8-K
Carlyle Group Inc. false 0001527166 0001527166 2021-05-11 2021-05-11

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 11, 2021

 

 

The Carlyle Group Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-35538   45-2832612

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC

  20004-2505
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(202) 729-5626

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock   CG   The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information required by this Item 1.01 is included in Item 2.03 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03

Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

On May 11, 2021, The Carlyle Group Inc. (the “Corporation”), Carlyle Holdings I L.P., Carlyle Holdings II L.L.C., CG Subsidiary Holdings L.L.C. and Carlyle Holdings III L.P., each indirect subsidiaries of the Corporation (together with the Corporation, the “Guarantors”), and Carlyle Finance L.L.C., an indirect subsidiary of the Corporation (the “Issuer”), entered into a subordinated indenture, dated May 11, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, dated May 11, 2021 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), relating to the issuance by the Issuer of $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061 (the “Notes”). The Notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by a shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration No. 333-236397), as amended by the post-effective amendment no. 1 thereto (as amended, the “Registration Statement”). In addition, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below), the Issuer granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $60 million aggregate principal amount of Notes within 30 days from the date of the final prospectus supplement.

The Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.625% per annum accruing from May 11, 2021. Interest is payable quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on August 15, 2021. The Issuer may defer interest payments during one or more deferral periods for up to five consecutive years as described in the Indenture. The Notes are unsecured and subordinated obligations of the Issuer. The Notes will mature on May 15, 2061, unless earlier redeemed. The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”), jointly and severally, on a subordinated basis, by each of the Guarantors. The Guarantees are unsecured and subordinated obligations of the Guarantors.

The Indenture includes covenants, including limitations on the Issuer’s and the Guarantors’ ability to, subject to exceptions, incur indebtedness ranking on a parity with the Notes or indebtedness ranking junior to the Notes secured by liens on voting stock or profit participating equity interests of their subsidiaries or merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or convey all or substantially all of their assets. The Indenture also provides for customary events of default and further provides that the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the Notes immediately due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default after expiration of any applicable grace period. In the case of specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization, the principal amount of the Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes automatically will become due and payable. The Notes may be redeemed at the Issuer’s option in whole at any time or in part from time to time on or after May 15, 2026 at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption; provided that if the Notes are not redeemed in whole, at least $25 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes must remain outstanding after giving effect to such redemption. If a “Tax Redemption Event” (as set forth in the Indenture) occurs, the Notes may be redeemed, in whole, but not in part, within 120 days of the occurrence of such event at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. In addition, the Notes may be redeemed, in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to May 15, 2026, within 90 days of the occurrence of a “rating agency event” (as set forth in the Indenture), at a redemption price equal to 102% of their principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

The preceding is a summary of the terms of the Indenture and the Notes, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Base Indenture attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1, the First Supplemental Indenture attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2, and the form of the Notes attached hereto as Exhibit 4.3, each of which is incorporated herein by reference as though they were fully set forth herein.


Item 8.01

Other Events.

On May 4, 2021, the Issuer and the Guarantors entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and among the Issuer, the Guarantors and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I thereto.

Copies of the opinions of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, counsel to the Issuer and the Guarantors, relating to the legality of the Notes and the Guarantees are filed as Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2 hereto, respectively.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

1.1    Underwriting Agreement dated May 4, 2021 among Carlyle Finance L.L.C. the Guarantors party thereto and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the several representatives of the underwriters named therein.
4.1    Subordinated Indenture dated as of May 11, 2021 among Carlyle Finance L.L.C., the Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
4.2    First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 11, 2021 among Carlyle Finance L.L.C., the Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
4.3    Form of 4.625% Subordinated Note due 2061 (included in Exhibit 4.2 hereto).
5.1    Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
5.2    Opinion of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    THE CARLYLE GROUP INC.
Date: May 11, 2021     By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

    Name:   Curtis L. Buser
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer
EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Execution Version

CARLYLE FINANCE L.L.C.

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

$400,000,000 4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061

May 4, 2021

 


Underwriting Agreement

May 4, 2021

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

BofA Securities, Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC,

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

listed in Schedule I hereto

c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10019

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Carlyle Finance L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061 (the “Underwritten Notes”) and, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional $60,000,00 aggregate principal amount of its 4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061 (the “Option Underwritten Notes”) if and to the extent that the Underwriters shall have determined to exercise the option to purchase such Option Underwritten Notes granted to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Underwritten Notes and the Option Underwritten Notes are herein referred to as the “Notes”. The Notes are to be issued pursuant to the provisions of an indenture, to be dated as of May 11, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors (as defined below) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture thereto, to be dated as of May 11, 2021 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsecured and subordinated basis as to the payment of principal and interest by Carlyle Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Carlyle Holdings I”), Carlyle Holdings III L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Carlyle Holdings III” and, together with Carlyle Holdings I, the “Carlyle Holdings Partnerships”), Carlyle Holdings II L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Carlyle Holdings II”), CG Subsidiary Holdings L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“CG Subsidiary Holdings”), and The Carlyle Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation” and, together with the Carlyle Holdings Partnerships, Carlyle Holdings II and CG Subsidiary Holdings, the “Guarantors” and, together with the Company, the “Carlyle Parties”) (such guarantees, the “Guarantees” and, together with the Notes, the “Securities”).

To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires. The use of the neuter in this Agreement shall include the feminine and masculine wherever appropriate.

 

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Each of the Carlyle Parties hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Securities, as follows:

1. Registration Statement. The Carlyle Parties have prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), an automatic shelf registration statement, as defined in Rule 405 (File No. 333-236397), on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), relating to the Securities. Such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, became effective upon filing. Such registration statement, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement;” and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus which is used prior to the filing of the Prospectus (as defined herein), together with the Base Prospectus and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the date hereof, together with the Base Prospectus. Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Carlyle Parties had prepared the following information (collectively, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): a Preliminary Prospectus dated May 4, 2021 and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) identified in Schedule II hereto.

“Applicable Time” means 4:15 P.M., New York City time, on May 4, 2021.

2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters.

(a) The Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein, but subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto at a purchase price of (i) $24.2125 per Security in the case of $327,600,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities sold to retail investors and (ii) $24.50 per Security in the case of $72,400,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities sold to institutional investors (the “Purchase Price”), plus accrued interest, respectively, if any, from May 11, 2021 to the Closing Date (as defined below).

(b) In addition, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Option Underwritten Notes to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriters, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company the Option Underwritten Notes at the Purchase Price plus accrued interest, if any, from the Closing Date to the date of payment and delivery.

If any Option Underwritten Notes are to be purchased, the aggregate principal amount of Option Underwritten Notes to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the aggregate principal amount of Option Underwritten Notes which bears the same ratio to the aggregate principal amount of Option Underwritten Notes being purchased as the amount of Underwritten Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto (or such amount increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof) bears to the aggregate principal amount of Underwritten Notes being purchased from the Company by the several Underwriters.

 

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The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase the Option Underwritten Notes at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of this Agreement, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate principal amount of Option Underwritten Notes as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Underwritten Notes are to be delivered and paid for which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.

(c) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

(d) Payment for the Underwritten Notes shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives at the offices of Mayer Brown LLP, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on May 11, 2021, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Underwritten Notes, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representatives in the written notice of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Option Underwritten Notes. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Notes is referred to herein as the “Closing Date” and the time and date for such payment for the Option Underwritten Notes, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as the “Additional Closing Date”.

Payment for the Securities to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased on such date with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Securities duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct and the Securities shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request.

(e) The Carlyle Parties acknowledge and agree that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Carlyle Parties with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Carlyle Parties or any other person (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Carlyle Parties on other matters). Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any of the other Underwriters is advising the Carlyle Parties or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction with respect to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Carlyle Parties on other matters). Each of the Carlyle Parties agrees that it will not claim that, in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or the process leading thereto, the Underwriters, or any of them, has advised the Carlyle Parties or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Carlyle Parties. The Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions directly or indirectly involving the Carlyle Parties and may in some cases have interests that differ from or conflict with those of the Carlyle Parties. The Carlyle Parties hereby consent to each Underwriter acting in the capacities described in the preceding sentence, and the parties to this Agreement acknowledge that any such transaction is a separate transaction from the sale of the Securities contemplated hereby and that no Underwriter acting in any such capacity owes any obligation or duty to any other party hereto with respect to or arising from its acting in such capacity, except to the extent set forth in any prior separate agreement relating to such other transaction. The Carlyle Parties shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making their own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Carlyle Parties with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Carlyle Parties, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Carlyle Parties.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Carlyle Parties. Each of the Carlyle Parties jointly and severally represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

 

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(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no Carlyle Party makes any representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Carlyle Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(b) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no Carlyle Party makes any representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Carlyle Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, no Carlyle Party (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has prepared, used, authorized, approved or referred to and no Carlyle Party will prepare, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by any such Carlyle Party or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the free writing prospectus identified on Schedule II hereto or (iii) each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives, including the electronic roadshow identified on Schedule IV hereto. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no Carlyle Party makes any representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Carlyle Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Carlyle Parties. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Carlyle Parties or related to the offering of the Securities has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a

 

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material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no Carlyle Party makes any representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Carlyle Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(e) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference, and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities, in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, when they were filed, or are filed, with the Commission complied or will comply, as the case may be, in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.

(f) WKSI. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto, if any, for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Carlyle Parties or any person acting on their behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163, and (iv) as of the Applicable Time, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405).

(g) Financial Statements. The historical financial statements of the Corporation and its subsidiaries (including the related notes thereto) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position, consolidated results of their operations and the consolidated changes in cash flows as of the dates and for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and any supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Corporation and/or its Subsidiaries (as defined below) and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and has been compiled on a basis consistent in all material respects with that of the audited financial statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus there has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations, properties or partners’ capital of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(i) Organization and Good Standing. The Company, the Corporation and each of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Carlyle Entities”) and each of the Carlyle Funds (as defined below) have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the jurisdiction in question) under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, partners’ or members’ capital, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Carlyle Entities taken as a whole or on the performance by each of the Carlyle Parties of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The

 

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Corporation does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than (i) the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Corporation’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the Commission on February 11, 2021 (the “Annual Report”), or (ii) subsidiaries omitted from such Exhibit 21.1 that, if considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” of the Corporation as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X. As used herein, “Subsidiaries” means the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Corporation, including without limitation, each of Carlyle Holdings I GP Inc., a Delaware corporation, Carlyle Holdings III GP L.P., a Québec société en commandite, Carlyle Holdings I GP Sub L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, Carlyle Holdings II GP L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, Carlyle Holdings III GP Sub L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, Carlyle Holdings III GP Management L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, CG Subsidiary Holdings, Carlyle Holdings II, each of the Carlyle Holdings Partnerships and each of TC Group, L.L.C., TC Group Investment Holdings, L.P., TC Group Cayman Investment Holdings, L.P. and TC Group Cayman, L.P. and their respective subsidiaries, but not including the Carlyle Funds (as defined below) or any portfolio company or investment of such Carlyle Funds or any special purpose entity formed to acquire or hold any such portfolio company or investment, regardless of whether any such Carlyle Fund, portfolio company, investment or special purpose entity is consolidated with the Corporation for purposes of financial reporting. “Carlyle Funds” means, collectively, any investment vehicle (whether open-ended or closed-ended) including, without limitation, an investment fund or company, a general or limited partnership, a trust, a company or other business entity organized in any jurisdiction (i) sponsored or promoted by any of the Carlyle Parties or their affiliates, (ii) for which any of the Carlyle Parties or their affiliates acts as a general partner or managing member (or in a similar capacity) or (iii) for which any of the Carlyle Parties or their affiliates acts as an investment adviser or investment manager.

(j) Capitalization of the Corporation. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation have been duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and are non-assessable.

(k) Capitalization of Subsidiaries. Except in each case as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock, partnership interests, partnership units, member interests or other equity interests of each Subsidiary that are owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid (in the case of any Subsidiaries that are organized as limited liability companies, limited partnerships or other business entities, to the extent required under the applicable limited liability company, limited partnership or other organizational agreement) and (A) for those Subsidiaries that are corporations, non-assessable or (B) for those Subsidiaries that are limited liability companies, limited partnerships or other forms of business entity other than corporations, the Corporation, directly or indirectly, will have no obligation to make further payments for the purchase of such equity interests or contributions to the applicable Subsidiary solely by reason of its ownership of the equity interests of such Subsidiary except as provided in the organizational documents of such Subsidiary and except for any obligation to repay any funds wrongfully distributed to it, and (ii) are owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance or security interest.

(l) The Notes. The Notes have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

(m) The Guarantees. The Guarantee of each Guarantor has been duly authorized by such Guarantor, and when the Notes are executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Guarantee of each Guarantor will be the valid and legally binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

(n) Due Authorization. Each Carlyle Party has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has been duly and validly taken.

 

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(o) Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by each Carlyle Party and has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and, when executed and delivered by each Carlyle Party, the Indenture will be valid and legally binding agreement of each Carlyle Party, enforceable against each Carlyle Party in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles.

(p) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Carlyle Party.

(q) No Violation or Default. None of the Carlyle Parties is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(r) No Conflicts. The execution and delivery by each Carlyle Party of each of the Transaction Documents to the extent a party thereto and the performance by each Carlyle Party of each of the Transaction Documents to the extent each is a party thereto, does not and will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of any Carlyle Party pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which any Carlyle Party or any Subsidiary (that is not itself a Carlyle Party) or any of the Carlyle Funds is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of their respective properties or assets is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of any Carlyle Party or any Subsidiary (that is not itself a Carlyle Party) or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) (in the case of the Subsidiaries that are not Carlyle Parties only), and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(s) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the applicable Carlyle Party of each of the Transaction Documents to the extent each is a party thereto, the issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as have been obtained or made or as may be required under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or as have been obtained or made or as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters and except for any such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications or decrees the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which any Carlyle Entity or any of the Carlyle Funds is or may be a party or to which any property of any of the Carlyle Entities or any of the Carlyle Funds is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and to the knowledge of the Carlyle Parties, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described as required in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and

 

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the Prospectus and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(u) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, who has certified certain financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and whose reports are filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, is, and was during the periods covered by such reports, an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the entities purported to be covered thereby within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

(v) Title to Intellectual Property. The Corporation and its Subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) used in the operation of the business as now operated, except where the failure to own or possess such rights would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Corporation and its Subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with the asserted rights of others in connection with its patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and know-how, which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Carlyle Parties or any Carlyle Fund, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, partners, stockholders, members or investors of any of the Carlyle Parties or any Carlyle Fund, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(x) Investment Company Act. Each of the Carlyle Parties is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”).

(y) Investment Advisors Act. Each of the Carlyle Entities and the Carlyle Funds (i) that is required to be in compliance with, or registered, licensed or qualified pursuant to, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Advisers Act”), the Investment Company Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or the U.K. Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, is in compliance with, or registered, licensed or qualified pursuant to, such laws, rules and regulations (and such registration, license or qualification is in full force and effect), to the extent applicable, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or where the failure to be in such compliance or so registered, licensed or qualified could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) that is required to be registered, licensed or qualified as a broker-dealer or as a commodity trading advisor, a commodity pool operator or a futures commission merchant or any or all of the foregoing, as applicable, is so registered, licensed or qualified in each jurisdiction where the conduct of its business requires such registration, license or qualification (and such registration, license or qualification is in full force and effect), and is in compliance with all applicable laws requiring any such registration, licensing or qualification, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or where the failure to be so registered, licensed, qualified or in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) Licenses and Permits. The Corporation and its Subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a

 

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Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

(aa) Disclosure Controls. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Corporation has established and maintains a system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(bb) Accounting Controls. The Corporation has established and maintains systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Corporation’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been no change in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.

(cc) Insurance. The Carlyle Entities have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; and none of the Carlyle Entities has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(dd) No Unlawful Payments. None of the Carlyle Entities or any of the Carlyle Funds, nor, to the knowledge of any Carlyle Party, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Carlyle Entities or any of the Carlyle Funds, has violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

(ee) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Carlyle Entities and the Carlyle Funds are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended (the “CFTRA”), and, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (i) the operations of the Carlyle Entities and the Carlyle Funds are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with the money laundering statutes of all other jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any other governmental agency (collectively, the “Other Money Laundering Laws”), and (ii) no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Carlyle Entities or any of the Carlyle Funds with respect to the CFTRA or Other Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Carlyle Parties, threatened.

