | ||||
Other assets | 18,864,000 | ||||
Total assets | 335,955,000 | ||||
LIABILITIES | |||||
Deposits: | |||||
In domestic offices | 194,168,000 | ||||
Noninterest-bearing | 61,444,000 | ||||
Interest-bearing | 132,724,000 | ||||
In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs | 97,210,000 | ||||
Noninterest-bearing | 3,557,000 | ||||
Interest-bearing | 93,653,000 | ||||
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase: | |||||
Federal funds purchased in domestic offices……………………………………. | 0 | ||||
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 2,499,000 | ||||
Trading liabilities | 2,911,000 | ||||
Other borrowed money: (includes mortgage indebtedness)……. | 3,031,000 | ||||
Not applicable | |||||
Not applicable | |||||
Subordinated notes and debentures | 0 | ||||
Other liabilities | 8,176,000 | ||||
Total liabilities | 307,995,000 | ||||
EQUITY CAPITAL | |||||
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus……………………………………. | 0 | ||||
Common stock | 1,135,000 | ||||
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) | 12,511,000 | ||||
Retained earnings | 17,415,000 | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income……… | -3,101,000 | ||||
Other equity capital components………………… | 0 | ||||
Total bank equity capital | 27,960,000 | ||||
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries ……………………… | 0 | ||||
Total equity capital | 27,960,000 | ||||
Total liabilities and equity capital | 335,955,000 | ||||
I, Dermot McDonogh, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Dermot McDonogh
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer
We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.
Robin A. Vince Jeffrey A. Goldstein Joseph J. Echevarria | Directors | ||||