(ff) Compliance with OFAC. None of the Carlyle Entities, the Carlyle Funds or, to the knowledge of the Carlyle Parties, any of their respective directors, officers, agents, employees or affiliates is currently subject to any United States (“U.S.”) sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the Carlyle Parties will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

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(gg) ERISA. Neither the Corporation nor any of its affiliates that together with the Corporation would be deemed a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) sponsors, maintains, contributes to or has any liability with respect to any employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the ERISA, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA or that is multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(hh) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Corporation, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Corporation any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Corporation or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Corporation or any other Subsidiary of the Corporation, except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not reasonably be expected to materially reduce the distributions to be received by the Guarantors (other than the Corporation), taken as a whole, from their direct and indirect Subsidiaries.

(ii) No Broker’s Fees. None of the Carlyle Entities is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any Carlyle Entity or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

(jj) No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require any Carlyle Entity to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Securities, except such rights as have been satisfied or waived, and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between any Carlyle Party and any person granting such person the right to require any Carlyle Party to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of any Carlyle Party.

(kk) No Stabilization. No Carlyle Entity has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any unlawful stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

(ll) Accuracy of Disclosure. The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of the Notes,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Indenture and the Securities, and under the captions “Summary—Organizational Structure,” “Material U.S. Federal Tax Consequences,” and “Certain ERISA Considerations,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate in all material respects. The statements incorporated by reference in the Annual Report under the caption “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions, and Director Independence” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate in all material respects.

(mm) Margin Rules. The application of the proceeds received by the Company from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Notes as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(nn) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(oo) Carlyle Funds. To the knowledge of the Carlyle Parties, the offering, sale, issuance and distribution of securities by the Carlyle Funds have been made in compliance with the Securities Act and the securities laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction applicable with respect thereto, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(pp) Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of any Carlyle Party that has caused such Carlyle Party to believe that the statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(qq) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. As of the date hereof, the Registration Statement, the Corporation and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof that are then in effect and which the Corporation and its Subsidiaries are then required to comply with as of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(rr) Status under the Securities Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto the Corporation was not, and as of the Applicable Time the Corporation is not, an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Corporation has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act or will pay such fee within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

4. Further Agreements of the Carlyle Parties. Each of the Carlyle Parties, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Filings. The Carlyle Parties will file the Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Corporation with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; and will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the second business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Carlyle Parties will pay the registration fee for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

(b) Delivery of Copies. The Carlyle Parties will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, four signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Carlyle Parties will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.

(d) Notice to the Representatives. The Carlyle Parties will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any

 

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other request by the Commission for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vi) of the receipt by the Carlyle Parties of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (vii) of the receipt by the Carlyle Parties of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and each of the Carlyle Parties will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(e) Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Carlyle Parties will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Carlyle Parties will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish, at the Carlyle Parties’ own expense or, at any time nine months or more after the date hereof, at the expense of the Underwriters, to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.

(f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Carlyle Parties will qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Securities; provided that none of the Carlyle Parties shall be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

(g) Earnings Statement. The Carlyle Parties will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earnings statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Corporation occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

(h) Clear Market. The Carlyle Parties will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, during the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to and including 30 days after the date of the Prospectus, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of any of the Carlyle Parties or warrants to purchase debt securities of any of the Carlyle Parties substantially similar to the Securities (other than the sale of the Securities under this Agreement).

 

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(i) Use of Proceeds. The Carlyle Entities will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds.”

(j) No Stabilization. No Carlyle Entity will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any unlawful stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

(k) Reports. For a period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Carlyle Parties will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission by the Carlyle Parties; provided the Carlyle Parties will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

(l) Record Retention. The Carlyle Parties will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

(m) Exchange Listing. The Carlyle Parties will use their reasonable best efforts to effect the listing of the Securities on the Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Exchange”) within 30 days after the Closing Date.

5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:

(a) It has not used, authorized use of, referred to or participated in the planning for use of, and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Carlyle Parties and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Carlyle Parties) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex B or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Carlyle Parties in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).

(b) It has not used, and will not use, without the prior written consent of the Carlyle Parties, any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Securities unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission.

6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Notes on the Closing Date or the Option Underwritten Notes on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Carlyle Parties of their covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.

(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Carlyle Parties contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and the statements of any officers of the Carlyle Parties made in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

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(c) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(h) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(d) No Downgrading. Since the execution of this Agreement, there shall not have been any decrease in or withdrawal of the rating of any securities of the Carlyle Parties (including the Securities) or any of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in or withdrawal of any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

(e) Officers’ Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Corporation and one additional senior executive officer of the Corporation who is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Carlyle Parties in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Carlyle Parties have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above.

(f) Comfort Letters and CFO Certificate. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Carlyle Parties, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date; (ii) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent registered public accountants for Fortitude Group Holdings, LLC (“Fortitude”), shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Carlyle Parties, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information of Fortitude contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date; and (iii) the Corporation shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the respective date of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, of its chief financial officer with respect to certain financial data contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of U.S. Counsel for the Carlyle Parties. U.S. counsel for the Carlyle Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Carlyle Parties, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A-1 hereto.

(h) Opinion of Québec Counsel for the Carlyle Parties. Special Québec counsel for the Carlyle Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Carlyle Parties, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A-2 hereto.

 

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(i) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(j) No Legal Impediment to Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.

(k) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of each of the Carlyle Parties in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(l) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Carlyle Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

7. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Carlyle Parties. The Carlyle Parties, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers, agents and employees and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, (ii) or any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or the Pricing Disclosure Package (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Carlyle Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

(b) Indemnification of the Carlyle Parties by the Underwriters. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless each Carlyle Party, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls any Carlyle Party within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue

 

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statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Carlyle Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the information contained in the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting.”

(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to paragraphs (a) or (b) above, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraphs (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraphs (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers, agents and employees and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for any Carlyle Party, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of any Carlyle Party shall be designated in writing by the Carlyle Parties. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 90 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Carlyle Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such

 

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proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Carlyle Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Carlyle Parties on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the (i) total net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Carlyle Parties from the sale of the Securities and (ii) the difference between (x) the aggregate price to the public received by the Underwriters and (y) the aggregate price paid by the Underwriters to the Carlyle Parties for the Securities, bear to the aggregate price to the public received by the Underwriters. The relative fault of the Carlyle Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Carlyle Parties or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e) Limitation on Liability. The Carlyle Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

8. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Underwritten Notes, prior to the Additional Closing Date, (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by any of the Carlyle Parties shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

10. Defaulting Underwriter.

(a) If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period

 

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of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Carlyle Parties or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters or other persons as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the aggregate principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the aggregate principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters or other persons as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Securities on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Carlyle Parties, except that the Carlyle Parties will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Carlyle Parties or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

11. Payment of Expenses.

(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Carlyle Parties will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of their obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Securities and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Carlyle Parties’ counsel and independent accountants and of Fortitude’s independent accountants; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities under the state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (v) the cost of preparing certificates, if any, representing the Securities; (vi) the costs and charges of the Trustee, any transfer agent and any registrar; (vii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA; (viii) any fees charged by ratings agencies for the rating of the Securities; (ix) all expenses incurred by the Carlyle Parties in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors; and (x) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Securities on the Exchange.

 

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(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities because of any failure or refusal on the part of any Carlyle Party to comply with the terms of or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason any Carlyle Party shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Carlyle Parties agree to reimburse the Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves severally and are not in default hereunder for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.

12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

13. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Carlyle Parties and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Carlyle Parties or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Carlyle Parties or the Underwriters.

14. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; and (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City.

15. Miscellaneous.

(a) Authority of the Representatives. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC shall be binding upon the Underwriters.

(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives: c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, 29th Floor, New York, New York 10036, Attention: Investment Banking Division (fax: (212) 507-8999); c/o BofA Securities, Inc., 1540 Broadway, NY8-540-26-02, New York, New York 10036, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal (fax: (212) 901-7881) (Email: dg.hg_ua_notices@bofa.com); c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Fax: (646) 291-1469, Attention: General Counsel; c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Investment Grade Syndicate Desk., 3rd Floor, facsimile number (212) 834-6081. Notices to the Carlyle Parties shall be given to them at c/o The Carlyle Group, 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20004 (fax: (202) 729-5325); Attention: General Counsel.

(c) USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

(d) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.

 

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(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

(f) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(g) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

(h) Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(i) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(ii) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(iii) For purposes of this Section 22, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

[Signature pages follow.]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

Very truly yours,
CARLYLE FINANCE L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
THE CARLYLE GROUP INC.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
CARLYLE HOLDINGS I L.P.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
CARLYLE HOLDINGS III L.P.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
CG SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
CARLYLE HOLDINGS II L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

[Signature page to Carlyle Finance L.L.C. Underwriting Agreement]


Accepted: May 4, 2021
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
For themselves and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto.
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By:  

/s/ Ian Drewe

Name:   Ian Drewe
Title:   Executive Director
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Randolph B. Randolph

Name:   Randolph B. Randolph
Title:   Managing Director
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
By:  

/s/ Adam D. Bordner

Name:   Adam D. Bordner
Title:   Director
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
By:  

/s/ Stephen L. Sheiner

Name:   Stephen L. Sheiner
Title:   Executive Director

 

[Signature page to Carlyle Finance L.L.C. Underwriting Agreement]


SCHEDULE I

Underwriters Principal Amount of Underwritten Notes to be Purchased

 

Underwriters

   Principal Amount of
Underwritten Notes to be
Purchased
 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

   $ 80,000,000  

BofA Securities, Inc.

     80,000,000  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     80,000,000  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     80,000,000  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     26,666,675  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     26,666,675  

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

     26,666,650  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 400,000,000  
  

 

 

 

 

Schedule I -1


SCHEDULE II

List of Free Writing Prospectuses (expressly included in the Pricing Disclosure Package):

 

   

The Pricing Term Sheet in the form of Schedule III.

 

Schedule II -1


SCHEDULE III

Carlyle Finance L.L.C.

4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061

Final Pricing Term Sheet

May 4, 2021

The information in this pricing term sheet should be read together with Carlyle Finance L.L.C.’s preliminary prospectus supplement dated May 4, 2021 (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), including the documents incorporated by reference therein and the related base prospectus dated February 12, 2020, filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (Registration No. 333-236397, as amended by post-effective amendment no. 1 thereto). Terms not defined in this pricing term sheet have the meanings given to such terms in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement. The information in this pricing term sheet supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying prospectus to the extent it is inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or the accompanying prospectus. All references to dollar amounts are references to U.S. dollars.

 

Issuer:    Carlyle Finance L.L.C.
Guarantors:   

The Carlyle Group Inc.

Carlyle Holdings I L.P.

Carlyle Holdings II L.L.C.

Carlyle Holdings III L.P.

CG Subsidiary Holdings L.L.C.

Securities:    4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061
Ranking:    Subordinated
Principal Amount Offered:    $400,000,000
Over-Allotment Option:    $60,000,000
Trade Date:    May 4, 2021
Settlement Date*:    May 11, 2021 (T+5)
Maturity Date:    May 15, 2061
Coupon:    4.625%
Underwriting Discount:    $0.7875 per note sold to retail investors and $0.50 per note sold to institutional investors
Price to Public:    $25 per note plus accrued interest, if any, from May 11, 2021 to the date of delivery
Interest Payment Dates:    February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 2021

 

Schedule III-1


Record Dates:    Interest payments on the notes will be made to the holders of record at the close of business on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date, whether or not a business day.
Optional Interest Deferral:    The Issuer has the right on one or more occasions to defer the payment of interest on the notes for up to five consecutive years (each such period, an “optional deferral period”). During an optional deferral period, interest will continue to accrue at the interest rate on the notes, compounded quarterly as of each interest payment date, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
Optional Redemption:   

The Issuer may elect to redeem the notes:

 

•  in whole at any time or in part from time to time on or after May 15, 2026, at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption; provided that if the notes are not redeemed in whole, at least $25 million aggregate principal amount of the notes must remain outstanding after giving effect to such redemption;

 

•  in whole, but not in part, within 120 days of the occurrence of a “Tax Redemption Event”, at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption; or

 

•  in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to May 15, 2026, within 90 days after the occurrence of a “rating agency event” at a redemption price equal to 102% of their principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

Day Count:    30/360
Gross Proceeds (before expenses and underwriting discount):    $400,000,000
Denominations:    $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof
Expected Ratings**:    S&P: BBB- (Stable) / Fitch: BBB- (Stable)
CUSIP / ISIN:    14314C 105 / US14314C1053
Joint Book-Running Managers:   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

BofA Securities, Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Joint Lead Managers:   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

 

Schedule III-2


*

Note: Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes on the date of pricing, and the next two succeeding business days, will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially settle in T+5, to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes during such period should consult their advisors.

**

Note: A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and should be evaluated independently of any other rating. Each rating is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization.

The Issuer has filed a registration statement, including the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying prospectus, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and this offering.

You may get these documents for free by visiting the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the joint book-running managers will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement if you request it by calling Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC toll-free at 1-866-718-1649; BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-294-1322; Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at 1-800-831-9146; or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 1-212-834-4533.

ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.

 

Schedule III-3


SCHEDULE IV

 

1.

The Carlyle Group Inc. Investor Presentation, dated May 3, 2021.

 

Schedule IV-1

EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

Dated as of May 11, 2021

Among

CARLYLE FINANCE L.L.C.

THE GUARANTORS NAMED HEREIN

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

 


CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE

RELATING TO SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318 INCLUSIVE,

OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

Section 310(a)(1)    Section 6.09
(a)(2)    Section 6.09
(a)(3)    Not Applicable
(a)(4)    Not Applicable
(b)    Section 6.08
   Section 6.10
Section 311(a)    Section 6.13
(b)    Section 6.13
Section 312(a)    Section 7.01
   Section 7.02
(b)    Section 7.02
(c)    Section 7.02
Section 313(a)    Section 7.03
(b)    Section 7.03
(c)    Section 7.03
(d)    Section 7.03
Section 314(a)    Section 7.04
(a)(4)    Section 10.04
(b)    Not Applicable
(c)(1)    Section 1.02
(c)(2)    Section 1.02
(c)(3)    Not Applicable
(d)    Not Applicable
(e)    Section 1.02
Section 315(a)    Section 6.01
(b)    Section 6.02
(c)    Section 6.01
(d)    Section 6.01
(e)    Section 5.13
Section 316(a)    Section 1.01
(a)(1)(A)    Section 5.02
   Section 5.11
(a)(1)(B)    Section 5.12
(a)(2)    Not Applicable
(b)    Section 5.08
(c)    Section 1.04
Section 317(a)(1)    Section 5.04
(a)(2)    Section 5.04
(b)    Section 10.03
Section 318(a)    Section 1.07

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of this Indenture.

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1  

Section 1.01.

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.02.

  Compliance Certificates and Opinions      9  

Section 1.03.

  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      9  

Section 1.04.

  Acts of Holders; Record Dates      10  

Section 1.05.

  Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors      12  

Section 1.06.

  Notice to Holders; Waiver      12  

Section 1.07.

  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      13  

Section 1.08.

  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      13  

Section 1.09.

  Successors and Assigns      13  

Section 1.10.

  Separability Clause      13  

Section 1.11.

  Benefits of Indenture      13  

Section 1.12.

  Governing Law      13  

Section 1.13.

  Legal Holidays      13  

Section 1.14.

  No Recourse Against Others      14  

Section 1.15.

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      14  

ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS

     14  

Section 2.01.

  Forms Generally      14  

Section 2.02.

  Form of Legend for Global Securities      15  

Section 2.03.

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      15  

ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES

     16  

Section 3.01.

  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      16  

Section 3.02.

  Denominations      19  

Section 3.03.

  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      19  

Section 3.04.

  Temporary Securities      20  

Section 3.05.

  Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange      21  

Section 3.06.

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      22  

Section 3.07.

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      23  

Section 3.08.

  Persons Deemed Owners      24  

Section 3.09.

  Cancellation      24  

Section 3.10.

  Computation of Interest      25  

 

iii


Section 3.11.

  CUSIP or ISIN Numbers      25  

Section 3.12.

  Additional Amounts      25  

Section 3.13.

  General Provisions Relating to Global Securities      26  

ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     26  

Section 4.01.

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      26  

Section 4.02.

  Application of Trust Money      27  

ARTICLE V REMEDIES

     28  

Section 5.01.

  Events of Default      28  

Section 5.02.

  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      30  

Section 5.03.

  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      31  

Section 5.04.

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      31  

Section 5.05.

  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities      32  

Section 5.06.

  Application of Money Collected      32  

Section 5.07.

  Limitation on Suits      32  

Section 5.08.

  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert Securities      33  

Section 5.09.

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      33  

Section 5.10.

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      33  

Section 5.11.

  Control by Holders      33  

Section 5.12.

  Waiver of Past Defaults      34  

Section 5.13.

  Undertaking for Costs      34  

Section 5.14.

  Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws      34  

Section 5.15.

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      35  

ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE

     35  

Section 6.01.

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee      35  

Section 6.02.

  Notice of Defaults      36  

Section 6.03.

  Certain Rights of Trustee      36  

Section 6.04.

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      38  

Section 6.05.

  May Hold Securities      38  

Section 6.06.

  Money Held in Trust      38  

Section 6.07.

  Compensation and Reimbursement      38  

Section 6.08.

  Conflicting Interests      39  

Section 6.09.

  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      40  

 

iv


Section 6.10.

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      40  

Section 6.11.

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      41  

Section 6.12.

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      42  

Section 6.13.

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      42  

Section 6.14.

  Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company      43  

ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE, THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS

     43  

Section 7.01.

  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      43  

Section 7.02.

  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      43  

Section 7.03.

  Reports by Trustee      43  

Section 7.04.

  Reports by the Company and the Guarantors      44  

ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS

     44  

Section 8.01.

  Company and Guarantors May Merge or Transfer Assets on Certain Terms      44  

Section 8.02.

  Successor Person Substituted      45  

ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     45  

Section 9.01.

  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders      45  

Section 9.02.

  Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders      46  

Section 9.03.

  Execution of Supplemental Indentures      47  

Section 9.04.

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures      48  

Section 9.05.

  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      48  

Section 9.06.

  Notice of Supplemental Indenture; Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      48  

Section 9.07.

  Subordination Unimpaired      48  

ARTICLE X COVENANTS

     48  

Section 10.01.

  Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest      48  

Section 10.02.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      49  

Section 10.03.

  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      49  

Section 10.04.

  Statement by Officers as to Default      50  

Section 10.05.

  Waiver of Certain Covenants      50  

ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     51  

Section 11.01.

  Applicability of Article      51  

Section 11.02.

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      51  

 

v


Section 11.03.

  Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed      51  

Section 11.04.

  Notice of Redemption      52  

Section 11.05.

  Deposit of Redemption Price      53  

Section 11.06.

  Securities Payable on Redemption Date      53  

Section 11.07.

  Securities Redeemed in Part      54  

ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS

     54  

Section 12.01.

  Applicability of Article      54  

Section 12.02.

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      54  

Section 12.03.

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      54  

ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     55  

Section 13.01.

  Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      55  

Section 13.02.

  Defeasance and Discharge      55  

Section 13.03.

  Covenant Defeasance      55  

Section 13.04.

  Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      56  

Section 13.05.

  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions      57  

Section 13.06.

  Reinstatement      58  

ARTICLE XIV GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

     58  

Section 14.01.

  Guarantee      58  

Section 14.02.

  Additional Guarantors      58  

Section 14.03.

  Waiver      59  

Section 14.04.

  Guarantee of Payment      59  

Section 14.05.

  No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee      59  

Section 14.06.

  Defenses of Company Waived      59  

Section 14.07.

  Continued Effectiveness      60  

Section 14.08.

  Subrogation      60  

Section 14.09.

  Subordination      60  

Section 14.10.

  Release of Guarantor and Termination of Guarantee      61  

Section 14.11.

  Limitation of Guarantors’ Liability      61  

Section 14.12.

  No Obligation to Take Action Against the Company      62  

Section 14.13.

  Execution and Delivery      62  

ARTICLE XV SUBORDINATION

     62  

Section 15.01.

  Agreement to Subordinate      62  

 

vi


Section 15.02.

  Rights of Senior Indebtedness in the Event of Insolvency, Etc., of the Company      63  

Section 15.03.

  Payment Over of Proceeds Received on Securities      63  

Section 15.04.

  Payments to Holders      64  

Section 15.05.

  Holders of Securities Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities      65  

Section 15.06.

  Notice to Trustee      65  

Section 15.07.

  Trustee May Hold Senior Indebtedness      65  

Section 15.08.

  Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness      66  

Section 15.09.

  Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent      66  

Section 15.10.

  Applicability of Article XV to Paying Agents      66  

 

 

vii


INDENTURE, dated as of May 11, 2021 among CARLYLE FINANCE L.L.C., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), each of the Guarantors named herein (the “Guarantors”) and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured subordinated debt securities (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

Each Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for its guarantee of the Securities (the “Guarantees”).

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as defined herein) thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.01. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

  (1)

the terms defined in this Article I have the meanings assigned to them in this Article I and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

  (2)

all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

  (3)

all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

 

  (4)

unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article,” a “Section” or a “Schedule” refers to an Article, a Section or a Schedule, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

 

  (5)

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;

 

  (6)

“including” means including without limitation;


  (7)

when used with respect to any Security, the words “convert,” “converted” and “conversion” are intended to refer to the right of the Holder, the Company or the Guarantors to convert or exchange such Security into or for securities or other property in accordance with such terms, if any, as may hereafter be specified for such Security as contemplated by Section 3.01, and these words are not intended to refer to any right of the Holder, the Company or the Guarantors to exchange such Security for other Securities of the same series and of like tenor pursuant to Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07 or another similar provisions of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires; and references herein to the terms of any Security that may be converted mean such terms as may be specified for such Security as contemplated in Section 3.01; and

 

  (8)

unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements and instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

Additional Amounts” shall mean any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company, in respect of certain taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on Holders specified therein and which are owing to such Holders.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to a Depositary, as to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depositary, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

Bankruptcy Law” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

Business Day” means, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, which is not a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in that Place of Payment.

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed by or on behalf of the Company by any Officer, manager, member or partner thereof (or any Person designated in writing as authorized to execute and deliver Company Requests and Company Orders), and delivered to the Trustee.

 

2


Company Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company (or any sole or managing member of the Company or ultimate general partner, sole or managing member of such member) to have been duly adopted by the member or members of the Company or board of directors of the Company (or any sole or managing member of the Company or ultimate general partner, sole or managing member of such member), as the case may be, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee.

Corporation” means The Carlyle Group Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be conducted, which office is located as of the date of this Indenture at 500 Ross Street, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15262, Attention: Corporate Trust Division—Corporate Finance Unit, or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to 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 Company).

Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.03.

Credit Group” means the Credit Parties and the Credit Parties’ direct and indirect Subsidiaries (to the extent of their economic ownership interest in such Subsidiaries) taken as a whole.

Credit Parties” means the Company and the Guarantors.

Custodian” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.02.

Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (including, if applicable, International Financial Reporting Standards) as in effect from time to time.

Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 2.02 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities).

Guarantees” has the meaning specified in the second recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Guarantee made by each of the Guarantors as set forth in Article XIV hereof.

 

3


Guarantors” means (i) each of the Persons listed on Schedule I attached hereto and (ii) in the future, any New Carlyle Entity that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to Article XIV, but in each case excluding Persons who cease to be Guarantors in accordance with this Indenture.

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

Indebtedness” means (a) any obligation of, or any obligation guaranteed by, the Issuer or any Guarantor for which such Person is responsible or liable as obligor or otherwise including principal, premium and interest (whether accruing before or after filing of any petition in bankruptcy or any similar proceedings by or against us and whether or not allowed as a claim in bankruptcy or similar proceedings) for (i) indebtedness for money borrowed, (ii) indebtedness evidenced by securities, bonds, debentures, notes or other similar written instruments, (iii) any deferred obligation for the payment of the purchase price or conditional sale obligation of property or assets acquired other than in the ordinary course of business, (iv) all obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction, (v) all obligations under “keep-well” agreements required by insurance regulators or (vi) any obligation referred to in (i) through (v) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Credit Parties (to the extent of the value of such property or asset subject to such lien) and (b) all indebtedness for obligations to make payment in respect of derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts (including future or options contracts), swap agreements, cap agreements, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements and similar arrangements, whether outstanding on the first issuance of the notes or thereafter created, assumed or incurred.

Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Securities” means any Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of the first issuance of Securities of a series or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, which specifically by its terms ranks junior to and not equally with or prior to such Securities (and any Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with such Securities) in right of payment upon the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization, or similar events. The securing of any Indebtedness in compliance with the Indenture, otherwise constituting Indebtedness Ranking Junior to such Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness Ranking Junior to such Securities.

Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Securities” means Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of first issuance of Securities of a series or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, which specifically by its terms ranks equally with and not prior to such Securities in right of payment upon the Issuer’s or any Guarantor’s dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or similar events. The securing of any Indebtedness in compliance with the Indenture, otherwise constituting Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with such Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with such Securities.

Indenture” means this Indenture as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including for all purposes of this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be part of and govern this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Insignificant Guarantor” means a Guarantor (or a group of Guarantors taken together) that would not, on a combined and consolidated basis and taken as a whole together with all then-existing Non-Guarantor Entities designated pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition of Non-Guarantor Entity set forth in Section 14.10, constitute a Significant Subsidiary.

 

4


interest” means, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, interest payable after Maturity.

Interest Payment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security, the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

New Carlyle Entity” means any Subsidiary (other than a directly or indirectly wholly owned Subsidiary) of the Corporation other than (i) a then-existing Guarantor, (ii) any Person in which the Corporation directly or indirectly owns its interest through one or more of the then-existing Guarantors or (iii) any Person through which the Corporation directly or indirectly owns its interests in one or more the then-existing Guarantors.

Non-Guarantor Entity” means any Person so designated by the Company pursuant to Section 14.10.

Non-Guarantor Limitation” has the meaning specified in Section 14.10.

Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.01.

Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 14.01.

obligor” has the meaning given to such term in the Trust Indenture Act.

Officer” means any President, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Managing Director, Director, Vice President, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company or any Guarantor (or any sole or managing member or general partner of the Company or any Guarantor or ultimate general partner, sole or managing member of such member or general partner), as the case may be, or, in the case of the Company, any Person designated as a manager pursuant to the limited liability company agreement of the Company.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers of the Company or any Guarantor (or any sole or managing member or general partner of the Company or any Guarantor or ultimate general partner, sole or managing member of such member or general partner), as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee in accordance with Section 1.02 and Section 1.03 hereto, and any other certifications as may be specified herein, as applicable.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be counsel for, including an employee or Officer of, the Company or for any Guarantor) and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee in accordance with Section 1.02 and Section 1.03 hereto, and any other certifications as may be specified herein, as applicable.

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which 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 5.02.

 

5


Outstanding” means, when used with respect to Securities, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

  (1)

Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

  (2)

Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

  (3)

Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 13.02;

 

  (4)

Securities which have been paid or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to Section 3.06, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and

 

  (5)

Securities as to which any property deliverable upon conversion thereof has been delivered (or such delivery has been made available), or as to which any other particular conditions have been satisfied, in each case as may be provided for such Securities as contemplated in Section 3.01;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 5.02, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 3.01, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies, composite currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.01, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, any Guarantor or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding (except (i) in the case where the Securities are 100% owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company and (ii) in the case of Securities owned by an Affiliate of the Company, with respect to any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder that requires the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected thereby pursuant to the terms of this Indenture), except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, any Guarantor or such other obligor.

 

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Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company or any Guarantor, who shall initially be the Trustee.

Permitted Jurisdictions” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01(a)(1).

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a limited liability partnership, an association, a trust, or any other entity including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Predecessor Security” means, with respect to any particular Security, every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

Redemption Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Redemption Price” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

Regular Record Date” means, for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series, the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to a Security to be repaid at the option of a Holder, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Responsible Officer” means with respect to the Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Division—Corporate Finance Unit (or any successor division or unit) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and shall also include any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Securities” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.

 

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Senior Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of the first issuance of Securities of a series or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, except Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with such Securities or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to such Securities, and any deferrals, renewals or extensions of such Senior Indebtedness. Senior Indebtedness does not include obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by any of the Credit Parties in the ordinary course of business, which will rank pari passu with the Securities in right of payment upon liquidation.

Significant Subsidiary” means a “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act or any successor provision) of the Corporation.

Special Record Date” means, for the payment of any Defaulted Interest, a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.

Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of a Person that is or would be consolidated with such Person in the preparation of segment information with respect to the combined or consolidated financial statements of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, but shall not include: (a) any investment vehicle (whether open-ended or closed-ended) including, without limitation, an investment fund or company, a general or limited partnership, a trust, a company or other business entity organized in any jurisdiction (i) sponsored or promoted by any of the Credit Parties or their Affiliates, (ii) for which any of the Credit Parties or their Affiliates acts as a general partner or managing member (or in a similar capacity) or (iii) for which any of the Credit Parties or their Affiliates acts as an investment adviser or investment manager; or (b) any portfolio company or investment of any such investment fund or vehicle or any special purpose entity formed to acquire or hold any such portfolio company or investment.

Substantially All Merger” means a merger or consolidation of one or more Credit Parties with or into another Person that would, in one or a series of related transactions, result in the transfer or other disposition, directly or indirectly, of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Credit Group to a Person that is not within the Credit Group immediately prior to such transaction.

Substantially All Sale” means a sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance to any other Person, in one or a series of related transactions, directly or indirectly, of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Credit Group to a Person that is not within the Credit Group immediately prior to such transaction.

Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of such series.

 

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United States Alien” means, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien individual, a nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership, one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien individual or a nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

U.S. Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 13.04(1).

Vice President” means, when used with respect to the Company or any Guarantor (or any sole or managing member or general partner of the Company or any Guarantor) or the Trustee, any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”

Section 1.02. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 10.04) shall include:

 

  (1)

a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

  (2)

a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

  (3)

a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

  (4)

a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 1.03. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an Officer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which such Officer’s certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion

 

9


of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

Section 1.04. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company or the Guarantors. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and, subject to Section 6.01, conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.04.

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any manner which the Trustee reasonably deems sufficient. Where such execution is by a Person acting in a capacity other than such Person’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such Person’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent or the Company or any Guarantor in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

The Company or any Guarantor may, in its discretion, set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series but shall have no obligation to do so; provided that none of the Company or any Guarantor may set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If not set by the Company or any Guarantor prior to the first solicitation of Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series made by any Person in respect of such action or, in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date for any such action or vote shall be 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such vote or consent. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant

 

10


action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company or any Guarantor from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company or any Guarantor, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06.

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 5.02, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.07(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 5.11, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company and the Guarantors in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06.

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.04, the party hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.04, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 90th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

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Section 1.05. Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company and Guarantors.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

  (1)

the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company or a Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be by facsimile) to or with a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office at the location specified in Section 1.01; or

 

  (2)

the Company or a Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company or any Guarantor addressed to the attention of the Secretary of the Company or such Guarantor at the address of the Company’s principal office specified in writing to the Trustee by the Company and, until further notice, at 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20004, fax number: (202) 729-5325, Attention: General Counsel.

The Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be required, to rely upon and comply with instructions and directions sent by e-mail, facsimile and other similar unsecured electronic methods by persons believed by the Trustee to be authorized to give instructions and directions on behalf of the Company. The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the person who sent such instructions or directions is, in fact, a person authorized to give instructions or directions on behalf of the Company; and the Trustee shall have no liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by the Company or any other Person as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions or directions. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 1.06. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at such Holder’s address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice. Neither the failure to deliver such notice, nor any defect in any notice so delivered, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

In case it shall be impracticable to deliver such notice by mail or by the applicable Depositary, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

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Section 1.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under the Trust Indenture Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

Section 1.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 1.09. Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company and the Guarantors shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 1.10. Separability Clause.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 1.11. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 1.12. Governing Law.

This Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

Section 1.13. Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security, or any date on which a Holder has the right to convert such Holder’s Security, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 1.13)) payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest, or the Redemption Price or conversion of such Security, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, or on such conversion date. In the case, however, of Securities of a series bearing interest at a floating rate, if any Interest Payment Date (other than the Redemption Date or Stated Maturity) would otherwise be a date that is not a Business Day, then the Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the following date which is a Business Day, unless that Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case the Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. No interest shall accrue for the period from and after any such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Stated Maturity or conversion date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment.

 

13


Section 1.14. No Recourse Against Others.

A director, partner, officer, employee, member, manager or stockholder as such of the Company or any Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities, the Guarantees or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Holder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

Section 1.15. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS, THE TRUSTEE AND THE HOLDERS, BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECURITIES, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING AS AMONG THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE ONLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE GUARANTEES.

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.01. Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially such form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Company Resolution or, subject to Section 3.03, set forth in, or determined in the manner provided in, an Officers’ Certificate of the Company pursuant to a Company Resolution, or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officer executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Company Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities. If all of the Securities of any series established by action taken pursuant to a Company Resolution are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver a record of such action at the time of issuance of each Security of such series, but an appropriate record of such action shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

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Section 2.02. Form of Legend for Global Securities.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

Section 2.03. Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

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ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.01. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Company Resolutions (and to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Company Resolution, in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company detailing such establishment), or (b) one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

 

  (1)

the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

  (2)

the limit, if any, on the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.03, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder) or aggregate offering price;

 

  (3)

the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

 

  (4)

the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable or the method used to determine or extend those dates;

 

  (5)

the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

 

  (6)

the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner in which any payment may be made;

 

  (7)

the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Company Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

 

  (8)

the obligation or the right, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation or right;

 

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  (9)

if other than denominations of $25 and any integral multiple of $25 in excess thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

  (10)

if the amount of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to a financial or economic measure or index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

  (11)

if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01;

 

  (12)

if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

 

  (13)

if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02;

 

  (14)

if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

  (15)

if other than by a Company Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease any Securities of the series pursuant to Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 shall be evidenced; whether any Securities of the series other than Securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate are to be subject to Section 13.02 or Section 13.03; or, in the case of Securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate, if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall not be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 or both such Sections;

 

  (16)

if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.02 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section 3.05 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and any other provisions governing exchanges or transfers of such Global Security;

 

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  (17)

any addition to, deletion from or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 5.02;

 

  (18)

any addition to, deletion from or change in the covenants set forth in Article X which applies to Securities of the series;

 

  (19)

if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for cash and/or any securities or other property of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable;

 

  (20)

whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed by any Person or Persons other than the Guarantors and, if so, the identity of such Person or Persons, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be guaranteed and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which such guarantees may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the respective guarantors;

 

  (21)

if other than The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. is to act as Trustee for the Securities of such series, the name and Corporate Trust Office of such Trustee;

 

  (22)

if any of the Securities of such series will be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities, the terms on which such Securities of the Series will be issued as Original Discount Securities and the portion of the principal amount as shown on the face of those Securities that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02 or at the time of any prepayment of those Securities or the method or methods for determining that portion of that principal amount payable at any of those times;

 

  (23)

if Additional Amounts will be payable to Holders of Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.12, the terms (other than the terms expressly set forth in Section 3.12) upon, and conditions under, which such Additional Amounts will be payable; and

 

  (24)

the right, if any, of the Company to defer interest payments or to extend the interest payment period of such series of Securities, including the maximum duration of any such deferral or deferrals or any such extension or extensions, the Additional Amounts, if any, payable on such Securities during any deferral or extension of the interest payment period and any notice (which shall include notice to the Trustee) that must be given upon the exercise of such right to defer interest payments or to extend interest payment periods; and

 

  (25)

any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.01(12)).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Company Resolution referred to above or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Company Resolutions and, subject to Section 3.03, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate of the Company referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

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All Securities of any one series need not be issued at one time and, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to the Company Resolution referred to above and, subject to Section 3.03, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate of the Company referred to above or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Company Resolutions or in any such indenture supplemental hereto with respect to a series of Securities, additional Securities of a series may be issued, at the option of the Company, without the consent of any Holder, at any time and from time to time.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Company Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.

Section 3.02. Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple of $25 in excess thereof.

Section 3.03. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any President, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Managing Directors, Director, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company (or any sole or managing member of the Company or the ultimate general partner, sole or managing member of such member). The signature on the Securities may be manual, electronic or facsimile.

Securities bearing the manual, electronic or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper Officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Company Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Company Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and, subject to Section 6.01, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

  (1)

that the form of such Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

  (2)

that the terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

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  (3)

that such Securities and the related Guarantees, when the Securities are authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and each Guarantor, respectively, enforceable against the Company and each Guarantor, respectively, in accordance with their terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of the preceding paragraph of this Section 3.03, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, including in the event that the aggregate principal amount of a series of Outstanding Securities is increased as contemplated by Section 3.01, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate of the Company otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 3.03 at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual or electronic signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.09, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 3.04. Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and, upon Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities of such series in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the Officer or Officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

 

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Section 3.05. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for such series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities, which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company and the respective Guarantors, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 9.06 or 11.07 not involving any transfer.

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of such series (or of such series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the delivery of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 11.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such delivery, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

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Neither the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

The provisions of clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this paragraph shall apply only to Global Securities:

 

  (1)

Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

  (2)

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary with respect to such Global Security and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, (B) the Depositary ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor Depositary is not appointed within 90 days, (C) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security, (D) the Company so directs the Trustee by a Company Order or (E) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

 

  (3)

Subject to clause (2) above and to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

 

  (4)

Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section 3.05, Section 3.04, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

Section 3.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (1) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (2) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount, having the Guarantees noted therein, and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.06, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel to the Company and the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its counsel) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 3.06 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company and the respective Guarantors, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series and Guarantees duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section 3.06 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 3.07. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

 

  (1)

The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest payable on Securities of a series to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to

 

23


  each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so delivered, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

 

  (2)

The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.07, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

In the case of any Security which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security whose Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or made available for payment) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Security which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security shall not be payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of any Security that may be converted may provide that the provisions of this paragraph do not apply, or apply with such additions, changes or omissions as may be provided thereby, to such Security.

Section 3.08. Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, a Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and, subject to Section 3.07, any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, a Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Section 3.09. Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it upon receipt of a Company Order. The Company or any Guarantor may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company or such Guarantor may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold,

 

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and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee upon receipt of a Company Order. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section 3.09, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures. The Trustee shall provide the Company or any Guarantor a list of all Securities that have been cancelled from time to time as requested in writing by the Company or such Guarantor.

Section 3.10. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Section 3.11. CUSIP or ISIN Numbers.

The Company in issuing any series of the Securities may use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers and/or other similar numbers, if then generally in use, and thereafter with respect to such series, the Trustee may use such numbers in any notice of redemption with respect to such series; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities of such series or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities of such series, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Trustee shall be notified, in writing, of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN numbers.

Section 3.12. Additional Amounts.

If the Securities of any series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series the Additional Amounts as provided in the terms of the Securities of such series. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of such series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of such series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this Section to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts, if applicable, in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

If the Securities of any series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal, and premium, if any, is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal, and premium, if any, or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the applicable Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent whether such payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of such series shall be made to Holders of Securities of such series who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of such series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities, and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or reasonable expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.

 

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Section 3.13. General Provisions Relating to Global Securities.

Owners of beneficial interests in the Securities evidenced by a Global Security will not be entitled to any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and the Depositary or its nominee may be treated by the Company, the Guarantors, and the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee, including any Security Registrar or Paying Agent as the owner and Holder of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent or any other agent of the Company, the Guarantors or of the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent or any other agent of the Company, the Guarantors or of the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability to any person for any acts or omissions of the Depositary or its nominee in respect of a Global Security, for the records of any such Depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of such Global Security, for any transactions between such Depositary and any participant or indirect participant in such Depositary or between or among such Depositary, any participant or indirect participant in such Depositary and/or any Holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Security. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar or the Paying Agent or such agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or its nominee or impair, as between the Depositary or its nominee and such owners of beneficial interests, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary or its nominee as Holder of any Global Security.

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall, upon Company Request, cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when:

 

  (1)

either

 

  (A)

all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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  (B)

all such Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

  (i)

have become due and payable, or

 

  (ii)

will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year of the date of deposit, or

 

  (iii)

are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, as trust funds in trust for the purpose, money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and premium, if any, and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

  (2)

the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

  (3)

the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate of the Company and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied with.

In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of such series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.07 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section 4.01, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03 shall survive.

Section 4.02. Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable series of Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for the payment of Securities subsequently converted into other property shall be returned to the Company upon Company Request. The Company may direct by a Company Order the investment of any money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01, without distinction between principal and income, in (1) United States Treasury securities with a maturity of one year or less or (2) a money market fund that invests solely in short-term United States Treasury securities (including money market funds for which the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee serves as investment advisor, administrator, shareholder, servicing agent and/or custodian or sub-custodian, notwithstanding

 

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that (a) the Trustee charges and collects fees and expenses from such funds for services rendered and (b) the Trustee charges and collects fees and expenses for services rendered pursuant to this Indenture at any time) and from time to time the Company may direct the reinvestment of all or a portion of such money in other securities or funds meeting the criteria specified in clause (1) or (2) of this Section 4.02. The Trustee shall have no obligation to invest and reinvest any funds held by it in the absence of timely and specific written investment direction from the Company. In the absence of timely written investment direction from the Company, the funds shall remain uninvested. In no event shall the Trustee be liable for the selection of investments or for investment losses incurred thereon. The Trustee shall have no liability in respect of losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any investment prior to its stated maturity. The Trustee is authorized and directed to sell or redeem any investments as it deems necessary to make any payments or distributions required under this Indenture.

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

Section 5.01. Events of Default.

Except as may be otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, an “Event of Default” means, whenever used herein or in a Security issued hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

  (1)

the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of such series, and such default continues for a period of 30 days after such payment becomes due and payable;

 

  (2)

the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Security of such series when the same becomes due and payable, regardless of whether such payment became due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon redemption, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

 

  (3)

the Company defaults in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of such series;

 

  (4)

any Credit Party defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants and agreements in respect of any Security of such series contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series (other than those referred to in (1), (2) or (3) above), and such default or breach continues for a period of 90 days after the notice specified below;

 

  (5)

the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor), pursuant to or within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Law (as defined below):

 

  (A)

commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

 

  (B)

consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;

 

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  (C)

consents to the appointment of a Custodian (as defined below) of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

 

  (D)

makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

 

  (E)

files a petition in bankruptcy or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief;

 

  (F)

consents to the filing of such petition or the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian; or

 

  (G)

takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

 

  (6)

a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

  (A)

is for relief against the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) in an involuntary case, or adjudicates the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) insolvent or bankrupt;

 

  (B)

appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor); or

 

  (C)

orders the winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) (or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws),

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days;

 

  (7)

except as otherwise provided herein, a Guarantee of any Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) ceases to be in full force and effect or is declared to be null and void and unenforceable or such Guarantee is found to be invalid or a Guarantor (other than an Insignificant Guarantor) denies its liability under its Guarantee (other than by reason of release of such Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture); or

 

  (8)

any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of such series occurs.

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state or foreign law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any custodian, receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

A Default with respect to Securities of any series under clause (4) of this Section 5.01 shall not be an Event of Default until the Trustee (by written notice to the Company and the Guarantors) or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series (by written notice to the Company and the Guarantors and the Trustee) gives notice of the Default and the Company and the Guarantors does not cure such Default within the time specified in clause (4) after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.”

 

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Section 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or (6) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of such series (or, if any Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof), together with premium, if any, and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantors (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration, such principal amount (or specified amount), together with premium, if any, and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or (6) with respect to the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of such series (or, in the case of any Security of such series which specifies an amount to be due and payable thereon upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, such amount as may be specified by the terms thereof), together with premium, if any, and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of such amount, all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest of the Securities of such series shall terminate.

Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 3.01 for all or any specific Securities of any series, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due based on such acceleration has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article V provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

  (1)

the Company or any Guarantor has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

 

  (A)

all overdue interest on all Securities of such series,

 

  (B)

the principal of and premium, if any, on any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Securities of such series,

 

  (C)

to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

 

  (D)

all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

 

  (2)

all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of such series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.12.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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Section 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if (1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or (2) default is made in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Security at the Maturity thereof, it will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem necessary to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

Section 5.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company, any Guarantor or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company or any Guarantor for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise

 

  (1)

to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and premium, if any, and interest owning and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

  (2)

to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by the Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and for any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07.

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

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Section 5.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.07, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 5.06. Application of Money Collected.

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V, and any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture after the occurrence of an Event of Default, shall subject to the subordination provisions hereof, be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or premium, if any, or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee (including any predecessor Trustee) under Section 6.07;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or the Guarantors.

Section 5.07. Limitation on Suits.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.08, no Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

 

  (1)

Such Holder has previously given written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default, specifying an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

  (2)

the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

  (3)

such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

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  (4)

the Trustee has failed to institute any such proceeding for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity; and

 

  (5)

no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

Section 5.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert Securities.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and, subject to Section 3.07, interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on the Redemption Date or date for repayment, as the case may be, and, if the terms of such Security so provide, to convert such Security in accordance with its terms) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and, if applicable, any such right to convert, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 5.09. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 5.10. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 5.11. Control by Holders.

The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided that

 

  (1)

such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture and shall not involve the Trustee in any personal liability, and

 

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  (2)

the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

Before proceeding to exercise any right or power hereunder at the direction of the Holders, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive from such Holders security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

Section 5.12. Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a Default

 

  (1)

in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such series, or

 

  (2)

in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 5.13. Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess reasonable costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section 5.13 nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company, any Guarantor or the Trustee, a suit by a Holder under Section 5.08, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities.

Section 5.14. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and each of the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

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Section 5.15. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

 

  (1)

Except during the continuance of an Event of Default of which the Trustee has knowledge pursuant to this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities,

 

  (A)

the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee with respect to such series; and

 

  (B)

in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely with respect to the Securities of such series, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts, statements, opinions or conclusions stated therein).

 

  (2)

In case an Event of Default of which the Trustee has knowledge pursuant to this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, 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.

 

  (3)

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:

 

  (A)

this Section 6.01(3) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Section 6.01(1) or Section 6.01(4);

 

  (B)

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; and

 

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  (C)

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 aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined as provided in Sections 1.01, 1.04 and 5.11, 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.

 

  (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.

 

  (5)

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 6.01.

Section 6.02. Notice of Defaults.

If a Default occurs with respect to Securities of any series and is continuing and written notice of such Default has been received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, the Trustee shall give to each Holder of Securities of such series notice of Default within 90 days after such written notice is received by such Responsible Officer. Except in the case of a Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities of such series.

Section 6.03. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.01:

 

  (1)

the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall fully be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

  (2)

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 member or members of the Company or board of managers of the Company, as the case may be, shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Resolution thereof;

 

  (3)

whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate of the Company or the Guarantors;

 

  (4)

the Trustee may consult with counsel, investment bankers, accountants or other professionals of its selection and the advice of such counsel, investment bankers, accountants or other professionals or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

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  (5)

the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

  (6)

the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, 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 or the Guarantors, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company or the Guarantors and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

  (7)

the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

 

  (8)

the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and to its agents;

 

  (9)

the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

  (10)

anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

  (11)

in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, 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 shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances);

 

  (12)

the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless written notice of such Default or Event of Default, as the case may be, has been received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

 

37


  (13)

the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ 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 Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

 

  (14)

the permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking action hereunder shall not be construed as a duty; and

 

  (15)

if at any time the Trustee is served with any arbitral, judicial or administrative order, judgment, award, decree, writ or other form of arbitral, judicial or administrative process which in any way affects this Indenture, the Securities, or any part thereof or funds held by it (including, but not limited to, orders of attachment or garnishment or other forms of levies or injunctions), it shall be authorized to comply therewith in any manner as it or its legal counsel of its own choosing determines necessary, and if the Trustee complies with any such arbitral, judicial or administrative order, judgment, award, decree, writ or other form of arbitral, judicial or administrative process, the Trustee shall not be liable to any of the parties hereto or to any other person or entity even though such order, judgment, award, decree, writ or process may be subsequently modified or vacated or otherwise determined to have been without legal force or effect.

Section 6.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guarantors, as the case may be, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or the Guarantees. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

Section 6.05. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or the Guarantors, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.08 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

Section 6.06. Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

Section 6.07. Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company and each Guarantor jointly and severally agrees:

 

  (1)

to pay to the Trustee from time to time such reasonable compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between the parties hereto 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);

 

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  (2)

except as otherwise expressly provided herein, 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 reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and all Persons not regularly in its employ), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith, and the Trustee shall provide the Company reasonable notice of any expenditure not in the ordinary course of business; and

 

  (3)

to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Securities and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Guarantor, 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 this Indenture or the indemnification provisions of this Section.

In addition to, but without prejudice to its other rights under this Indenture, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or (6), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

“Trustee” for purposes of this Section 6.07 shall include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by it hereunder for any amount owing it or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.07, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities for the payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest.

The provisions of this Section 6.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Securities, the termination for any reason of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Section 6.08. Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 3.10(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

39


Section 6.09. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and has its Corporate Trust Office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or any other major city in the United States that is acceptable to the Company. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.09 and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent annual report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.09, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VI.

Section 6.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, upon written notice delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

If at any time:

 

  (1)

the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.08 after written request therefor by the Company, the Guarantors or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

  (2)

the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company, the Guarantors or any such Holder, or

 

  (3)

the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (A) the Company or the Guarantors may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or (B) subject to Section 5.13, Holders of 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series who have been bona fide Holders of such Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

40


If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company or the Guarantors shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company or the Guarantors. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company the Guarantors or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, Holders of 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series who have been bona fide Holders of Securities of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

The Company or the Guarantors shall 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 in the manner provided in Section 1.06. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 6.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantors and the retiring Trustee a written instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee, but, on the request of the Company, the Guarantors or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver a written instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder subject nonetheless to the lien provided for in Section 6.07.

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Guarantors, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) 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 retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the

 

41


retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, 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 retiring 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 retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company, the Guarantors or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates subject nonetheless to the lien provided for in Section 6.07.

Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company and the Guarantors 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 the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article VI.

Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.

Section 6.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder; provided that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VI, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion, consolidation or sale to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities; and in case at that time any Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

Section 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

The Trustee shall comply with Section 3.11(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 3.11(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or has been removed shall comply with Section 3.11(A) of the TIA to the extent indicated.

 

42


Section 6.14. Trustees Application for Instructions from the Company.

Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed (to the extent not provided for in this Indenture) to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than 10 business days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to send an application or proposal to the Company before taking action in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.    

ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE,

THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTORS

Section 7.01. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

If the Trustee is not the Security Registrar, the Company shall cause the Security Registrar to furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five business days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders of Securities of each series.

Section 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

The Trustee, as Security Registrar, shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee shall be entitle to rely on the most current list provided to it and may dispose of any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 7.03. Reports by Trustee.

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to this Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

 

43


A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange and automated quotation system, if any, upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission (if accepted for filing by the Commission) and the Company. The Trustee shall be notified in writing when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange or automated quotation system or delisted therefrom.

Section 7.04. Reports by the Company and the Guarantors.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors shall comply with all applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute a representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the reports, information and documents. The Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s or the Guarantors’ compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates of the Company).

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS

Section 8.01. Company and Guarantors May Merge or Transfer Assets on Certain Terms.

 

  (a)

None of the Credit Parties shall be a party to a Substantially All Merger or participate in a Substantially All Sale, unless:

 

  (1)

such Credit Party is the surviving Person, or the Person formed by or surviving such Substantially All Merger or to which such Substantially All Sale has been made is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, or, other than with respect to the Company, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom or British Crown Dependencies, a member country of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or any political subdivision of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Permitted Jurisdictions”), and has expressly assumed by supplemental indenture all of the obligations of such Credit Party under this Indenture;

 

  (2)

immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

 

  (3)

the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate of the Company and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such transaction and any supplemental indenture relating thereto comply with this Indenture and that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

  (b)

For as long as any Securities of any series under this Indenture remain outstanding, all equity and voting interests in the Company shall be owned directly or indirectly by one or more Guarantors and each of the Credit Parties must be organized under the laws of a Permitted Jurisdiction.

 

44


Section 8.02. Successor Person Substituted.

Upon the consummation of a transaction contemplated by and consummated in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the applicable Credit Party under this Indenture, with the same effect as if such successor Person had been an original party to this Indenture, and, except in the case of a lease, the applicable Credit Party shall be released from all of its liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Securities (including the Guarantees).

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

  (1)

to add to the covenants for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any Guarantor hereunder, under any indenture supplemental hereto or under any series of Securities;

 

  (2)

to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company or any Guarantor, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to Article VIII;

 

  (3)

to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series);

 

  (4)

to add new Guarantors;

 

  (5)

to provide for the release of any Guarantor in accordance with this Indenture;

 

  (6)

to secure the Securities;

 

  (7)

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11; or

 

  (8)

to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series;

 

  (9)

to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01;

 

  (10)

to comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary;

 

  (11)

to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form;

 

45


  (12)

to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no Security described in clause (i) Outstanding;

 

  (13)

to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision of this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein or in any supplemental indenture;

 

  (14)

to change any other provision contained in the Securities of any series or under this Indenture; provided that such action pursuant to this clause (14) shall not adversely affect the rights of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; and

 

  (15)

to conform the text of this Indenture, the Securities or any supplemental indenture to any provision of the “Description of the Notes” or similarly captioned section of any offering memorandum, offering circular, prospectus supplement or similar offering document relating to Securities of such series.

Section 9.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for Securities), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected thereby:

 

  (1)

change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security;

 

  (2)

reduce the principal amount of any Security or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.03, or reduce the rate of or extend the time of payment of interest on any Security;

 

  (3)

reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of or change the date on which any Security may or must be redeemed;

 

  (4)

change the coin or currency in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security is payable;

 

  (5)

impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as applicable);

 

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  (6)

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture;

 

  (7)

modify any of the provisions of this Section 9.02, Section 5.12 or Section 10.05, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section 9.02 and Section 10.05, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.11 and 9.01(7);

 

  (8)

if the Securities of any series are convertible into or for any other securities or property of the Company, make any change that adversely affects in any material respect the right to convert any Security of such series (except as permitted by Section 9.01) or decrease the conversion rate or increase the conversion price of any such Security of such series, unless such decrease or increase is permitted by the terms of such Security;

 

  (9)

subordinate the Securities of any series or any Guarantee of a Guarantor in respect thereof to any other obligation of the Company or such Guarantor;

 

  (10)

modify the terms of any Guarantee in a manner adverse to the Holders of Securities of a series; or

 

  (11)

modify clauses (1) through (10) above.

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

Section 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and, subject to Section 6.01, shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 1.02, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent in this Indenture to the execution of such supplemental indenture, if any, have been complied with; provided, however, that no such Opinion of Counsel shall be required in the case of any supplemental indenture executed and delivered concurrently with the original execution and delivery of this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall 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.

 

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Section 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article IX, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

Section 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 9.06. Notice of Supplemental Indenture; Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

After a supplemental indenture under Section 9.01 and 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a notice briefly describing such supplemental indenture or a copy of such supplemental indenture and the Trustee shall on behalf of the Company and at the expense of the Company give such notice or supplemental indenture to Holders affected thereby; provided, however, that no notice to Holders shall be required for any supplemental indenture executed in connection with the issuance of Securities of any series. Any failure of the Trustee to give such notice, or any defect therein, or any failure of the Trustee to deliver such supplemental indenture, shall not in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article IX may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

Section 9.07. Subordination Unimpaired.

This Indenture may not be amended to alter the subordination of any of the Outstanding Securities without the consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding that would be adversely affected thereby.

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

Section 10.01. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if, on or before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on such date, the Trustee or the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or any Subsidiary of the Corporation is the Paying Agent, the segregated account or separate trust fund maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary pursuant to Section 10.03) holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.

 

48


The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful as provided in Section 3.07.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company, the Guarantors or the Paying Agent may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America or other domestic or foreign taxing authorities from principal or interest payments hereunder.

Section 10.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities may be surrendered for conversion, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 3.01, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 10.03. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date for the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities a sum sufficient to pay the principal and premium, if any, and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date for the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of such series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held in trust for the Holders of such Securities entitled to the same, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

49


The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 10.03, that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent 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 money.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 10.04. Statement by Officers as to Default.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof an Officers’ Certificate of the Company signed by its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of such Officer, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture applicable to it (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such Officer may have knowledge.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Default or Event of Default, its status and the actions which the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 10.05. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 3.01(18), Section 9.01(1) or Section 9.01(12) for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in Article VIII, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.01. Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article XI.

Section 11.02. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Company Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate of the Company or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 15 days prior to the date any notice of a redemption is to be given to the Holders pursuant to Section 11.04 (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate of the Company stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such redemption have been complied with.

Section 11.03. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate, including by lot or pro rata (subject to the then current rules and procedures of the applicable Depositary), and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted during a selection of securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

 

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The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

The provisions of the three preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

Section 11.04. Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed or for Notes registered to a Depositary, in accordance with such Depositary’s applicable procedures, not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (or within such period as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of a series), to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register.

All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

 

  (1)

the Redemption Date;

 

  (2)

the Redemption Price (or the method of calculating such price);

 

  (3)

if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the respective principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed;

 

  (4)

that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date;

 

  (5)

the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

 

  (6)

for any Securities that by their terms may be converted, the terms of conversion, the date on which the right to convert the Security to be redeemed will terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion;

 

  (7)

that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; and

 

  (8)

if applicable, the CUSIP, ISIN or any similar numbers of the Securities of such series; provided, however, that no representation will be made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP, ISIN or any similar number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

 

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Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request (which may be rescinded or revoked at any time prior to the time at which the Trustee shall have given such notice to the Holders), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company. The notice, if given in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities.

Section 11.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.

By no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if any of the Credit Parties is acting as Paying Agent, such Credit Party will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date or the Securities of the series provide otherwise) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date, other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption which are owned by any of the Credit Parties and have been delivered by such Credit Party to the Trustee for cancellation. All money, if any, earned on funds held by the Paying Agent shall be remitted to the Company. In addition, the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all Securities to be redeemed.

If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.07 or in the terms of such Security) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

Section 11.06. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together, if applicable, with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07; provided further that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, if the Redemption Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Securities registered on the relevant Regular Record Date.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and premium, if any, shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

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Section 11.07. Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.01. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article XII shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any series of Securities is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of any series of Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of the series as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

Section 12.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 12.03. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days (or such shorter period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate of the Company specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 12.02 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.03 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.06 and 11.07.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 13.01. Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01, Sections 13.02 and 13.03 shall apply to all Securities and each series of Securities, denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 3.01 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII; and the Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Sections 13.02 and 13.03 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, designated pursuant to Section 3.01 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 13.02 or 13.03, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 3.01 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Company Resolution, Officers’ Certificate of the Company, one or more indentures supplemental hereto or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities.

Section 13.02. Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option, if any, to have this Section 13.02 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, or if this Section 13.02 shall otherwise apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their respective obligations with respect to such Securities and related Guarantees as provided in this Section 13.02 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that each of the Company and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and Guarantees and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and Guarantees and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and Guarantees are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section 13.05, payments in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities and the Guarantors’ obligations with respect to such Guarantees under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.03, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article XIII. Subject to compliance with this Article XIII, the Company or the Guarantors may exercise their option, if any, to have this Section 13.02 applied to the Securities of any series and the related Guarantees notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option, if any, to have Section 13.03 applied to such Securities and Guarantees.

Section 13.03. Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option, if any, to have this Section 13.03 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, or if this Section 13.03 shall otherwise apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, (1) the Company and the Guarantors shall be released from their respective obligations under Section 8.01 and any covenants provided which were made a part of the terms of the Securities of such series in accordance with Section 3.01(18), Section 9.01(1) or Section 9.01(12) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified

 

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in Section 5.01(4) and Section 5.01(8) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities and Guarantees as provided in this Section 13.03 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities and Guarantees, each of the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Guarantees shall be unaffected thereby.

Section 13.04. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 13.02 or 13.03 to any Securities or any series of Securities:

 

  (1)

The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.09 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article XIII applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities or Redemption Dates, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, “U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

  (2)

In the event of an election to have Section 13.02 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or

 

56


  loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

 

  (3)

In the event of an election to have Section 13.03 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

 

  (4)

No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, insofar as Section 5.01(5) or Section 5.01(6) are concerned, at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

 

  (5)

Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

  (6)

The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate of the Company and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with (in each case, subject to the satisfaction of the condition in clause (5)).

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date in accordance with Article XI.

Section 13.05. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section 13.05 and Section 13.06, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and premium, if any, and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities; provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to charge any such tax, fee or other charge to such Holder’s account.

 

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Anything in this Article XIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.04 with respect to any Securities which are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

Section 13.06. Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article XIII with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities and Guarantees from which the Company and the Guarantors have been discharged or released pursuant to Section 13.02 or 13.03 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XIII with respect to such Securities and Guarantees, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 13.05 with respect to such Securities and Guarantees in accordance with this Article XIII; provided, however, that (a) if the Company or the Guarantors makes any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, shall be subrogated to the rights, if any, of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust and (b) unless otherwise required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall return all such money and U.S. Government Obligations to the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such reinstatement of the obligations of the Company or the Guarantors, as the case may be, has occurred and continues to be in effect.

ARTICLE XIV

GUARANTEE OF SECURITIES

Section 14.01. Guarantee.

Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, on a subordinated basis, and fully and unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee hereunder, and to the Trustee on behalf of itself and each such Holder, the due and punctual payment in full of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Security when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and (to the extent permitted by law) interest, if any, on such Security and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture (collectively, the “Obligations”), in accordance with the terms of such Security and this Indenture. If the Company shall fail to pay when due any Obligations, for whatever reason, each Guarantor shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay in cash the same promptly. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Security of any series shall entitle the Holders of such Securities to accelerate the Obligations of the Guarantors hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the Obligations of the Company.

Section 14.02. Additional Guarantors.

The Company and each Guarantor shall cause each New Carlyle Entity (other than a Non-Guarantor Entity) to become a Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture and provide a Guarantee in respect of the Securities.

 

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Section 14.03. Waiver.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives the benefits of diligence, presentment, demand for payment, any requirement that the Trustee or any of the Holders exhaust any right or take any action against the Company or any other Person, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or notice with respect to any Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that no Guarantee will be discharged in respect of any Security except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in such Security and in this Article.

Section 14.04. Guarantee of Payment.

Each Guarantee shall constitute a guarantee of payment when due and not a guarantee of collection. The Guarantors hereby agree that, in the event of a default in payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security, whether at its Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, legal proceedings may be instituted by the Trustee on behalf of, or by, the Holder of such Security, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Indenture, directly against the Guarantors to enforce the Guarantee without first proceeding against the Company.

Section 14.05. No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee.

Subject to Section 14.10, the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional and not be subject to any reduction, limitation, termination, impairment or for any reason (other than the payment in full in cash of the Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Securities, this Indenture or the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture or any Security, any other guarantee or any other agreement, by any waiver, modification or indulgence of any provision thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, by any release of any other Guarantor pursuant to Section 14.10 or by any other act or omission or delay to do any other act that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations); provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of the Guarantors, increase the principal amount of such Security, or increase the interest rate thereon, change any redemption provisions thereof (including any change to increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof) or change the Stated Maturity of any payment thereon, or increase the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration or the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02 of this Indenture.

Section 14.06. Defenses of Company Waived.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Guarantors waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Company or any other Guarantor or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Company, other than final payment in full in cash of the Obligations. Each of the Guarantors waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of each of the Guarantors against the Company or any security.

 

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Section 14.07. Continued Effectiveness.

Subject to Section 14.10, each of the Guarantors further agrees that its Guarantee with respect to any Security hereunder shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be irrevocable notwithstanding any petition filed by or against the Company for liquidation or reorganization, the Company becoming insolvent or making an assignment for the benefit of creditors or a receiver or trustee being appointed for all or any significant part of the Company’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Trustee or any Holder of any Security, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” upon bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made, until the date upon which the entire Obligation, if any, and interest on such Security has been, or has been deemed pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture to have been paid in full. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned on any Security, such Security shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed paid only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

Section 14.08. Subrogation.

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right of each of the Guarantors by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, each of the Guarantors hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities of any series, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Holders in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligations, and thereupon the Holders shall, assign (except to the extent that such assignment would render a Guarantor a “creditor” of the Company within the meaning of Section 547 of Title 11 of the United States Code as now in effect or hereafter amended or any comparable provision of any successor statute) the amount of the Obligations owed to it and paid by such Guarantor pursuant to this Guarantee to such Guarantor, such assignment to be pro rata to the extent the Obligations in question were discharged by such Guarantor, or make such other disposition thereof as such Guarantor shall direct (all without recourse to the Holders, and without any representation or warranty by the Holders). If (a) a Guarantor shall make payment to the Holders of all or any part of the Obligations and (b) all the Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Indenture shall be paid in full, the Trustee will, at such Guarantor’s request, execute and deliver to such Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an interest in the Obligations resulting from such payment by such Guarantor.

Section 14.09. Subordination.

The obligations of the Guarantors under its Guarantee pursuant to this Article XIV will be junior and subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor on the same basis as the Securities of any series are junior and subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, the Trustee and the Holders will have the right to receive and/or retain payments by the Guarantor only at such times as they may receive and/or retain payments in respect of the Securities of such series pursuant to this Indenture, including Article XV hereof.

 

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Section 14.10. Release of Guarantor and Termination of Guarantee.

A Guarantor shall, upon the occurrence of any of the following events, be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under this Indenture and its Guarantee without any action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder; provided that such Guarantor would not, immediately after such release and discharge, be required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 14.02:

 

  (1)

at any time such Guarantor is not the Corporation and is sold or disposed of (whether by merger, consolidation or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets) to an entity that is not required to become a Guarantor, if such sale or disposition is otherwise in compliance with this Indenture;

 

  (2)

such Guarantor is designated a Non-Guarantor Entity in accordance with this Indenture; or

 

  (3)

the Company effects a Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance in accordance with Article XIII hereof.

The Company may designate any Person as a “Non-Guarantor Entity” if (i) such Person is directly or indirectly wholly owned by one or more of the Credit Parties or (ii) such Person, together with all then-existing Non-Guarantor Entities designated pursuant to this clause (ii) on a combined and consolidated basis and taken as a whole, would not constitute a Significant Subsidiary (the foregoing, the “Non-Guarantor Limitation”). The Company may also, from time to time, remove the designation of any Person as a Non-Guarantor Entity and must remove the designation as to one or more Non-Guarantor Entities designated pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence to the extent as of the end of any fiscal quarter such Non-Guarantor Entities exceed the Non-Guarantor Limitation. Any such designation or removal by the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a Company Resolution giving effect to such designation or removal, and in the case of a designation, a certificate of the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer or other senior executive officer of the Corporation certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions. The Company shall promptly file with the Trustee a notice of any such release of a Guarantor in accordance with this Indenture.

The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon receipt of a request of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate certifying as to the compliance with this Section.

Section 14.11. Limitation of Guarantors Liability.

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee by such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Title 11 of the United States Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantor. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and such Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and its Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum aggregate amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor, and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of, any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, will result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting such fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

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Each Guarantee is expressly limited so that in no event, including the acceleration of the Maturity of the Securities, shall the amount paid or agreed to be paid in respect of interest on the Securities (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) exceed the maximum permissible amount under applicable law, as in effect on the date hereof and as subsequently amended or modified to allow a greater amount of interest (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) to be paid under such Guarantee. If for any reason the amount in respect of interest (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) required by a Guarantee exceeds such maximum permissible amount, the obligation to pay interest under such Guarantee (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) shall be automatically reduced to such maximum permissible amount and any amounts collected by any holder of any Security in excess of the permissible amount shall be automatically applied to reduce the outstanding principal on such Security.

Section 14.12. No Obligation to Take Action Against the Company.

Neither the Trustee, any Holder nor any other Person shall have any obligation to enforce or exhaust any rights or remedies or take any other steps under any security for the Obligations or against the Company or any other Person or any Property of the Company or any other Person before the Trustee, such Holder or such other Person is entitled to demand payment and performance by any or all Guarantors of their liabilities and obligations under their Guarantee.

Section 14.13. Execution and Delivery.

To evidence its Guarantee set forth in this Article XIV, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer of such Guarantor, and in the case of any New Carlyle Entity that becomes a Guarantor in accordance with this Indenture, such New Carlyle Entity’s Guarantee shall be evidenced by the execution and delivery on behalf of such New Carlyle Entity of a supplemental indenture hereto by an Officer of such New Carlyle Entity.

Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in this Article XIV shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Guarantee on any Securities.

If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates any Security, the Guarantee shall be valid nevertheless.

The delivery of any Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee set forth in this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.

ARTICLE XV

SUBORDINATION

Section 15.01. Agreement to Subordinate.

The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security, by its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of and interest and Additional Amounts on, each and all of the Securities is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter in this Article XV set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.

 

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Section 15.02. Rights of Senior Indebtedness in the Event of Insolvency, Etc., of the Company.

In the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, relative to the Company or to its creditors, as such, or to its property, and in the event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, and in the event of any execution sale, then the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of principal thereof and interest due thereon (including, without limitation, except to the extent, if any, prohibited by mandatory provisions of law, post-petition interest in any such proceedings) and Additional Amounts in money or money’s worth of all Senior Indebtedness before the Holders are entitled to receive any payment on account of the principal of or interest on or Additional Amounts with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, and to that end the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive for application in payment thereof any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash or property or securities, which may be payable or deliverable in connection with any such proceedings or sale in respect of the principal of or interest or Additional Amounts on the Securities other than securities of the Company as reorganized or readjusted or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Securities, to the payment of all indebtedness of the nature of Senior Indebtedness, provided that the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are not altered by such reorganization or readjustment.

In the event and during the continuation of any default in payment of any Senior Indebtedness, or if in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been or would be permitted upon notice or passage of time to be accelerated because of a default, then, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall cease to exist and such acceleration shall have been rescinded or annulled, no payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities shall be made, in each case unless and until all amounts due or to become due on such Senior Indebtedness are paid in full in cash or other satisfactory consideration and the Company covenants that it will, upon ascertaining any such default or event of default, provide written notice to the Trustee of such default or event of default.

In the event that the Securities of any series are declared due and payable before their expressed maturity because of the occurrence of an Event of Default (under circumstances when the provisions of the first paragraph of this Section 15.02 shall not be applicable), the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full in money or money’s worth of such Senior Indebtedness before such Holders are entitled to receive any payment on account of the principal of or interest on the Securities.

No holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be prejudiced in his or her right to enforce subordination of the Securities by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company.

Section 15.03. Payment Over of Proceeds Received on Securities.

In the event that, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 15.02, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than securities of the Company as reorganized or readjusted or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Securities, to the payment of all indebtedness of the nature of Senior Indebtedness, provided that the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are not altered by such reorganization or readjustment) shall be received by the Holders or by the Trustee for their benefit in connection with any proceedings or sale referred to in the first paragraph of Section 15.02 before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full in money or money’s worth, such payment or distribution shall be paid over to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their

 

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representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

From and after the payment in full in money or money’s worth of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders (together with the holders of any other indebtedness of the Company which is subordinate in right of payment to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, which is not subordinate in right of payment to the Securities and which by its terms grants such right of subrogation to the holder thereof) shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of assets or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the Securities shall be paid in full, and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no such payments or distributions to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of assets or securities, which otherwise would have been payable or distributable to Holders, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand, and nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders the principal of and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture subject to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, under Section 15.02, to receive cash, property or securities of the Company otherwise payable or deliverable to the holders of the Securities.

Upon any distribution or payment in connection with any proceedings or sale referred to in the first paragraph of Section 15.02, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution or payment to the Trustee for the purpose of ascertaining the holders of Senior Indebtedness entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the amount of such Senior Indebtedness or the amount payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV. In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Section 15.03, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, as to the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, and as to other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Section 15.03, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 15.04. Payments to Holders.

Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture, or in any of the Securities, shall prevent at any time, (1) the Company from making payments at any time of principal of or interest or Additional Amounts on the Securities, except under the conditions described in Section 15.02 or during the pendency of any proceedings or sale therein referred to, provided, however, that payments of principal of or interest or

 

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Additional Amounts on the Securities shall only be made by the Company within three business days of the due dates for such payments or (2) the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of or interest on the Securities, if at the time of such deposit the Trustee did not have written notice in accordance with Section 15.06 of any event prohibiting the making of such deposit by the Company or if in the event of redemption, the Trustee did not have such written notice prior to the time that the notice of redemption pursuant to Section 11.04 was given (which notice of redemption shall in no event be given more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption).

Section 15.05. Holders of Securities Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities.

Each Holder by his or her acceptance of a Security authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the business and assets of the Company, the immediate filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of such Holder’s Securities in the form required in said proceedings and cause said claim to be approved.

Section 15.06. Notice to Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series or the taking of any other action by the Trustee, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received at the Corporate Trust Office written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder or the representative of any class of Senior Indebtedness and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if at least three (3) business days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such monies may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the cash amount payable at maturity or interest on any Security) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have so received with respect to such monies the notice provided for in this Section 15.06 then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, which may be received by it on or after such three (3) business days prior to such date.

Section 15.07. Trustee May Hold Senior Indebtedness.

The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of its right as such holder.

Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 5.06 and Section 6.07.

 

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Section 15.08. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other Person cash, moneys, assets, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

Section 15.09. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.

Upon any payment or distribution of assets or securities of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

Section 15.10. Applicability of Article XV to Paying Agents.

In case at any time any paying agent other than the Trustee shall be appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article XV in such case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such paying agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such paying agent were named in this Article XV in place of the Trustee.

*            *             *

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paperbased recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

CARLYLE FINANCE L.L.C., as Company
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
THE CARLYLE GROUP Inc., as Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
CARLYLE HOLDINGS I L.P., as Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
CARLYLE HOLDINGS II L.LC., as Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
CARLYLE HOLDINGS III L.P., as Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
CG SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS L.L.C., as Guarantor
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name:   Curtis L. Buser
Title:   Chief Financial Officer


The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,
as Trustee
        By:  

/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch

        Name:   Lawrence M. Kusch
        Title:   Vice President and Senior Transaction Manager


Schedule I

GUARANTORS

The Carlyle Group Inc., a Delaware corporation

Carlyle Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership

Carlyle Holdings II L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company

Carlyle Holdings III L.P., a Québec société en commandite

CG Subsidiary Holdings L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company

EX-4.2

Exhibit 4.2

Execution Version

 

 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of May 11, 2021

Supplementing that Certain

SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

Dated as of May 11, 2021

 

 

Among

CARLYLE FINANCE L.L.C.,

THE GUARANTOR PARTIES HERETO

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

 

 

4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

     1  

SECTION 1.1

  Issuance of Notes; Principal Amount; Maturity; Title      1  

SECTION 1.2

  Interest      2  

SECTION 1.3

  Relationship with Base Indenture      3  

ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     3  

SECTION 2.1

  Definitions      3  

ARTICLE III SECURITY FORMS

     6  

SECTION 3.1

  Form Generally      6  

SECTION 3.2

  Form of Note      7  

ARTICLE IV REMEDIES

     17  

SECTION 4.1

  Events of Default      17  

SECTION 4.2

  Waiver of Past Defaults      17  

ARTICLE V REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     18  

SECTION 5.1

  Optional Redemption      18  

SECTION 5.2

  Tax Redemption      18  

SECTION 5.3

  Base Indenture      18  

ARTICLE VI PARTICULAR COVENANTS

     19  

SECTION 6.1

  Liens      19  

SECTION 6.2

  Reserved      19  

SECTION 6.3

  Financial Reports      19  

ARTICLE VII OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS

     20  

SECTION 7.1

  Option to Defer Interest Payments      20  

SECTION 7.2

  Payment Restrictions During a Deferral Period      20  

ARTICLE VIII SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     22  

SECTION 8.1

  Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders of the Notes      22  

ARTICLE IX DEFEASANCE

     23  

SECTION 9.1

  Covenant Defeasance      23  

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

     24  

SECTION 10.1

  Execution as Supplemental Indenture      24  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

     Page  

SECTION 10.2

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes      24  

SECTION 10.3

  Separability Clause      24  

SECTION 10.4

  Successors and Assigns      24  

SECTION 10.5

  Execution and Counterparts      24  

SECTION 10.6

  Governing Law      24  

SECTION 10.7

  Agreement by Holders to Treat Notes as Indebtedness for Tax Purposes      25  

SECTION 10.8

  OFAC Sanctions      25  

SECTION 10.9

  Electronic Instructions      25  

 

 

-ii-


This First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 11, 2021 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), among Carlyle Finance L.L.C., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, having its principal office at 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20004 (the “Company”), the Guarantors party hereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee under the Base Indenture (as hereinafter defined) and hereunder (the “Trustee”), supplements that certain Indenture, dated as of May 11, 2021, among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture” and subject to Section 1.3 hereof, together with this First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company and the Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee the Base Indenture providing for the issuance from time to time of one or more series of the Company’s subordinated debt securities (herein and in the Base Indenture called the “Securities”), the forms and terms of which are to be determined as set forth in Sections 2.01 and 3.01 of the Base Indenture, and the Guarantees thereof by the Guarantors;

Section 9.01 of the Base Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture for, among other things, the purposes of (a) establishing the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01 of the Base Indenture and (b) adding to or changing any of the provisions to the Base Indenture in certain circumstances;

The Company desires to create a series of Securities designated as its “4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061” pursuant to the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture;

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes to be issued from time to time, as provided for in the Indenture;

Each Guarantor has duly authorized its Guarantee of the Notes and to provide therefor each Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture;

All things necessary have been done to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms and to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under the Indenture and duly issued by the Company, the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company; and

All things necessary have been done to make the Guarantees, upon execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, the valid and legally binding obligations of each Guarantor and to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of each Guarantor, in accordance with its terms.

ARTICLE I

ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1.1 Issuance of Notes; Principal Amount; Maturity; Title.

(1) Pursuant to the terms hereof and Sections 2.01 and 3.01 of the Base Indenture, the Company hereby creates a series of Securities designated as the “4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061” of the Company (as amended or supplemented from time to time, to be issued under the Indenture, including both the Initial Notes (as defined below) and the Additional Notes (as defined below), if any, the “Notes”), which Notes shall be deemed

 

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“Securities” for all purposes under the Base Indenture. The Notes shall mature on May 15, 2061 (the “Stated Maturity”), unless the Notes are redeemed prior to that date as described in Section 5.1. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued under the Base Indenture is unlimited.

(2) On May 11, 2021, the Company shall issue and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall authenticate $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of (the “Initial Notes”) substantially in the form set forth in Section 3.2 below, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture, and with such letters, numbers, or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officer executing such Notes, as evidenced by the execution of such Notes.

(3) The Company may without the consent of the Holders, issue additional Notes hereunder as part of the same series and on the same terms and conditions (and having the same Guarantors) and with the same CUSIP number as the Initial Notes (“Additional Notes”), but such Additional Notes may be offered at a different offering price or have a different issue date, initial interest accrual date or initial interest payment date; provided that if any Additional Notes are not fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the Initial Notes, such Additional Notes will be issued with a separate CUSIP number from the Initial Notes.

(4) The Notes shall be issued only in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $25 and any integral multiple of $25 in excess thereof.

SECTION 1.2 Interest.

(1) Subject to applicable law and subject to Article VII of this Supplemental Indenture, interest on the Notes will accrue at the per annum rate of 4.625%, from, and including, the date specified on the face of such Note, or, if interest has already been paid, from the last date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for to, but excluding, the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (as defined below), the maturity date or the Redemption Date, as the case may be. The amount of interest payable for any interest payment period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. If any date on which interest is payable on the Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay).

(2) The Company shall pay interest on the Notes quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing August 15, 2021, provided that the final Interest Payment Date of the Notes shall be May 15, 2061.

(3) Interest shall be paid on each Interest Payment Date to the record Holders of the Notes after the close of business on the Regular Record Date.

(4) Amounts due on the Stated Maturity or earlier Redemption Date or repurchase date of the Notes will be payable at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The Company shall make payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest or Redemption Price or repurchase price in respect of the Notes in book-entry form to DTC in immediately available funds, while disbursement of such payments to owners of beneficial interests in Notes in book-entry form will be made in accordance with the procedures of DTC and its participants in effect from time to time. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent

 

2


acts, except that the Company shall be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for the Notes. Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall impose any service charge for any transfer or exchange of a Note. However, the Company may require Holders of the Notes to pay any taxes or other governmental charges in connection with a transfer or exchange of Notes. References to “interest” include interest accruing on the notes, interest on deferred interest payments and other unpaid amounts and compounded interest, as applicable and in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law.

(5) If any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, or earlier Redemption Date or repurchase date falls on a day that is not a Business Day in The City of New York, the Company shall make the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest or Redemption Price or repurchase price on the next succeeding Business Day as if it were made on the date payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after that Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or earlier Redemption Date or repurchase date, as the case may be, to such next succeeding Business Day.

SECTION 1.3 Relationship with Base Indenture.

The terms and provisions contained in the Base Indenture will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this First Supplemental Indenture. However, to the extent any provision of the Base Indenture conflicts with the express provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture will govern and be controlling.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 2.1 Definitions.

For all purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context of this First Supplemental Indenture otherwise requires):

(1) any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this First Supplemental Indenture;

(2) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this First Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

(3) “including” means including without limitation; and

(4) unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements and instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

The terms defined in this Section 2.1 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context of this First Supplemental Indenture otherwise requires) for all purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto have the respective meanings specified or as referenced in this Section 2.1. All other terms used in this First Supplemental Indenture that are defined in the Base Indenture, either directly or by reference therein (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context of this First Supplemental Indenture otherwise requires), have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Base Indenture, as in force at the date of this First Supplemental Indenture as originally executed; provided that any term that is defined in both the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall have the meaning assigned to such term in this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

3


Additional Notes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1(3).

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, S.A.

Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor entity.

Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 9.1(2).

Deferred Payments” means payments by the Corporation and/or its Subsidiaries to former holders of partnership units of Carlyle Holdings I L.P., Carlyle Holdings II L.L.C. and Carlyle Holdings III L.P. required by the terms of the Corporation’s conversation from a Delaware limited partnership into a Delaware corporation on January 1, 2020, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $225.0 million.

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation.

“Electronic Means” shall mean the following communications methods: e-mail, facsimile transmission, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee, or another method or system specified by the Trustee as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank, SA/NV.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 4.1.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Indebtedness” shall mean (a) any obligation of, or any obligation guaranteed by, the Company or any Guarantor for which such Person is responsible or liable as obligor or otherwise including principal, premium and interest (whether accruing before or after filing of any petition in bankruptcy or any similar proceedings by or against any Credit Party and whether or not allowed as a claim in bankruptcy or similar proceedings) for (i) indebtedness for money borrowed, (ii) indebtedness evidenced by securities, bonds, debentures, notes or other similar written instruments, (iii) any deferred obligation for the payment of the purchase price or conditional sale obligation of property or assets acquired other than in the ordinary course of business, (iv) all obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction, (v) all obligations under “keep-well” agreements required by insurance regulators or (vi) any obligation referred to in (i) through (v) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Credit Parties (to the extent of the value of such property or asset subject to such lien) and (b) all indebtedness for obligations to make payment in respect of derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts (including future or options contracts), swap agreements, cap agreements, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements and similar arrangements, whether outstanding on the first issuance of the Notes or thereafter created, assumed or incurred.

 

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Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes” shall mean any Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of the first issuance of the Notes or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, which specifically by its terms ranks junior to and not equally with or prior to the Notes (and any Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes) in right of payment upon the Company’s or any Guarantor’s dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization, or similar events. The securing of any Indebtedness in compliance with the Indenture, otherwise constituting Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes, shall not be deemed to prevent such Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes.

Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes” shall mean Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of first issuance of the Notes or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, which specifically by its terms ranks equally with and not prior to the Notes in right of payment upon the Company’s or any Guarantor’s dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or similar events. The securing of any Indebtedness in compliance with the Indenture, otherwise constituting Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes, shall not be deemed to prevent such Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes.

Initial Notes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.3(2).

Interest Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.2(2).

Notes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1(1).

Optional Deferral Period” means the period commencing on an Interest Payment Date with respect to which the Company defers interest pursuant to Section 7.1 and ending on the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of that Interest Payment Date and (ii) the next Interest Payment Date on which the Company has paid all deferred and unpaid amounts (including compounded interest on such deferred amounts) and all other accrued interest on the Notes.

Permitted Liens” means (a) liens on voting stock or profit participating equity interests of any Subsidiary existing at the time such entity becomes a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Corporation or is merged into a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Corporation (provided such liens are not created or incurred in connection with such transaction and do not extend to any other Subsidiary), (b) statutory liens, liens for taxes or assessments or governmental liens not yet due or delinquent or which can be paid without penalty or are being contested in good faith and (c) other liens of a similar nature as those described in sub-clauses (a) and (b).

Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

Prospectus Supplement” means the Company’s prospectus supplement, dated as of May 4, 2021, relating to the Notes.

Rating Agency Event” means that any nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act, that then publishes a rating for the Company (a “rating agency”) amends, clarifies or changes the criteria it uses to assign equity credit to securities such as the Notes, which amendment, clarification or change results in (a) the shortening of the length of time the Notes are assigned a particular level of equity credit by that rating agency as compared to the length of time they would have been assigned that level of equity credit by that rating agency or its predecessor on the initial issuance of the Notes; or (b) the lowering of the equity credit (including up to a lesser amount) assigned to the Notes by that rating agency compared to the equity credit assigned by that rating agency or its predecessor on the initial issuance of the Notes.

 

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Regular Record Date” for interest payable in respect of any Note on any Interest Payment Date means the close of business on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date, whether or not a Business Day.

Tax Redemption Event” means that the Company will have received an opinion of counsel of recognized standing with respect to U.S. federal income tax matters or an opinion of a “Big Four” accounting firm (or successor thereto) that, in each case, is experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any:

(i) amendment to, clarification of, or change in (including any promulgation, enactment, execution or modification of) the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective after the initial issuance of the Notes;

(ii) (x) proposed amendment to, clarification of, or change in those laws or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of the Notes or (y) material development occurring after the initial issuance of the Notes with respect to any proposed amendment to, clarification of, or change in those laws or regulations (whether or not such proposed change was announced before the initial issuance of the Notes);

(iii) official administrative pronouncement (including a private letter ruling, notice, technical advice memorandum or similar pronouncement) or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement (including any notice or announcement of intent to issue or adopt any pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure or regulation) interpreting, clarifying or applying those laws or regulations enumerated in the preceding clauses (i) or (ii), by any court, governmental agency or regulatory authority that is announced after the initial issuance of the Notes; or

(iv) threatened challenge asserted in connection with an audit of the Company, the Guarantors and/or the Corporation, or a threatened challenge asserted in writing against any taxpayer that has raised capital through the issuance of securities that are substantially similar to the Notes, which challenge is asserted against the Company, the Guarantors and/or the Corporation or becomes publicly known on or after the initial issuance of the Notes;

there is more than an insubstantial increase in the risk that interest accruable or payable by the Company on the Notes is not, or within 365 days of the date of the opinion will not be, deductible by the Company in whole or in part, for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

ARTICLE III

SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 3.1 Form Generally.

(1) The Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Section 3.2 of this Article III, with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistent herewith, be determined by the Officer executing such Notes, as evidenced by the execution thereof. All Notes shall be in fully registered form.

 

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(2) The Notes shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officer of the Company executing such Notes, as evidenced by the execution of such Notes.

(3) Upon their original issuance, the Notes shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons. Each such Global Security shall be duly executed by the Company, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and shall be registered in the name of DTC, as Depositary, or its nominee, and deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for DTC. Beneficial interests in the Global Securities will be shown on, and transfers will only be made through, the records maintained by DTC and its participants and indirect participants, including Clearstream and Euroclear.

SECTION 3.2 Form of Note.

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[THE FOLLOWING LEGEND SHALL APPEAR ON THE FACE OF EACH GLOBAL SECURITY:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR ITS NOMINEE OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]

[THE FOLLOWING LEGEND SHALL APPEAR ON THE FACE OF EACH GLOBAL SECURITY FOR WHICH DTC IS TO BE THE DEPOSITARY:

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC, TO THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED BELOW) OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

 

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CARLYLE FINANCE L.L.C.

4.625% SUBORDINATED NOTE DUE 2061

No.                                                                                                                                                     Principal Amount (US)$                

CUSIP NO. 14314C 105

ISIN NO.    US14314C1053

Carlyle Finance L.L.C., a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of __________ United States Dollars (U.S.$                ), or such other principal amount as shall be set forth in the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in the Note attached hereto, on May 15, 2061 and to pay interest thereon, from May 11, 2021, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for to but excluding the next Interest Payment Date, which shall be February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing May 11, 2021, at the per annum rate of 4.625%, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. Subject to, and in accordance with the terms set forth on the reverse of this Note, the Company shall have the right to defer the payment of interest on the Notes.

The interest so payable, and paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day). Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any such interest not so paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to the Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Notes may be listed, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on this Note will be made at the Corporate Trust Office, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts. With respect to Global Securities, the Company will make such payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to DTC, or its nominee, as registered owner of the Global Securities. With respect to certificated Notes, the Company will make such payments, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a United States Dollar account maintained in New York, New York to each Holder of an aggregate principal amount of Notes in excess of U.S. $5,000,000 that has furnished wire instructions in writing to the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date. If a Holder of a certificated Note (i) does not furnish such wire instructions as provided in the preceding sentence or (ii) holds U.S. $5,000,000 or less aggregate principal amount of Notes, the Company will make such payments by mailing a check to such Holder’s registered address.

The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security, by its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on this Note is expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner provided in Article XV of the Base Indenture, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.

 

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Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual or electronic signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

CARLYLE FINANCE L.L.C., as Issuer
By:  

 

  Name: Curtis L. Buser
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

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CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:___________

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

1. Indenture. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company designated as its “4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061” (herein called the “Notes”), issued under a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 11, 2021 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), to an Indenture, dated as of May 11, 2021 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Base Indenture” and herein with the First Supplemental Indenture, collectively, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes Outstanding at any time may not exceed $460,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, except for, or in lieu of other Notes of the series pursuant to Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07 of the Base Indenture and except for any Notes which, pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Base Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered. The First Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which this Note is issued provides that Additional Notes may be issued thereunder.

All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between this Note and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern.

2. Optional Redemption. The Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes on notice given not more than 60 days nor less than 15 days prior to such Redemption Date in increments of $25 principal amount:

(i) in whole at any time or in part from time to time on or after May 15, 2026, at a Redemption Price equal to the principal amount of any Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the Redemption Date; provided that if the Notes are not redeemed in whole, at least $25 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes must remain outstanding after giving effect to such redemption;

(ii) in whole, but not in part, in connection with a Tax Redemption Event as provided under Section 5.2 in the First Supplemental Indenture; or

(iii) in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to May 15, 2026, within 90 days of the occurrence of a Rating Agency Event, at a Redemption Price equal to 102% of the principal amount of any Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the principal amount of such Notes held by each beneficial owner of such Notes to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the procedures of the depository. The Notes and portions of Notes will be selected in amounts of $25 and multiples of $25 in excess of $25. If the Notes are held in definitive form, the Trustee will so select by lot.

3. Option to Defer Interest Payments. So long as no Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing, the Company may, on one or more occasions, defer interest payments on the Notes for one or more Optional Deferral Periods of up to five consecutive years, provided that no Optional Deferral Period shall extend beyond May 15, 2061, any earlier accelerated maturity date arising from an Event of Default or any other earlier repurchase or redemption of the Notes.

 

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During any Optional Deferral Period, interest shall continue to accrue on the Notes, and deferred interest payments shall accrue additional interest at the then applicable interest rate on the Notes, compounded quarterly as of each Interest Payment Date to the extent permitted by applicable law. During any Optional Deferral Period, the Company shall be prohibited from paying current interest on the Notes until all accrued and unpaid deferred interest plus any accrued interest thereon has been paid. No interest otherwise due during an Optional Deferral Period shall be due and payable on the Notes until the end of such Optional Deferral Period except upon an acceleration, repurchase or redemption of the Notes during such deferral period.

At the end of five years following the commencement of any Optional Deferral Period, the Company shall pay all accrued and unpaid deferred interest, including compounded interest thereon if it has not been paid before that time. If, at the end of any Optional Deferral Period, the Company shall have paid all deferred interest due on the Notes, including compounded interest, the Company may again defer interest payments on the Notes.

The Company shall give written notice of its election to commence or continue any Optional Deferral Period to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes at least two Business Days and not more than 60 Business Days before the next Interest Payment Date.

4. Global Security. If this Note is a Global Security, then, in the event of a deposit or withdrawal of an interest in this Note, including an exchange, transfer, redemption, repurchase or conversion of this Note in part only, the Trustee, as custodian of the Depositary, shall make an adjustment on its records to reflect such deposit or withdrawal in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

5. Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of all the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Upon payment of the amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest so declared due and payable, all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of the principal of and any premium or interest on the Notes shall terminate.

No Holder of Notes shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder (except actions for payment of overdue principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Notes in accordance with its terms), unless (i) such Holder has previously given written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of an Event of Default and the continuance thereto with respect to the Notes, specifying an Event of Default, as required under the Indenture; (ii) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee under the Indenture; (iii) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (iv) the Trustee has failed to institute any such proceeding for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity; and (v) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of the Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under the Indenture, except in the manner provided in the Indenture and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

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The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest hereon, on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

6. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note or such other Note. Certain modifications or amendments to the Indenture require the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair (without the consent of the Holder hereof) the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

7. Registration and Transfer. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registerable on the Security Register. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of this Note at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and principal amount. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, at the option of the Holder, this Note may be exchanged for one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and principal amount, upon surrender of this Note at such office or agency. Upon such surrender by the Holder, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and principal amount. Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall be duly endorsed (if so required by the Company or the Trustee), or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, a Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Note is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes, whether or not such Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, a Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

8. Guarantee. As expressly set forth in the Base Indenture, payment of this Note is jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a subordinated basis, by the Guarantors that have become and continue to be Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture. Guarantors may be released from their obligations under the Indenture and their Guarantees under the circumstances specified in the Base Indenture.

 

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9. Governing Law. THE INDENTURE, THIS SECURITY AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM (= tenant in common)
TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties (Cust))
JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common)
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT (= under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act )

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

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SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN THE GLOBAL NOTE

The initial principal amount of this Note is $    . The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date

 

Amount of

decrease in

Principal

Amount of this

Global Note

 

Amount of

increase in

Principal

Amount of this

Global Note

  

Principal

Amount of this

Global Note

following such

decrease or

increase

  

Signature of

authorized

signatory of

Trustee or

Custodian

 

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ARTICLE IV

REMEDIES

SECTION 4.1 Events of Default.

The Events of Default set forth in Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture shall be applicable to the Notes other than (x) clause (3) of such Section 5.01 and (y) clause (1) of such Section 5.01 shall be amended and restated to read as follows:

“the Company’s failure to pay any interest, including compounded interest, on the Notes when due and payable after taking into account any Optional Deferral Period, continued for 30 days.”

A default also includes a failure to pay interest when due if the Company does not give a timely written notice of its election to commence or continue a deferral period. If the Company does not give a timely written notice of its election to commence or continue a deferral period and fails to pay interest when due, any holder of Notes may seek to enforce its obligation to make the missed interest payment, including through legal process. However, there is no right of acceleration except upon the occurrence of an Event of Default as described above.

If the Company gives a timely written notice of its election to commence or continue a deferral period on any interest payment date (and, if such notice continues a deferral period, the deferral period has not continued for five years), then no default arises from the Company’s non-payment of interest on such interest payment date.

SECTION 4.2 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Section 5.12 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and, with respect to the Notes, any reference to Section 5.12 in the Base Indenture shall instead be deemed to refer to this Section 4.2.

Subject to Section 5.02 of the Base Indenture, the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes waive any past Default hereunder with respect to the Notes and its consequences, except a default

(i) in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Note, or the Redemption Price in connection with any redemption of Notes; or

(ii) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof or of the Base Indenture which under Article VIII hereof or under Article X of the Base Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected,

provided that there had been paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all amounts due to the Trustee and to reimburse the Trustee for any and all fees, expenses and disbursements advanced by the Trustee, its agents and its counsel incurred in connection with such default or Event of Default.

Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of the First Supplemental Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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ARTICLE V

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 5.1 Optional Redemption.

(1) The Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes on notice given not more than 60 days nor less than 15 days prior to such Redemption Date in increments of $25 principal amount:

(i) in whole at any time or in part from time to time on or after May 15, 2026, at a Redemption Price equal to the principal amount of any Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the Redemption Date; provided that if the Notes are not redeemed in whole, at least $25 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes must remain outstanding after giving effect to such redemption;

(ii) as provided below under Section 5.2; or

(iii) in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to May 15, 2026, within 90 days of the occurrence of a Rating Agency Event, at a Redemption Price equal to 102% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to but excluding the Redemption Date.

(2) If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the principal amount of such Notes held by each beneficial owner of such Notes to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the procedures of the DTC. The Notes and portions of Notes will be selected in amounts of $25 and multiples of $25 in excess of $25. If the Notes are held in definitive form, the Trustee will so select by lot.

(3) Any notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a securities offering or other corporate transaction.

SECTION 5.2 Tax Redemption.

If a Tax Redemption Event occurs prior to the maturity date of the Notes, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole but not in part, within 120 days of the occurrence of the Tax Redemption Event, on notice given not more than 60 days nor less than 15 days prior to such Redemption Date, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.

SECTION 5.3 Base Indenture.

Any redemption of the Notes under Sections 5.1 and 5.2 above shall be in accordance with Article XI of the Base Indenture (Redemption of Securities).

 

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ARTICLE VI

PARTICULAR COVENANTS

SECTION 6.1 Liens.

The Credit Parties shall not, and shall not cause or permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur or guarantee any Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes or any Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes, in each case, that is secured by a pledge, mortgage, lien or other encumbrance (other than Permitted Liens) on any voting stock or profit participating equity interests of their respective Subsidiaries (to the extent of their ownership of such voting stock or profit participating equity interests) or any entity that succeeds (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) to all or any substantial part of the business of any of such Subsidiaries, without providing that the Notes (together with, if the Credit Parties shall so determine, any other Indebtedness of, or guarantee by, the Credit Parties ranking equally with the Notes and existing as of the closing of the offering of the Notes or thereafter created) will be secured equally and ratably with or prior to all such other indebtedness secured by such pledge, mortgage, lien or other encumbrance on the voting stock or profit participating equity interests of any such entities for so long as such other indebtedness is so secured. This Section 6.1 shall not limit the ability of the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries to incur indebtedness or other obligations secured by liens on assets other than the voting stock or profit participating equity interests of the Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries.

SECTION 6.2 Reserved.

SECTION 6.3 Financial Reports.

Section 7.04 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the reports, information, and documents delivered under this Section 6.3.

For so long as the Corporation is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall provide (or cause its Affiliates to provide) to the Trustee, unless available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (or successor system) (“EDGAR”), within 15 days after the Corporation files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Corporation may file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Trustee may conclusively presume, and shall incur no liability in such presumption, that the Corporation has not filed any such reports, information, documents and other reports with the Commission that are not available on EDGAR unless and until it shall have received written notice from the Company to the contrary.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee shall be for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of the covenants contained in the Indenture (as to which the Trustee will be entitled to conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee shall have no obligation to determine if and when the Company’s information is available on EDGAR and the Trustee shall have no obligation to obtain any reports that are posted on EDGAR.

 

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ARTICLE VII

OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS.

SECTION 7.1 Option to Defer Interest Payments.

(1) So long as no Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing, the Company may, on one or more occasions, defer interest payments on the Notes for one or more Optional Deferral Periods of up to five consecutive years without giving rise to an Event of Default under the terms of the Notes, provided that no Optional Deferral Period shall extend beyond May 15, 2061, any earlier accelerated maturity date arising from an Event of Default or any other earlier repurchase or redemption of the Notes.

(2) During any Optional Deferral Period, interest shall continue to accrue on the Notes, and deferred interest payments shall accrue additional interest at the then applicable interest rate on the Notes, compounded quarterly as of each Interest Payment Date to the extent permitted by applicable law. During any Optional Deferral Period, the Company shall be prohibited from paying current interest on the Notes until all accrued and unpaid deferred interest plus any accrued interest thereon has been paid. No interest otherwise due during an Optional Deferral Period shall be due and payable on the Notes until the end of such Optional Deferral Period except upon an acceleration, repurchase or redemption of the Notes during such deferral period.

(3) At the end of five years following the commencement of any Optional Deferral Period, the Company shall pay all accrued and unpaid deferred interest, including compounded interest thereon if it has not been paid before that time. If, at the end of any Optional Deferral Period, the Company shall have paid all deferred interest due on the Notes, including compounded interest, the Company may again defer interest payments on the Notes pursuant to this Section 7.1.

(4) The Company shall give written notice of its election to commence or continue any Optional Deferral Period to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes at least two Business Days and not more than 60 Business Days before the next Interest Payment Date.

SECTION 7.2 Payment Restrictions During a Deferral Period.

(1) After the commencement of an Optional Deferral Period, until all accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes has been paid, the Company and the Guarantors will not:

(i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests (which includes common and preferred stock);

(ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium on or repay, repurchase or redeem any Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes; or

(iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company or any Guarantor of any securities of any of their respective Subsidiaries if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Notes.

None of the foregoing, however, shall restrict:

 

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(i) distributions or other payments to the Corporation or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Corporation;

(ii) dividends or distributions in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests where the dividend equity interests or equity interests issuable upon exercise of such options, warrants or other rights is the same equity interests as that on which the dividend or distribution is being paid or ranks equally with or junior to such equity interests;

(iii) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholder’s rights plan, or the issuance of equity interests under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto;

(iv) as a result of a reclassification of any series or class of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests for or into another class or series of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests;

(v) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests pursuant to an acquisition or the conversion or exchange provisions of such equity interests or the security being converted or exchanged;

(vi) purchases or acquisitions, including the net settlement, of shares of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan, equity incentive plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of directors, officers, agents, consultants or employees or satisfaction of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under any dividend reinvestment plan or director, officer, agent, consultant or employee stock purchase plans;

(vii) any exchange, redemption or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests, or the equity interests of one of their respective Subsidiaries, for any other class or series of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests, or of any class or series of their respective Indebtedness for any class or series of equity interests;

(viii) any exchange, redemption, repayment, repurchase or conversion of any of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes for any of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes, including any such indebtedness convertible into equity interests;

(ix) purchases or acquisitions, or payments in respect of, of shares of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests in connection with satisfaction of the Company’s or the Guarantors’ obligations under any contract or security entered into before and not entered into in anticipation of the commencement of the Optional Deferral Period in compliance with the terms of the Indenture, including the Deferred Payments;

(x) (i) payment of current or deferred interest on the Company’s or any Guarantor’s Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes made pro rata to the amounts due on such Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes and the Notes and (ii) payment of principal or current or deferred interest on the Company’s or any Guarantor’s Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes that, if not made, would cause a breach of the terms of the instrument governing such Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Notes or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Notes;

 

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(xi) the payment of any dividend or distribution on the Company’s or the Guarantors’ equity interests within 30 days after the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution, if the dividend or distribution would have been permitted under the Indenture on the date of declaration; and

(xii) the redemption of securities ranking on a parity with the Notes or securities ranking junior to the Notes, within 60 days after the date on which notice of redemption was given, if at the time the notice was given, such redemption would have been permitted under the Indenture.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of this Indenture and the Notes will not restrict in any manner the ability of any of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries to pay dividends or make any distributions to the Corporation or to any of the Corporation’s other Subsidiaries.

ARTICLE VIII

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 8.1 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders of the Notes.

Section 9.02 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and, with respect to the Notes, any reference to Section 9.02 in the Base Indenture shall instead be deemed to refer to this Section 8.1.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Notes), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of such Notes under the Indenture; provided, however, no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected thereby:

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Note;

(2) reduce the principal amount of any Note which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Base Indenture, or reduce the rate of or extend the time of payment of interest on any Note;

(3) modify the subordination provisions of the Notes in any manner adverse to the Holders;

(4) reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of or change the date on which any Note may or must be redeemed;

(5) change the coin or currency in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Note is payable;

 

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(6) impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to the Notes;

(7) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes the consent of whose Holders is required for modification or amendment of this First Supplemental Indenture or the Base Indenture or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of the Base Indenture or this First Supplemental Indenture or certain defaults thereunder and hereunder and their consequences) provided for in the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture;

(8) modify the terms of any Guarantee in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes; or

(9) modify clauses (1) through (8) above.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 8.1 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

In addition, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, waive compliance with the Credit Parties’ covenants described under Sections 6.1, 6.3 and 7.2 hereof and Article X (other than Section 10.1), Article VIII and Section 14.02 of the Base Indenture.

ARTICLE IX

DEFEASANCE

SECTION 9.1 Covenant Defeasance.

Section 13.03 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and, with respect to the Notes, any reference to Section 13.03 in the Base Indenture shall instead be deemed to refer to this Section 9.1.

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option, if any, to have this Section 9.1 applied to the Notes, or if this Section 9.1 shall otherwise apply to the Notes, (1) the Company and the Guarantors shall be released from their respective obligations and any covenants provided pursuant to Article VI and Section 7.02 of this First Supplemental Indenture and Section 8.01, Section 10.04 and Section 14.02 of the Base Indenture for the benefit of the Holders of such Notes and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 5.01(4) and Section 5.01(7) of the Base Indenture shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Notes and the related Guarantees as provided in Section 13.03 of the Base Indenture on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 of the Base Indenture are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Notes and the Guarantees thereof, each of the Company and the Guarantors may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section or Article, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein or in the Base Indenture to any such Section or Article or by reason of any reference in any such Section or Article to any other provision herein or in the Base Indenture or in any other document, but the remainder of the Base Indenture, this First Supplemental Indenture and such Notes and Guarantees thereof shall be unaffected thereby.

 

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ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 10.1 Execution as Supplemental Indenture.

This First Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an indenture supplemental to the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture and the Base Indenture shall henceforth be read together, and any conflict between the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be resolved as provided in Section 1.3 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 10.2 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Notes.

The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guarantors, as the case may be, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or of the Securities or the Guarantees. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 10.3 Separability Clause.

In case any provision in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 10.4 Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this First Supplemental Indenture by the Company and the Guarantors shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Trustee in this First Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 10.5 Execution and Counterparts.

This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this First Supplemental Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this First Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

SECTION 10.6 Governing Law.

This First Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

24


SECTION 10.7 Agreement by Holders to Treat Notes as Indebtedness for Tax Purposes.

The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee intend to treat the Notes as indebtedness of the Company for all U.S. federal, state and local tax purposes. In addition, each Holder and beneficial owner of the Notes shall, by accepting the Notes or a beneficial interest therein, agree and shall be deemed to have agreed that the Holder or beneficial owner intends that the Notes constitute indebtedness of the Company, and will treat the Notes as indebtedness of the Company, for all U.S. federal, state and local tax purposes.

SECTION 10.8 OFAC Sanctions.

Each of the Company and the Guarantors covenants and represents that (i) neither it nor, to the knowledge of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, any of its directors, officers, agents employees or affiliates is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and (ii) neither it, the Guarantors or the Corporation will use the proceeds of the offering of the Notes, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture party or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

SECTION 10.9 Electronic Instructions.

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 and/or the Guarantors, as applicable, 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 and/or the Guarantors, as applicable, whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company and/or the Guarantors, as applicable, 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 and the Guarantors understand and agree 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 and the Guarantors shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Company, the Guarantors 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 and/or the Guarantors, as applicable. 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 and the Guarantors agree: (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 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 and/or the Guarantors, as applicable; (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.

[Signature page to follow.]

 

25


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.

 

CARLYLE FINANCE L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name: Curtis L. Buser
Title: Chief Financial Officer
THE CARLYLE GROUP INC.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name: Curtis L. Buser
Title: Chief Financial Officer
CARLYLE HOLDINGS I L.P.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name: Curtis L. Buser
Title: Chief Financial Officer
CARLYLE HOLDINGS III L.P.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name: Curtis L. Buser
Title: Chief Financial Officer
CG SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name: Curtis L. Buser
Title: Chief Financial Officer
CARLYLE HOLDINGS II L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Buser

Name: Curtis L. Buser
Title: Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]


The Bank of New York Mellon Trust

Company, N.A., as Trustee

By:  

/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch

Name: Lawrence M. Kusch
Title: Vice President and Senior Transaction Manager

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

May 11, 2021

The Carlyle Group Inc.

1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Carlyle Finance L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), The Carlyle Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Carlyle Holdings I L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Carlyle Holdings I”), Carlyle Holdings II L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“Carlyle Holdings II”), CG Subsidiary Holdings L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“CG Subsidiary Holdings” and, together with the Corporation, Carlyle Holdings I and Carlyle Holdings II, the “Delaware Guarantors”) and Carlyle Holdings III L.P., a Québec société en commandite (“Carlyle Holdings III” or the “Québec Guarantor” and, together with the Delaware Guarantors, the “Guarantors”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 (as so amended, the “Registration Statement”), including the prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company and the Guarantors with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to, among other things, (i) the issuance by the Company, from time to time for an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price of, among other things, subordinated debt securities and (ii) the issuance by the Guarantors of the Guarantees (as defined below).


The Carlyle Group Inc.    2    May 11, 2021

 

We have examined the Registration Statement; the Underwriting Agreement dated May 4, 2021 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the underwriters named therein, pursuant to which such underwriters have agreed to purchase $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061 (the “Notes”) issued by the Company and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors; the Indenture, dated as of May 11, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”) as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 11, 2021 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”); a duplicate of the global note representing the Notes and the guarantees whose terms are set forth in the Indenture (the “Guarantees”). In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and the Guarantors and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth.

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.


The Carlyle Group Inc.    3    May 11, 2021

 

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed further that (1) the Québec Guarantor is validly existing and in good standing under the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Guarantees, as applicable, in accordance with its organizational documents and the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, (2) the execution, delivery, issuance and performance by the Québec Guarantor of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees do not constitute a breach or violation of its organizational documents or violate the law of the jurisdiction in which it is organized or any other jurisdiction (except that no such assumption is made with respect to the law of the State of New York, the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (the “DLLCA”) and the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “DRULPA”) and (3) the execution, delivery, issuance and performance, as applicable, by the Company and each Guarantor of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees do not constitute a breach or default under any agreement or instrument which is binding upon the Company or any such Guarantor.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.

Assuming due authentication thereof by the Trustee and upon payment and delivery in accordance with the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

2.

Assuming due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee and upon payment for and delivery of the Notes in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantors enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms.

Our opinions set forth in paragraphs 1 and 2 above are subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair


The Carlyle Group Inc.    4    May 11, 2021

 

dealing and (iv) the effects of the possible judicial application of foreign laws or foreign governmental or judicial action affecting creditors’ rights. In addition we express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of (i) the waiver of rights and defenses contained in Section 14.06 of the Base Indenture or (ii) Section 1.10 and Section 10.3 of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, respectively, relating to the separability of the provisions of such agreements.

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York, the DGCL, the DLLCA and the DRULPA. We expressly disclaim coverage of any other Delaware law, except judicial decisions interpreting the DGCL, the DLLCA and the DRULPA.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP
SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP
EX-5.2

Exhibit 5.2

May 11, 2021

The Carlyle Group Inc.

1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20004

Re:   The Carlyle Group Inc. (the “Company”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as Special Québec counsel to Carlyle Holdings III L.P. (“Carlyle Holdings III” and also referred to herein as the “Québec Guarantor”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended by Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 (as so amended, the “Registration Statement”), including the prospectus contained therein, as supplemented by the preliminary prospectus supplement and the prospectus supplement (as so supplemented, the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company, certain other Company subsidiaries and the Québec Guarantor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) relating to among other things (i) debt securities, which may be either senior or subordinated (collectively the “Debt Securities”) of the Company and/or other Company subsidiaries to include the Québec Guarantor and (ii) guarantees of the Company and/or other Company subsidiaries to include the Québec Guarantor to be issued in connection with the Debt Securities. We have also acted in such capacity in relation to Carlyle Holdings III GP L.P. (“Carlyle Holdings III GP”), the general partner of the Québec Guarantor.

EXAMINATION OF DOCUMENTS

In rendering the opinions set forth in this letter, we have examined:

 

(i)

the Registration Statement;

 

(ii)

the Underwriting Agreement dated May 4, 2021 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among Carlyle Finance L.L.C. (the “Company”), the Guarantors named therein, to include the Québec Guarantor, and the underwriters named therein pursuant to which such underwriters have agreed to purchase $ 400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061 (the “Notes”) issued by Carlyle Finance L.L.C. and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors (such transaction, the “Notes Offering”);

 

(iii)

the Subordinated Indenture dated as of May 11, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors named therein, to include the Québec Guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 11, 2021 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, which provides, inter alia for the guarantees by the Québec Guarantor and the other Guarantors of the Notes (the “Guarantees”);


(iv)

a duplicate of the global note representing the Notes; and

 

(v)

the limited partnership agreements, as amended and restated, of the Québec Guarantor and of Carlyle Holdings III GP (the “Partnership Agreements”), among the general partners and the limited partners party thereto.

For the purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have considered such questions of law as we have deemed necessary and have made such investigations and examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such certificates of public officials and such other certificates, documents and records as we have considered necessary or relevant and have relied, without independent verification or investigation, on all statements as to matters of fact contained in such documents, including Certificates of Attestation issued by the Registraire des entreprises du Québec for each of the Québec Guarantor and Carlyle Holdings III GP dated May 10, 2021.

Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms have the meaning given to them in the Indenture.

ASSUMPTIONS AND RELIANCE

For the purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or inquiry, that:

 

(a)

with respect to all documents examined by us, the signatures are genuine, the individuals signing such documents had legal capacity at the time of signing, all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, and certified, conformed or photocopied copies, or copies transmitted electronically or by facsimile, conform to the authentic original documents;

 

(b)

the indices and records in all filing systems maintained in all public offices where we have searched or inquired or have caused searches or inquiries to be conducted are accurate and current, and all certificates and information issued or provided pursuant thereto are and remain accurate and complete;

 

(c)

the facts stated in the Certificates of Attestation are accurate as of the date given and continue to be true as of the date hereof; and

 

(d)

at the time of execution, delivery and performance of the Notes and the Guarantees, the Indenture will be the valid and legally binding obligation of each party thereto other than the Québec Guarantor.

LAWS ADDRESSED

The opinions expressed in this letter are limited exclusively to the laws of the Province of Québec and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein.

 

Page 2


OPINIONS

We are of the opinion, based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications stated in this letter, that:

Corporate Opinions

 

1.

Each of the Québec Guarantor and Carlyle Holdings III GP has been duly formed and organized, is validly existing as a limited partnership under the laws of Québec, is duly registered under An Act respecting the legal publicity of enterprises (Québec) (the “Publicity Act”), is not in default of its obligations to file annual declarations pursuant to the Publicity Act and is not in noncompliance with any request made under Section 73 of the Publicity Act.

 

2.

Each of the Québec Guarantor and Carlyle Holdings III GP has the partnership power and authority to own or lease its property and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by the Québec Guarantor of its obligation under the Indenture and the Guarantees.

 

3.

Assuming due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee and upon payment for and delivery of the Notes in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Québec Guarantor enforceable against the Québec Guarantor in accordance with their terms.

 

4.

Assuming due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee and upon payment for and delivery of the Notes in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the execution and delivery by the Québec Guarantor of the Indenture and the Guarantees, and the performance by the Québec Guarantor of its obligations thereunder, and the consummation of the Notes Offering will not, as applicable, contravene any provision of Québec law or the provisions of the Partnership Agreements and the declaration of registration, as amended, of the Québec Guarantor or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Québec Guarantor.

This opinion is for the benefit of its addressees in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, and we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our name in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving the consent, we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required by the Securities Act or by the rules and regulations promulgated under it.

Yours very truly,

/s/ GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP

GOWLING WLG (CANADA) LLP

 

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